Read Online Whispers of Home by April Kelley - Free Book Online Page B

from her glass. Her face was flushed and Jaron thought she might have had a sip to many.
    Trina/Tina, the most outspoken person Jaron had ever met, said, “Maybe you turned him gay Katie.”
    Katie’s face turned a shade of pink that was almost nonhuman. “Shut up Trina,” she sputtered out.
    Jaron and Lisa were rolling in their chairs with laughter. Jaron wiped the tears from his eyes as he calmed.
    Jaron wasn’t done chuckling when he felt a vibration in his pocket. He grabbed his phone out of his pocket and saw Travis’ name in the text window.
    Are they talking about me?
    Before Jaron could respond to the text a drink was placed in front of him. He looked up at the waitress leaning over him to set the drink on the table. “I didn’t order that.”
    She nodded over to the bar. Shoving a napkin in his hand. “From the guy at the bar.”
    Jaron looked in the direction she indicated and saw more than one man sitting at the bar. However, there was only one looking at him. “Which guy?” Jaron asked her but knew who she was referring too. Jaron would recognize his best friend, Brian, anywhere.
    “The one with glasses.” Brian hadn’t changed at all. He had filled out more, no longer the skinny geek from high school. Brian had some muscle definition now, like a runner. He wasn’t big and bulky like Travis, but he clearly worked out. Everything else about the man was exactly as Jaron remembered. At the site of his oldest and probably only true friend, Jaron had to fight back tears. All of the regret he felt at leaving Pickleville, Brian, and his mom behind all those years ago swept him up like a giant wave.
    He quickly left the table practically running to Brian and wrapping his arms around him. “Thank you,” he whispered in Brian’s ear. “You know, for calling my mom.”
    “Let’s take this outside where we can talk a little better,” Brian said, patting his back. Jaron grabbed his hand and pulled him outside. Walking out onto the sidewalk, he breathed deeply trying to will away the tears.
    Jaron immediately let Brian’s hand go. “Sorry if the PDA was too much.”
    “It wasn’t. Brad nearly shit kittens and Travis looked like he wants to rip my head off, but I liked it.” Brian crossed his arms at his chest. “You didn’t call when you got into town.”
    “I was settling in.” That was a complete lie. Jaron just didn’t know what to say to Brian. After that initial conversation on the phone, when Jaron had been asking for help, he was at a loss for words when it came to Brian. They hadn’t parted on good terms really, hadn’t talked since Brian had told him not to call except for the phone call that brought him into town. And they had a lot to talk about. Jaron just wasn’t sure where to start.
    “You’re still running from me, I see.”
    Jaron turned to look at Brian. “I never ran from you, just from this town.”
    “But I was in it. So by default, you were running from me.” Brian smiled when he said this.
    “Who am I to argue with that logic? You always were much smarter than me.”
    “So are we done fighting,” Brian said with a grin.
    Jaron laughed and went in for another hug. “God, I missed you.”
    “Ditto.” Brian returned the hug. “Is that a dildo in your pocket or are you just really happy to see me.”
    “What?” At that moment Jaron realized his phone was vibrating. He laughed at his friends comment, as Jaron realized Brian must have been able to feel the phone’s vibration against his leg. God, Jaron missed Brian’s quick wit.
    Jaron didn’t have to look at his phone to know who it was, so he didn’t even bother pulling his phone out of his pocket. Jaron just kept holding on to Brian. “I’d like to catch up sometime.”
    “I’d like that too.” Brian was the one to pull away first, releasing Jaron reluctantly.
    “I’m here with friends but you can join us if you want.”
    “I’d like that.”
    Brian started to head back inside but Jaron stopped him