Page 103 of Small Town Sizzle

I let his words sink in, the simplicity of them somehow calming. “Yeah,” I say quietly. “Thanks, man.”

“Anytime,” he says, leaning against a nearby tree. “So… how’s Maya holding up in all this?”

“She’s amazing,” I say without hesitation. “She’s been so calm, so steady. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

He raises an eyebrow, his grin turning sly. “Sounds like someone’s in love.”

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I am,” I admit. “But this whole thing… it complicates things. It’s awkward now, right? I mean, her nephew is my son.”

Ethan barks out a laugh, shaking his head. “Garrett, life is messy. Relationships are messy. But if you love her, you figure it out. Don’t let this scare you off.”

“It’s not that simple,” I argue.

“Sure, it is,” he says, grinning. “You love her, right?”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice soft.

“Then grow a pair and tell her,” he says, smirking. “And don’t overthink it. She could have ended things with you because of all of this and didn’t. That says a lot.”

I nod, a small smile forming. “Yeah.”

“She’s not Natalie, okay? Trust her to keep sticking by you,” he says, clapping me on the back. “You’ve got this, little brother. Just don’t screw it up.”

I laugh. “Thanks, bro.”

“Anytime,” he says, picking up a rock and tossing it into the lake. “Now, let’s see if you’ve still got that pathetic throw of yours.”

I roll my eyes, but for the first time in hours, I feel like maybe the world isn’t ending.

“Speaking of Natalie,” I groan.

“Laura told me she showed up in the office.”

“Yeah, she made a scene last night when Maya and I stopped to get pizza for dinner after the game.”

“I heard. Laura put the smackdown on some women in the neighborhood for calling Maya a homewrecker.”

“Yup, that would be Natalie’s doing. She told Maya that I didn’t like kids and that I left her and our kids or something stupid.”

“Maya didn’t believe her.”

“No,” I chuckle. “Natalie tried talking down to her, calling her names, and Maya just laughed before walking away.”

“Maya’s line of work doesn’t exactly elicit the best in some situations. She will get verbally obliterated by people sometimes.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve seen it happen a few times. The murder-suicide that happened not long ago? Maya had helped that woman get out of that abusive home and get clean off drugs so many times, but Carolyn would keep getting sucked back in. The twins were in foster care a dozen different times. The last time, Carolyn failed a drug test and couldn’t get the kids back. She was screaming obscenities and made a huge scene in public and then again at the courthouse. The judge wanted it to be done, so he gave Carolyn custody back, despite Maya pleading otherwise. When Carolyn called Maya for help, she still answered. If the judge would have listened to Maya, those kids wouldn’t have watched their parents die.”

“Jesus.”

“Yeah, I’m not that good of a person, bro. I wouldn’t have answered the phone.”

“I don’t know that I would have either,” I murmur.

“Maya’s a really good woman. Empathetic, patient, kind, loving, loyal, and supportive. She’s a million different things that tie into the perfect woman for you. Don’t let anything stand in your way from getting your girl.”

I chuckle and nod at the same time. “Yes, sir.”