Page 13 of Catching Sparkles

“Yeah, well. Maybe back then,” he said. “I’m sure all you people who were swooning over me when I left didn’t imagine I’d actually end up like this.”

“You people?” I asked, snorting when he lightly groaned, covering his palms with his eyes.

“The girls, and… You. You get what I’m saying. Sorry. I wasn’t trying to be offensive.”

“No, you weren’t. I get what you’re saying.” Frankly, I was just happy to be included.

“Anyway,” he said. “People only admired me because they thought I was actually getting out of this fucking town and making something out of myself. Anyone who wanted to be with me back then was just imagining me as this amazing football star.”

“That’s not what I imagined,” I retorted, barely able to hold back my wince as I heard the words coming out. I was giving away too much of myself, but if now wasn’t the time, when he was feeling so low, then it would never be time.

“Yeah?” He asked. “You knew I’d end up a divorced, jobless loser living back with my parents?”

“You’re not a loser. You’re the guy who asks his brother what kind of perfume his sister-in-law is wearing so he can sound convincing when he compliments her on it, even though I know you hate the smell of roses. You’re the guy who lets his mom win at Scrabble, even though you had the letters for a longer word, because you know it makes her happy when she wins that. You pretended like you bought those unsalted nuts at the cabin by mistake, but I saw you feeding them to the squirrels all week. You are an amazing, thoughtful, intense person with all these really fascinating layers, who shitty things have happened to. But that doesn’t change or take away from who you are. You’re Rhys fucking Kensington. That means something. Even if you don’t feel like it does right now.”

He stared at me for the span of several, silent heartbeats, the ambient noise of the grocery store fading out as the buzz in my head grew louder and louder. Goosebumps raised along my exposed skin, and I resisted the urge to rub at them or shiver.

“You’ve been watching me pretty close, Sparkles.” His voice was low and thick, a flush of color spreading up his neck to his face.

“So?” I tucked my thumbs into the belt loops of my tight jeans and shrugged, keeping my eyes locked right onto his beautiful blue ones. “Does that bother you?”

He swallowed hard enough to send his Adam’s apple bobbing, before shaking his head in a slow, minuscule movement.

“I have to go,” he said suddenly, and I thought maybe he was a little panicked.

“Sorry for keeping you,” I murmured, and he let out a single, strained breath before shaking his head again, faster and with more intention this time.

“No, you didn’t. You, uh… You didn’t do anything. Sorry. I have to…” He trailed off, before taking a few steps back, eventually turning on his heel and fleeing from the aisle and from my sight.

RHYS

I PULLED UP to the only sports bar in Cherryvale, a decent little place with the unfortunate coincidence of being called Underdogs. I didn’t need any reminders of that nature, particularly when I’d had to borrow my dad’s car to even come here in the first place. Pathetically horny and without my own car, it was like being 16 again. Actually, I hadn’t been all that pathetically horny at 16. I’d had a myriad of girls throwing themselves at me, which I’d had no qualms about embracing. 16-year-old me would look at 28-year-old me and die a little inside, I was sure.

I tugged at the collar of my t-shirt for some ventilation as I walked through the doors, grateful for the cool blast of air conditioning and glad we’d decided on somewhere I could dress casually. Much to my ex’s dismay, I’d never been into fashion or formal wear. I’d suffer a suit for a wedding or a funeral, but I’d be itching the whole time.

The place was pretty packed, and the large TVs all had a different game on display. We were smack dab in the middle of baseball season, and the NBA finals weren’t too far off, so at least I’d have something to drag my eyes to if I got bored.

I spotted Brie at a booth near the back, along with a guy I’d been on the varsity football team with, and the girl he’d brought. Brie looked great tucked into a short little denim dress and cowgirl boots, with her long, blonde hair spilling down her back. I’d already known she looked great though, because she’d been sending me selfies all week from the gym or when she was lounging in bed.

“Hi, Rhys! Oh my gosh, it’s crazy to see you after so long!” She exclaimed, hopping up to wrap me in a tight hug. I shook hands with David, and then the girl he was with, who I learned was named Michelle. She’d gone to school with us too, but I didn’t remember her.

I slipped into the booth next to Brie, and ordered a pitcher of beer when the waitress came around. The conversation mostly consisted of asking what I’d been up to, which I avoided answering with any honesty, keeping my answers as vague as possible. I discovered David and Michelle were married with two kids, and that Michelle was Brie’s best friend.

Once we’d moved on from the slightly painful reintroductions and catch-up, the girls chatted about what was going on around town. When the subject shifted to the abandoned house on Mulberry, I was slightly interested in the conversation again. I remembered how weirdly sad Kendall had seemed about the fact it was close to being torn down, and how he’d wished he could buy it.

“Ugh, finally,” Brie said, making her feelings about the old place clear. “Maybe we can get something good there, like a Starbucks or something.”

“A Starbucks?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow. “In the middle of a residential neighborhood?”

“Well, why not?” She asked, poking her lip out in a little pout. “Anything’s better than that big old eyesore.”

“I heard the company that wants to buy it is one of those short term investment firms,” Michelle piped up. “They’re going to put one of those little prefab houses there once they bulldoze the other one, and list it on all the rental sites.”

“Who the hell would rent an Airbnb in Cherryvale?” I wondered, but the idea of that old house with all the interesting architecture being torn down for some boring, modernist get-rich-quick type affair was pretty sad. I knew Kendall would hate it. I wasn’t exactly sure why he would hate it, or what his attachment to that falling down house was. But it had obviously upset him to think about.

And the idea of someone like him, someone who was almost certainly in the running for title of Sweetest Human Alive, being upset about anything was just incredibly unpleasant. The thought of those big green eyes welled up with tears, slipping down over those pretty lashes felt criminal. Had I ever seen him cry? I didn’t think I had. He was probably in that rare, tiny percentage of people who could actually manage to look cute when they cry, instead of a snotty, blubbering mess.

“Don’t ask me,” David said, clearly agreeing with my sentiment. “Maybe cheaper than staying in a hotel in the city.”