Page 6 of Honky Tonk Cowboy

“Oh. Hey, Lily.” He dropped his suitcase and took off his hat, ruffling up his dark-brown hair in the process. “How you been?”

“I…I don’t know how to answer that, to be honest.” He crooked an eyebrow at her. She shrugged and said, “I’m figuring it out. You?”

“Got some figuring out to do myself.” He hung his hat on the tall hat rack that stood just inside the door.

“That why you’re back so soon after the wedding?”

“Yeah.”

He didn’t say anything more, and she couldn’t think of anything to say either. The silence was getting awkward. “Well. Good luck, I guess,” she said to break it. “I, um, gotta get home.”

She took a step forward, but he didn’t move out of her path. He said, “You’re not staying here at the ranch anymore?”

“Oh gosh, no, not since January. I mean, we stayed for the week of the wedding like everyone else, but?—”

“Oh. I didn’t realize.”

“You didn’t stick around long enough to find out,” she said. “No big deal.” Only it was. “Dad and I sublet a log cabin at the edge of town.”

“The Campbell place?” She nodded, and he said, “I always liked that house.”

“I like it too. It’s perfect for Dad and me. Two bedrooms, full basement with a bar, pool table, and big TV on the wall. Dad’s claimed that space as his own.”

“And his health? He seemed to be better, at the wedding.”

“He is. He walks into town every day, and he’s been cooking at the cantina when they need a hand in the kitchen.”

“That’s great.”

“It really is.”

Ethan lowered his eyes. “Speaking of, how is Manny doing?”

“He’s home,” she said. Of course Ethan’s kin would’ve told him about Manny’s heart attack. The guy was like family. “He’s recovering. But…you should go see him while you’re here.”

“Yeah, tomorrow,” he said, like he already had the visit planned. “It’s a good thing you were there, huh?”

She lowered her gaze. “I didn’t do anything. But he is getting better.” She brightened her voice, not wanting to bring him down. “Dad got Rosa’s taco recipe, though.” Ethan’s smile widened as she went on. “He plays poker with two soldiers and the local mailman every week, and sometimes he hosts the game down in his basement bachelor pad.”

Ethan’s smile became a laugh. “He is feelin’ better!”

“I haven’t seen him this healthy in years,” she said. “But I don’t think he’s really happy. There’s still that heartache in his eyes, you know?”

“Yeah.”

They were standing in the middle of the living room, between the kitchen and front door, and she didn’t know what to do with her hands.

Ethan’s smile softened. “And how about you, Lily?”

How about her? He hadn’t called her or texted her. He hadn’t even said goodbye before he’d left, but now he wanted to know how she was?

“Why do you ask, Ethan?” The question tumbled from her lips without her brain’s consent. It even sounded a little snippy.

His face changed. He frowned and seemed puzzled. “Why do I ask?” he repeated.

“I need to go,” she said, nodding at the door behind him.

Ethan stepped aside, picking up his suitcase on the way. Lily headed past him and through the screen door without another word. It creaked and banged when she let it go, and she pasted a bright smile onto her face and walked in time with the music.