It’s then that I realize the entire time we were friends, I was Andy Nelson. I was so young when my mom and Gary married it never occurred to me I was anyone else. That is until we moved and I registered for middle school. That’s when she not so kindly informed me that my last name was Collins not Nelson. That the man I had called “Dad” and had loved like a son loves a father for seven years was no longer in my life. She expected me to shut off my feelings for Gary like she did.
It was that same school year I decided to stop being Andy and changed my name to Drew. Small-town kid Andy was dead to me and big-city Drew Collins was born. Memories of those first few years after we left Pickerton Grove start surfacing when they’re better left in the past.
Turning my attention back to Ally I say, “Gary is my step-dad. It’s a long story. You aren’t here for that. I should get going on your granny’s car. Keys?”
Startled by my change in topic, she pulls a set of keys from her pocket and drops them in my extended hand. Before I can pull back, she grips my wrist. I open my mouth to say something when Gary appears at my side, hand smacking my shoulder.
Chapter 12
Ally
I’m not sure what I said but it was wrong whatever it was. Andy’s entire demeanor has changed from the flirtatious guy I met when I first walked up to the shop to the man who stands before me. I don’t like the dark cloud that’s suddenly hovering above him.
Thankfully, Mr. Nelson appears seemingly out of nowhere and interrupts us before I can ask what I’ve said wrong. His booming voice breaks the awkwardness, and I welcome the reprieve.
“Ally! I didn’t know you were in town. Come to visit your grandmother while your folks are gone?”
Releasing Andy’s wrist, I smile at his dad, well step-dad. “Hi Mr. Nelson. I’m just in town for a few days. Granny hurt her leg and I’m here to help out. Seeing Andy is quite a shock.”
Whistling, he pulls Andy to his side in a hug, pride evident. “Haven’t heard him called that in a long time.”
Confused, I turn my attention back to my oldest friend and see him staring at me.
“I actually go by Drew now. Drew Collins.”
Smiling, I extend my hand and say, “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Drew Collins.”
He takes my hand and my breath hitches like it did when I saw his sly smile in the yard. And again when he held me after I launched myself at him like a flying squirrel. Every nerve in my body is on alert. High alert.
I’m instantly reminded how long it’s been since I’ve been with a man. Too long, is how long. Like an eternity. Or a few months. Six months to be exact. Like I have no control over my hormones, my body begins to heat with his skin touching mine, and I pull my hand out of his grasp like it’s on fire. Because it sure as shit feels like it’s burning.
“So, Ally, did you bring the car in for the service?” Mr. Nelson asks, drawing my thoughts from the man holding my attention.
“I did. An oil change and tire rotation. Any idea how long it’ll take?”
“Probably about an hour or two. Drew, why don’t you grab some lunch, maybe you and Ally can catch up. I’ll handle this and have it done by the time you guys get back.”
Both our heads turn to look at Mr. Nelson, my eyes wide. Drew attempts to argue but his step-dad wins the fight, and within ten minutes we’re settled in the cab of his truck in silence. The hum of the air conditioning is the only sound as we sit awkwardly.
“Look, Ally—”
“We don’t—”
We both speak at the same time. Laughing, he motions for me to go first, but I shake my head, deferring to him instead.
“I was just going to say I’m sorry for never reaching out after we moved. I was in a bad headspace after my mom left Gary. This town was the only home I’d really known and when she told me I couldn’t have contact with anyone here, I was devastated.”
“You were a child. I will admit I was terribly sad and swore off best friends for a long time. Truth be told, that was the first birthday of many that sucked.”
“I don’t like hearing that. You always loved your birthday. At least tell me you went fishing without me and caught the biggest fish in the town’s history.”
Laughing, I smile broadly. “You bet your sweet ass I did. Of course, my dad made it seem bigger than it really was like he always did, but if my memory is accurate, it was still pretty epic.”
“Good. Now what were you going to say?” he asks as he puts the truck in reverse and begins backing out of the driveway.
“Oh, I was going to say we don’t have to get lunch. Your dad, err Gary, sorry it’s weird to not call him your dad. Anyway, he kind of forced me on you. I can walk home and just come back in a few hours for the car.”
“You hungry?” he asks.
I open my mouth to say no but my stomach responds to the contrary. And I shrug. “I could eat.”
“I actually packed a few sandwiches and stuff this morning. Planned on taking my lunch break down by our old spot. Drop a pole in. What do you say?”
Perking up in my seat I clap my hands and start to shimmy in my seat.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“You won’t believe this but, my pole is in the car.”
Smirking he puts the truck in park and hops out, jogging toward the garage. In just a few minutes he returns with my pole. After securing it in the bed of the truck, he hops back in the cab, a huge smile on his face.
Looking at me, he winks, and I pretend my stomach didn’t just flip a little and reach over to the volume control for the radio. I smile as one of my favorite songs fills the cab and begin singing along. The grin on my face must be contagious because when I glance at Drew, his matches.
