Page 4 of Keep My Heart (The Haydon Falls #1)

‘Lyndsay. She didn’t say why she was in town. I wonder if it’s because of the reunion.’

‘Probably. I’m sure Chris insisted on it. It wouldn’t be a reunion without the quarterback and the cheerleader,’ I say, fighting an eye roll. I still can’t believe Lyndsay married that jerk. I look back at my phone and finish the text I was about to send.

‘They’re divorced.’

I stop typing and look over at Matt. ‘Who’s divorced?’

‘Lyndsay and Chris. She said it’s official as of yesterday.’

Lyndsay and Chris are divorced? I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m sure Chris cheated on her, but he cheated on her in high school and she still stayed with him.

‘She told you that?’ I ask.

‘Yeah, when I was waiting for you. I’m surprised they made it that long. It’s gotta be like, what .?.?. ten years they were married?’

‘I don’t know. I lost track of her after high school.’

But I always wondered what happened to her.

I could’ve looked her up online, but I didn’t want to see pictures of her with Chris.

It’s not like he bullied me or anything.

He was just a pompous jerk who thought he ruled the school and everyone in it.

And senior year, he snuck into the orchard one night and took an axe to ten of our trees.

He claimed he didn’t do it, but I know it was him.

He did it to send a message to Sawyer, my younger brother, who Chris claimed was hitting on Lyndsay.

Sawyer had a girlfriend at the time. He had no interest in Lyndsay.

He just gave her a ride home one day after school when her car wouldn’t start.

But Chris, being the jealous prick that he was, decided Sawyer helping her out meant he wanted to date her and so he hacked up our trees.

‘I don’t know why you were friends with that guy,’ I say.

‘You know how I am. I’m friends with everyone. And I was on the team with him. I had to at least pretend to be friends with him.’

‘What’d he end up doing? Do you know?’

‘Not sure. Last I heard, he was trying to start some kind of rock-climbing business in LA.’

‘I can’t see Chris running a business. The guy couldn’t stay focused except on the football field. I can’t imagine him trying to run a business.’

‘I’m sure it didn’t last. You’ll have to ask Lyndsay what he’s up to these days, although I don’t think she wants to talk about him.’

‘When am I going to see Lyndsay? Those couple minutes at the airport will probably be it.’

‘You could go to her mom’s house. I’m sure she’s staying there.’ He pulls off at the road that goes into town. ‘You know what’s funny?’

‘What?’

‘I used to think you and her would be good together.’

‘Me and who?’

‘Lyndsay.’

‘Yeah, because I’m totally her type,’ I say with a laugh.

‘Maybe you are. It’s the opposites attract thing. You’re all serious and by the book, and she’s more of a free spirit.’

‘By the book? What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘You follow the rules. You’re a lawyer. Your whole job is about abiding by the law.’

‘It’s about interpreting the law in favor of our clients. Totally different thing.’

‘Whatever. I’m just saying, you two complement each other.’

‘Why are we talking about this? I’m not even going to see Lyndsay again.’

He pulls into his driveway. ‘You ready for this?’

‘Ready for what?’

He laughs. ‘My kids. They can be a little loud.’

‘I think I can handle it.’

We get out of the car and walk up to his house. It’s a simple white two-story that cost less than a parking spot in New York City. I’m not kidding. My boss paid more for a reserved parking spot in Manhattan than Matt’s house cost.

‘Dad!’ Bella runs up to him the minute we get through the door. She looks small for six, but what do I know? I’m never around kids. I don’t know what six-year-olds look like.

Matt picks her up and kisses her cheek. ‘Remember Nick?’

She shakes her head.

‘It’s been over a year since she saw me,’ I say. ‘I didn’t think she’d remember me.’

He sets her down. ‘Where’s your mom?’

‘In the kitchen,’ she says.

We go down a hallway to the kitchen. Tessa, Matt’s wife, smiles at me as we walk in. ‘Nick, it’s good to see you again.’ She comes over and gives me a hug. I feel like I’m hugging a kid. She’s barely five feet and I’m six three.

‘Good seeing you too,’ I say. ‘Thanks for the dinner invite.’

‘It’s nothing fancy. Just grilled steaks and some sides. Nothing like the food you’re used to in New York.’ She laughs. ‘I was worried about what to make, knowing you eat at all those great restaurants.’

‘I’m actually looking forward to this. It gets old going out all the time.’

‘I keep telling her to stop worrying,’ Matt says.

‘Just because you live in New York doesn’t mean you forgot where you grew up.

’ Matt looks over at Tessa as she takes a jar of mayonnaise from the fridge.

‘Nick’s family used to have cookouts all the time over at the orchard.

I’d work late just so his mom would invite me to dinner. ’

I smile. ‘And here I thought you were just a hard worker.’

‘I love your parents’ orchard,’ Tessa says. ‘It’s so beautiful up on that hill with views of the river and the trees. They could host weddings there.’

‘I’m not sure there’s much demand for that,’ I say, smiling, ‘but I could mention it to them.’

‘Want a beer?’ Matt asks, going over to the fridge.

‘Maybe later. I’ll take some water for now.’

He takes a glass from the cupboard and fills it at the sink. I’m so used to drinking bottled water that it seems strange to see someone get water from the sink.

‘Are you staying for the reunion?’ Tessa asks as Matt hands me the water.

‘No. I need to head back on Monday. I’m already behind on work.’

‘Oh, that reminds me,’ Matt says, going over to Tessa. ‘We ran into someone from high school at the airport.’

‘Do I know her?’ Tessa asks, spooning mayonnaise into a bowl.

‘You haven’t met her, but you know her mom. Lyndsay is Patty’s daughter. ’

‘From daycare?’

‘Yeah.’ Matt looks over at me. ‘Lyndsay’s mom used to work part-time at the daycare we took Bella to when she was younger.’

‘I didn’t know you went to school with her daughter,’ Tessa says to Matt.

‘I told you. You probably just forgot. I went to school with her husband too. Played football with him.’ Matt takes a drink of his beer. ‘I should probably say ex-husband. They just got divorced.’

‘That’s too bad,’ Tessa says.

It’s actually not. I’m glad Lyndsay divorced him. She deserves so much better than Chris.

‘Did you invite her over?’ Tessa asks Matt.

‘No, I wasn’t sure if I should without checking with you first. I didn’t know if we had enough food.’

‘We have plenty,’ Tessa says, opening the fridge. ‘You should call her up, see if she’d like to come. And invite her mom. Bella would love to see Patty again.’

‘I would, but I don’t have her number.’ Matt smiles at me. ‘We could send Nick over there. He knows where she lives. He used to tutor Lyndsay back in high school.’

He’s giving me a look like he wants me to ask her out. What the hell is he thinking? She just got divorced. She doesn’t want to date me. Even if she did, we live on opposite coasts.

‘I’m sure she’s busy,’ I say. ‘She just got into town.’

‘Wouldn’t hurt to ask,’ Matt says, still giving me that look.

I ignore him and drink my water.

Would I like to see Lyndsay again? Sure, but I’m not going to go knock on her door.

I’m here to see my family, and I’m leaving on Monday.

Seeing Lyndsay would just bring up old feelings, something I don’t need.

I’ve moved on from that part of my life.

High school. This town. It’s my past, and I need to be focused on my future.