Page 2 of One Boiling Summer (Texas Summer #15)
BBQ AND BLINDSIDES
LACEY
My heart fluttered awake, as if seeing the town sign reinvigorated it. The slogan “Welcome to Poppy Valley, where wild things bloom, and hearts find home,” blared like a reminder, already drawing me into its arms for a warm, familiar embrace.
Ten years ago I ran from it. Tonight, I needed that hug.
By the time I arrived it was late, the sun going down behind the hills, casting just enough glow on the old Victorian windowpanes of Poppy Street.
The main thoroughfare had changed little from what I could tell—red poppy flowers and greenery in floral boxes beneath each store window, same as always.
A few new shops had popped up, though. I’d have to wander through them one afternoon.
Of course, right in the middle by the old town square, stood Carson’s pride and joy.
After high school, he’d served in the Army, but returned after his first enlistment. For whatever reason, owning a coffee shop had appealed to him.
I remembered his emails and calls back then, excited and telling me all about his plans to renovate one of the old buildings downtown.
Now, the sign for Goodson’s Java Company sparked a burst of pride in me.
I snickered at the thought that we used to call Carson the sleepy dwarf, being the last of seven Goodson boys, and now he must have to wake up pretty early to serve up morning coffee for his customers.
Not that the Goodson boys were short. Nope. They’d all grown up to be rather tall, well-built men. All seven of them, handsome as could be.
It had taken Carson years, but he finally opened his dream coffee place after Mom’s funeral.
Only... I hadn’t stayed to see it happen.
What kind of friend did that make me?
Surely Carson would forgive me. He knew I couldn’t bear to stay when everything here reminded me of Mom. Even now, as I sniffed the air with the windows rolled down, my heart ached for her.
I kept driving, just a block more to go until the turn toward home—when I noticed the park packed with people. Everyone must be out tonight celebrating something, typical for this town to have festivals of some sort or another.
Scanning the parking lot, my breath caught at the sight of Blue Betsy—Carson’s old Ford truck. He’d rebuilt and painted it himself and treated it like gold.
Those butterflies in my stomach came alive. I knew full well how many first times we’d had in that truck together, although we never went “all the way.” Nope, my virginity stayed intact until the first jerk I’d dated in college.
A wave of nostalgia hit as the scent of brisket drifted in the air. String lights blurred against the darkening sky. It didn’t matter who the party was for—anyone could stop in and say hey. That was small town living.
Surely I’d run into Carson here.
Without thinking, I spun the car around in the middle of the street and parked.
Unfolding from the driver’s seat, I stretched long. Caught my reflection in the window and fluffed my hair. I smoothed my blue and white striped seersucker dress with both hands, which was more fitting for a garden party at the Hamptons than a hometown barbecue.
I’d have loved to change, or at least ditched these proper white flats for a pair of cowboy boots, just so I wouldn’t look so preppy, but this would have to do. Suddenly, I was anxious—itching—to make my grand re-entrance into the town I used to call home.
I headed down the stone path toward the crowd, picking up speed. My eyes scanned every face, every group, searching for the cutest boy next door ever. Carson Goodson—voted exactly that in our senior yearbook.
A man brushed past me, lugging a galvanized tub of ice and beer bottles, nearly knocking me off the path. I glared after him—used to that kind of treatment in New York, but here?
Wait. That walk... those faded Wrangler jeans... my heart skipped.
“Carson?” I called.
The man turned.
Only—it wasn’t Carson.
“Lacey?” Hudson blinked, almost stumbling upon seeing me, carrying the heavy tub like it weighed nothing in those muscular arms. I should have known. Carson had never been as built as him, with those broad shoulders.
“Hudson! Hi. How are you?” I croaked, moving toward him.
His gaze swept over me like he couldn’t believe I’d appeared out of thin air. I did the same to him. Considering he was what… seven years older than me? I’d dated some older men in New York, so the age gap was of no consequence—wait, why was I even thinking of Hudson like this?