It’s been more than an hour since we pulled out of the driveway of Nelson’s Garage. In that time, there hasn’t been much awkward silence. In fact, we’ve been jabbering on about anything and everything that has nothing to do with either of us. From the fact that our hometown still doesn’t have any of the major retailers or fast food chains you’d expect to the reality that the population has grown so much there’s talk of building another elementary school.
I did manage to shock him so much that I almost have to fake knowing the Heimlich maneuver when he choked on his sandwich upon hearing a little town gossip. A teacher who chaperoned a school trip my senior year and then gave birth nine months later was what Lifetime movies are made of. She left town shortly after and to this day nobody knows who the baby daddy is.
“And you, Ally Cat? What’ve you been up to all these years?” he asks as he reaches in the cooler and pulls a Styrofoam container that houses worms for his hook.
Sighing, I lie back on the small dock and let my legs dangle over the edge. I close my eyes as the sun beats down. I wish my story was more exciting. I wish I had traveled like I wrote about in my diary or that I had started my own lightnin’ bug catching business. Something epic and awesome to share with him. Sadly, I don’t.
“Not much. I grew up, moved away for college, and haven’t been back much since. How about you?”
“Come on, there has to be more to your life than that. Boyfriend? Travel? If I remember correctly you were going to be the best teacher in the world. Fun but still make sure every kid learned something.”
“Yeah well, turns out my childhood dreams didn’t fit adult me. Teaching was not my jam. I actually work as a virtual assistant. I am technically my own boss and have a few clients I work with. All I need is WiFi and my laptop or even my phone and I can get the job done. It’s why I was able to come to help with Granny.”
“How is your granny? Still make the best pie in the county?”
“State. Do not let her hear you downplay her skills. She may be laid up for the foreseeable future, but she’ll threaten to whoop your ass.”
We both laugh as he hands me the second pole and the worms. Scrunching my nose, I peer into the cup. His gasp draws my attention.
“What?”
�
��I thought by now you’d be over your aversion to worms. I dare you to bait your hook.”
Shoving him, I snatch the pole from his hand and without taking my eyes off him, pull a worm from the container. He laughs as I stubbornly slip the hook through the poor little worm before casting the line into the water.
“Never could ignore a dare. Guess some things don’t change.”
“Shut up. You’re one to talk. I seem to recall a certain little boy climbing a big ole tree and the fire department having to come rescue him because of a double-dog dare.”
“Double-dog dares are not to be ignored. Ever. So boyfriend?”
Shaking my head I reply, “Nope. I was seeing someone for a while, but it didn’t work out. It’s just me and Myson.”
Coughing, he begins wheezing and I set the pole between my legs and pat him on the back. “Are you okay?”
“You have a kid?”
“Huh?”
What the heck is he—oh! I can’t help the hysterical laughter that bursts from me with a snort. I’m so used to saying his name I forgot what it sounds like to others.
“My cat.” He still doesn’t seem to understand which only makes me laugh harder.
“Wait you refer to your cat as your son?”
“No, his name is Myson. Not my son. It’s a long story but basically, I was in a vortex of dating assholes in college. Eventually, I started running out of excuses to avoid second dates. Then I happened across a litter of kittens at the shelter I would visit on the weekend and fell in love with one little fella. After he came home with me, I couldn’t think of a name but one night on an epically bad first date, I told the guy I had to get home to my son, and he couldn’t end the date fast enough. From there it just stuck and I didn’t technically lie to anyone when I called him Myson.”
“You know, you could just tell a guy you’re not interested.”
Shrugging, I turn my attention back to my pole. Sure, he’s right but when a girl needs an out, she needs an out. “Oh I’ve tried that. Unfortunately, the response was more I should be grateful they wanted to take me out in the first place. What can I say, my picker wasn’t the greatest in college.”
“And now?” he asks.
I don’t get a chance to tell him the closest I’ve had to a date in the last six months is a pen pal recently released from prison when my pole tugs and I have a bite. With a huge smile, I start reeling in my catch as Drew groans like he did when we were kids and I caught the first fish.
Chapter 13
Drew
Spending a few hours with Ally at our fishing spot was like slipping on my favorite pair of jeans. Comfortable and perfect. The sun was high in the sky and the heat prickled at my skin, but it was the woman sitting next to me that gave me goosebumps. Each time she would accidently brush up against my leg or look to me through her long lashes, eyes dancing with humor, I would open my mouth to tell her who I am. Then stop myself and let her rattle on about everything and nothing.
No matter how much the truth begged to be told, I couldn’t get the words out. Why ruin a good day? Besides, she’s here to care for her granny before returning to her life in the city. Our afternoon together is probably the only time we’ll spend together before she leaves. As for her pen pal, that walk on what she perceives to be the wild side will lose its romance and fizzle out as well.
The downside to knowing Ally as both Drew and D is realizing she is just as amazing as I expected her to be. I may have been offline for the last few years but I still recall the personas people put out into the world when online. Hiding behind the screen makes them bolder, more outspoken, and sometimes a version of themselves they aspire to be.
Not Ally.
The online version is exactly who she is in person. That’s not true. In person she’s more. Vivid and full of life, something a computer can never convey. The woman who sat next to me, trash talking as she caught five fish in less than an hour, sets me at ease. We fell into our old ways easily, and I listened and watched her talk and realized my memories of her weren’t exaggerated.
