“Like anyone would suspect a librarian. Why superheroes have secret identities as billionaires and newspaper reporters is beyond me.”
Bree chuckled. It was one of the few times she’d come close to laughing since Owen had kicked her heart to the curb. She was glad that she’d told him how she felt, though—at least she had some closure.
“Miss Phelts?” Brax tugged on her tee. He wore a Texas Titans jersey with Owen’s number on the front. Owen’s name was probably on the back, though Bree couldn’t see it.
Heaven help her now. The butterflies that Owen had so easily set to flutter drooped pathetically, their wings hanging low and their desire to fly gone.
“Hey, Brax. How’sLast Man Out?” Brax was on his third football novel. Bree had given him the last one on the shelf and ordered several new titles in an effort to keep Brax reading.
“Good. I like Tommy.”
She smiled at hearing Brax talk about fictional characters as if they were real. She felt that way when she read a book too.
“Is Owen Mattox coming?” Brax’s big brown eyes were so full of hope, it shone out of him like a hundred suns.
Bree placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m afraid not.”
He drooped like those pesky butterflies.
“Ladies and gentlemen and summer readers,” the mayor blasted his welcome into the microphone.
People all over the park covered their ears and ducked as if they’d been shot at.
He backed off and tried again. “Is that better?”
Heads nodded and thumbs went up.
The mayor had dropped the ugly sweater vest and wore a simple red apron that said, oddly enough, “Mayor” across the chest. Capital M. “Okay. Well, I’m proud of our stellar readers this summer. My own daughter has worked hard to earn tickets for this event. Let’s give these kids a round of applause.”
Parents enthusiastically applauded their children. Bree joined in, looking at Brax. His mom was at work and she wanted him to be recognized too. He grinned back at her.
“When I heard that Owen Mattox wasn’t going to be here today, I was worried that this event would be a flop.”
“Thanks for bringing that up,” Bree said through clenched teeth.
“But I have a special surprise—Owen made it!”
Bree choked on the air. Her hand went to her chest and she blinked a hundred times in the minute it took Owen to cross the stage and take the microphone from the mayor. The applause was louder than before as kids jumped and yelled in excitement.
“I thought he canceled,” Audrey whispered.
“He did.” Bree ran her hand over her hair. It was a mess from running from booth to booth and from her car to the barbecue.
“Hello.” Owen waved to the crowd, and many waved back as if he’d singled them out. His smile was tight, his teeth barely showing.
He looked so good in his Titans shirt and athletic shorts. His hair was perfect—as usual—and his skin was all tan and beautiful. Bree ached to be held in those strong arms just one more time. Tears stung her eyes. Why did he have to look so good, and why did her heart have to ache so bad?
Being in front of everyone was not a place Owen wanted to be, but he’d come even when he’d made an excuse not to be here. The big jerk had to go do something heroic. She could kiss him and punch him all at the same time.
“I’m not one for crowds.”
Bree laughed painfully. She’d pegged that just right a moment before he did.
“So I’d like to have someone come up here with me.” He shielded his eyes with his free hand. “Bree Phelts? Honey, will you come on up here?”
“Honey?” Audrey placed her hand on her hip, offended on Bree’s behalf. “He’s calling youhoney?”
“It’s okay.” Bree hurried through the crowd, feeling people track her progress. She climbed the three steps and met Owen on the concrete slab that served as a stage. “Hi,” she whispered. This close, he smelled so good. The duct tape peeled away from her heart again, leaving her raw and open.