Since he seemed tongue-tied, I supplied the basics. “I just got into town tonight. I’ll be here a while. At least through the summer. Maybe longer. I don’t know.”
“What? Wow, that’s... great.” He shifted the tub and glanced toward the party. “Did Carson know you were coming?”
“No. Thought I’d surprise everyone. So... surprise.” I chuckled, nervously waving my hands. This was probably the most Hudson and I had ever spoken in some time.
As the eldest Goodson brother, forced to always look after us when we were younger, he did it with a scowling face.
The quiet one. The responsible one. Carson and I used to call him the Grumpy one —like one of Snow White’s dwarves.
The seven Goodson brothers each had their own quirks, and we’d given each a nickname.
“Big surprise.” He darted another glance to the group behind him. That’s when my eyes followed—and landed on the sign.
Happy Engagement, Carson and ? —
“Emme? Who the hell is Emme?” My breath caught. Another crushed moment. Another reminder that I didn’t know what the eff I was doing with my life.
“Uh, I think you’d better come with me.” Hudson tipped his head. Numb, I followed.
Whispers started as I passed through the crowd.
That Lacey Andrews? Come back to cause a scene?
Poor Lacey doesn’t stand a chance next to Emme.
Oh good. Just what this town needs—drama.
But they were all wrong.
Face-to-face with Carson as Hudson set the beers down, I saw how happy he looked. And one glance at the beautiful woman beside him explained why.
“Lacey? Wh—where the hell did you come from?” Carson’s smile faltered as he realized I stood before him, and his eyes searched mine.
What kind of friend would I be to wish them anything but happiness?
“Back from the city.” I forced a bright tone. “I read about your engagement in Poppy Daily Online, ” I lied. “And I knew I had to come back and wish you well.”
I kept talking—to Emme this time—pasting on a smile. “Oh, and look at you. Aren’t you just gorgeous?”
I pulled her into a too-tight hug.
“Why thank you so much,” Emme said with the sweetest Texas twang, while grinning, and bless her heart for keeping her little left hand hooked into Carson’s elbow. There was his grandmother’s ring on full display, catching the lights—the ring I always thought would look perfect on me.
“Really, I couldn’t be happier for you both. Carson, where’d you find this gem of a woman?” My old Texas twang came back with a vengeance.
“Uh... we went to school with her, remember?” He shifted awkwardly on his feet.
“Well, only the last half of senior year,” Emme added with a laugh. “You probably don’t remember me what with the thick glasses and braces I had back then.”
It clicked. The shy girl we’d teased. She’d transformed—polished, glowing. Oh shit.
A woman called out for Carson, and I recognized her as Mama Goodson. We’d always gotten along, and I even convinced myself she wanted me to be married to one of her boys someday.
“We’d better go, honey. Time for speeches,” Emme urged.
“Right. See you around, Lacey,” Carson added quickly, following her like he needed to get far away from me. Like our previous years together meant nothing.
I stood there, stunned. That’s when I realized—Hudson was still standing beside me.
“Look. You gonna be all right?” He asked, his voice low and deep and concerned, took me by surprise. Why would he care if I just drove thousands of miles only to find out my old best friend didn’t believe in pinkie promises?
He handed me a beer, cap already off. I took it, grateful to have something cold to hold to ground me. “Why don’t you stick around, Lace? There’s plenty of food. Dancing later. I gotta give a speech, but I’ll come check on you soon, okay?”
I couldn’t answer. Couldn’t meet his eyes. Couldn’t think.
I stood there and watched as one by one, speeches were given. The crowd cheered for the pending union of Carson and Emme, which I gathered would be in another month. A rather quick wedding.
I didn’t know what Hudson said during his speech, but after he finished, he headed my way until one of his brothers intercepted. My eyes darted from him to Carson to Emme and back, trying to make sense of it all.
My homecoming wasn’t supposed to be like this. Like a fish out of water, I watched their world from afar—one I no longer belonged in. What the hell made me think I could just waltz back in like I’d never left?