Allyson Honeycutt is funny, witty, and refreshingly unaware of how beautiful she is.
When I dared question the progress of Pickerton Grove since I moved away, her demeanor changed and I saw feisty and strong-willed Ally appear. Her love of this town and the people in it was evident in the way she defended the simplicity and wholesomeness. Of course, she shocked me with a few tidbits of town gossip through the years.
“Hey kid, want a beer?” Gary asks from the kitchen, pulling me from my thoughts.
I flip the burgers on the grill and turn to respond when he appears with two bottles in his hand.
“Here, I brought you one anyway.”
“I can’t. I have to piss clean for the next six months.”
“Shit, I forgot. I mean I didn’t forget but it was just second nature. Do you mind—?”
Closing the lid to the grill, I turn to face my step-dad and shake my head. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to sit here on this deck and share a beer with you. But I have to follow the terms of my release to a T. What’s six more months when it’s already been three years?”
“That’s a good attitude,” he replies as he settles into a chair at the outdoor dining table taking a sip from his beer. “While I appreciate you cooking, it isn’t something I expect.” He’s tried to convince me to share in the cooking duties since I’ve arrived, and while I assume he thinks my insistence is because of some sort of gratitude, he’d be surprised to know it’s simply because I will never again take for granted the ability to cook my own food.
Well, and I’m also beyond grateful for his willingness to allow me not only into his home but his business. Back into his life. His family.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure the day will come I will happily turn the spatula over to you.”
Raising his beer in agreement, he takes a long swig as I do the same from my bottle of water. Another simple act that holds so much more meaning to me than I think most people would understand.
“How was your afternoon with Ally?”
“Fine. As she loudly proclaimed when we got back to the garage, she kicked my ass.”
“So, not much has changed.” We both laugh and I turn my attention back to the grill, adding cheese to the burgers and flipping off the heat before closing the lid. “It was great seeing you kids back together.”
“It was good to see her,” I say as I open the lid again and slide the burgers onto the plate. Perfect cheese melt and my mouth is watering.
Gary and I go about building our burgers and scooping potato salad onto our plates, neither of us saying a word. He finishes off his first beer and I stand to take it with me into the house while I grab myself a large glass of lemonade.
When I return to the table, I notice he hasn’t taken a bite yet and I look at him questioningly. He shrugs and says, “I’ve missed having you here. It’s been too long.”
Smiling at him, I won’t lie that hearing that makes me both sad and thankful for him. I hate that after my mom and I left, he didn’t move on and build a new family with someone else. Gary was meant to be a family man and knowing he’s been living life as a bachelor for all these years sucks for him. Then again, I’m thankful there wasn’t someone here to protest having an ex-con move into the spare room. My room. The one that still has my little league trophy on the dresser and a picture of Ally and me tacked to the wall, her ten-year-old chicken scratch on a homemade frame: “Best friends forever and you better not throw this away. Ever.”
“What’s that big grin about?”
“Just thinking of how little things have changed.”
“Well kid, some would say that’s the best part of small town living.”
We both laugh and say together, “And the worst.”
Biting into my burger, I close my eyes and let the spices bounce off each taste bud. Everyone has their vices in life, and a good burger has always been mine. Even as a kid, I’d ask for a burger over mos
t any other meal, much to my mom’s dismay. On my sixteenth birthday, she had a new boyfriend she was working hard to impress. Marty was well off and liked to take her to fancy restaurants. Something she loved more than Marty himself. When it came time for my birthday, she planned a night out to one of the best steakhouses in the area. I disappointed her when I opted for the biggest burger on their menu instead of filet mignon.
“This is a damn good meal, Drew. Maybe you need to look at cooking instead of turning wrenches in my garage.”
“Nah, I’m good right where I am. I know I’ve said it already but, thank you. I will never be able to repay you for this opportunity. I know it’s a lot to take on and the way we left—”
“Son, I told you already. There’s nothing to thank me for. I’m happy to have you here, and you can pay me back by not repeating your mistakes.”
He has no idea how easy that will be. Not that anyone would have expected my efforts to impress a girl would land me in prison in the first place, I have no intention of returning to that cement fortress.
“After today, there is something we should probably talk about.”
Setting my burger down, I lean back in my seat and wait for him to continue. Taking off like I did today was irresponsible of me. If I want Gary, or anyone for that matter, to take me seriously and believe I’ve changed, I need to be more responsible. A better employee.
“I’m sorry I was gone so long. We lost track of time and—”
“What? Oh I don’t give two shits about you taking a long lunch. Hell, we all need a few hours of fishing now and then to get our minds straight. I meant about the rumor mill.”
“Huh?” I take a drink from my lemonade at the same time he almost kills me with his next statement.
“About now I expect the Pickerton Grove gossip to be at full capacity. It’s likely you and Ally are already engaged and expecting your first baby.”
“Damn small towns,” I grumble as he breaks out in hysterical laughter.
It Was Always You Page 7