Page 23 of Good Directions

“He was discovered at Wall Bangers, yeah. My best friend’s family owns that bar. In fact, she’s kinda hoping I can get some stuff signed while I’m here.”

“Oh, we can make that happen,” Miss Belle assures me.

I perk up. I know the Hayeses pretty much own this town, but do they have that much power?

“You have that kind of pull?”

“I do. More than that, Willa does. He’s a groomsman in her wedding.”

Come again?!

I sit up straight. I’m not sure I heard her correctly.

“He’s…what?”

She laughs, patting me on my thigh, a move that is warm and loving. Like she’s my own mother, and we’re having a regular heart-to-heart chat.

“I told you; Hickory Hills is a small town, Sawyer. We all know each other. I’m surprised Anton didn’t tell you himself.”

I shrink back at Anton’s name. There’s no escaping him, even outside of work. Especially since I now know that I’m staying in his childhood bedroom.

“It didn’t come up.” There. That’s a good way to put it. “The day was… It didn’t go quite as I expected.”

Miss Belle lifts an eyebrow, inviting me to continue. I don’t know what else to say though, for a number of reasons. Not the least of which, he’s her son.

When I don’t say anything, she sighs. “What did he do?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head.

“Oh, I don’t believe that. Not for one second.”

Shifting on the bed, she turns to face me. Her features soften, making her look even more motherly.

“I love all my kids, more than anything. But I also know them, very well. And all seven of them are very different, and for better or worse, have played unique and specific roles in this family. Gus is the responsible one, Milo the sassy one, Hux is our non-conformist, Jace our wild card and family romantic, Ewan the introvert, while Willa is the baby and as the only girl, the princess. And Anton…” She sighs. “Anton is our instigator. He lives to get a rise out of people. And he will poke, poke, poke until he gets a reaction. Just for giggles. Feral middle-child energy is what his brothers call it.”

Feral middle-child energy. That explains a lot.

“I can see that.”

“My biggest piece of advice?” She leans in, conspiratorially. “Don’t let him know that he’s getting to you. Then hand it right back to him.”

My insides lift, like a hot air balloon that has the intake valve left all the way open. I’ve just been given the key to Anton Hayes. The secret to knowing how he works. Sure, it’s easier said than done, but now that I know what to do, I can learn. I’m a quick study. This will be no different.

“Thank you.”

I squeeze Miss Belle’s hand, hoping she knows how much this means.

“Of course. I meant what I said when I told you that you’ll fit right in. Now, the pizza is getting cold, so let’s go eat. And I’ll get you all caught up on everyone and everything you need to know about Hickory Hills for the Fourth of July.”