Page 28 of When We Were More

“What? You have a brother who plays professional football?”

“Yep, plays for South Carolina. Heath Aron.”

My eyes widen—I imagine they’re bulging out. “Heath Aron is your brother? Are you kidding me?”

He laughs, and the sound of it makes me want to smile.

“Nope. Telling the truth. But please tell me you’re not one of those women who are in love with my brother because he’s rich and attractive.”

“Ew, no. I mean, heishot, but have you seen his stats? He’s outstanding. I’m a big football fan. Your parents must be proud of you guys. You’re all so impressive.”

His face falls for a second before he masks whatever emotion he’s trying to hide.

“Um, my mom is, I think. Our dad died when I was twenty-two.” My hand holding my last bite of pizza freezes midway to my mouth. Then I set it back on the plate.

“I’m very sorry, Henry. That’s too young to lose someone you love…”

“Thanks. But I think it’s hard to lose someone you’re close to, no matter what age you are.”

I frown, thinking of Gram. “Yeah, you’re right. When my grandmother died earlier this year, it really broke me for a while. It still makes me very sad, and I miss her every day, but I’m able to celebrate her memory now rather than have it incapacitate me.”

“Do you have other family around?” His voice is soft, careful sounding.

I reach for my martini and take a sip. Then peer at him.

“I do. But we aren’t close. Our family is kind of… unorthodox, I guess is how I would say it. We’re not quite estranged, butwe also don’t have an active part in each other’s lives. My mom lives near Cleveland, and my sister travels a lot but stays with my mom when she’s in town. I haven’t seen them in a long time, probably seven months ago at my cousin’s wedding. My dad isn’t far, though. He’s over in Elladine, a little past the border. I see him occasionally but…”

“But?”

I shrug. “He’s not a very nice person. That’s all.”

I want to change the subject. Desperately. My drink is getting low, so I shake the ice around in my cup.

“Do you want something to drink besides water?”

“Nah, I’m good.” He wipes his mouth and hands with his napkin, then clears his throat. “I truly am sorry for my behavior the other day. It was inappropriate.”

I’m suddenly nervous. I lift my eyes to meet his gaze. “Are you sorry forallof it, or only what you said at the end?”

He watches me, his stare is intense.

“Truthfully?” I nod. “Just for the words I said to you at the end. My brain says I should regret the rest, but I don’t. I hope that doesn’t make you think I’m a creep.”

I laugh. “No, it doesn’t. I was as guilty as you were. I egged you on.”

His expression changes again, his features pinched. “I was mad at you for saying I was lying, but also for the way you talked about yourself. You’re a goddamn smoke show, Matilda. You must know that.”

I snort. Like a pig. Oh my God. I want to crawl under the table and hide. But Henry, he simply laughs. My cheeks heat, and I’m sure they’re bright red at this moment.

Then something strikes me.

“Wait a minute. Your brother is Heath Aron. Your last name is Aron.” I’m finally putting two and two together.

“Uh, yes…” He looks confused.

“As in Aron Falls?”

“Oh, yeah, my great-great-grandparents, I think it was, were founders of this town. Weird, huh?”