“Just with a pickup truck so you can take your brother out for burgers, a business that’s one-third yours, and the first girl you’ve ever dated long enough to call her your girlfriend.” She tipped her face up to his, still smiling, but there was an edge to her words.
An edge that sliced deep into his chest. “That sounds awfully—”
“Domesticated? It’s okay, Ryan. Your secret is safe with me.”
“I—”
“Sh.” She pressed a finger to his lips. “Don’t say anything stupid right now to ruin the moment, okay? I promise I’m not fishing for anything more from you. I’m leaving town in a few weeks anyway.”
“I wish you weren’t.” The words just slipped out, and he immediately wanted to take them back. “But I mean, I’m glad, too. You’re chasing your own dreams for once, and I’m so happy that you are. It’s just…I’ll miss you.”
“Me, too.” Something incredibly sad slipped across her features. “It doesn’t have to be good-bye, though.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we’ll talk more when the time comes.” Her gaze never wavered from his. “But in the meantime, think about what you want. Really think, Ryan.”
And without elaborating, she dropped to her knees in front of the memorial to resume planting flowers.
Rather than ask what she meant—because he wasn’t sure he wanted to know—he took a step back. “Let me know about next week, and I’ll shift my schedule around.”
“Okay. Bye, Ryan.”
“Bye.” He strode across the commons and down Main Street, not slowing until he’d reached his front door.
“Someone chasing you?” Trent asked with a smirk, leaning over the railing from the second floor.
He dodged Trent’s question with his own. “You looking for me?”
“Yeah.” Trent waved some papers at him. “I did that ancestry test you suggested, and I just got the results back.”
Ryan gestured for him to come in. “So what’s the verdict?”
Trent bounded down the stairs and followed him into his condo. “I’m half Korean.”
“Just as you suspected.” Ryan smiled as he went to the fridge for a couple of Cokes. He tossed a can to his brother. “Feel good to know for sure?”
Trent nodded, popping open the can. “It really does. I’ve been looking for Korean communities around here but haven’t found any yet. I’d like to get to know more about my culture.”
“That’s great. Modern science rocks, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. There’s a pretty big Asian community back home,” Trent said, looking down at his soda.
“You given more thought to re-enrolling at Missouri College?”
Trent shrugged.
“You know I love having you here. I want you to stay. But I also want you to go back to college. Don’t waste the opportunity to get an education.”
“When I’m ready.” Trent squashed the empty soda can between his fingers. “I have an opportunity here, too, that I don’t want to waste. I’m spinning tunes once a week. That’s a pretty big deal at my age.”
Ryan drew a deep breath. “Yeah, it is. And I’m so friggin’ proud of you. I am.”
“Don’t worry, bro,” Trent said, and Ryan’s chest tightened at the endearment. He used it often with Mark and Ethan, but on his actual brother’s lips…Well, it was pretty fucking amazing.
“I’m young.” Trent tossed his can in the trash and headed for the door. “I’ve got time. I’ll figure it all out eventually.”
Hewouldfigure it out. Ryan was sure of it. Trent was motivated and hardworking, in the areas that interested him anyway. Passion like that, it took people places. The real question was…would Ryan figure his own shit out? Because Emma was leaving town in a few short weeks. Trent would have to go back to Missouri soon, too. Ryan was losing his newfound family, and he had no idea what to do about it.
“Hey, you want to stick around?” Ryan asked. “Maybe order a pizza, watch the game?”
“Um.” Trent stopped by the door, indecision written all over his face. “Yeah, okay. Sure.”
“Great.” Ryan had no clue what to do about the future, but right now, he was going to keep his family close and, like Trent, hope he’d figure the rest out eventually.
