Small Town Secrets

Part 1: Chapter 10

POV: ALEX

I didn't sleep last night. I couldn't.

All I could think about was my conversation with Nina. I understand that it wasn't my place to question her about who she sleeps with, I guess I was just in shock. I was upset, mostly because I didn't think someone like Arnie should've had the privilege of being with her, but also because ... in some ways ... I kind of felt a little jealous.

It's mid-September now and I moved to Grafton almost two months ago.

I've thought about her lips. I've thought about her body. I've thought about being the lucky guy ... I just always pushed those thoughts to the back of my head because I didn't want to be that guy-friend who suddenly wanted some ass.

I know that's a thing. A lot of girls stop talking to their guy-friends for that exact reason, and I value my friendship with Nina so I didn't want to risk it. So I kept those thoughts hidden.

But after hearing that an asshole like Arnie got to experience everything that I once thought of, just to brag about it at work like a fucking child ... it made my blood boil. I won't lie.

As far as the situation with me and Khandi, she and I are still getting to know each other. I like Khandi a lot and I love spending time with her. She's really beautiful, she's creative, she's smart and she makes me feel good, but ... we're not really in a relationship. She might even feel the same way.

That being said, I didn't feel the need to tell Nina because it had nothing to do with nothing.

But now that I know that Khandi and Nina are best friends, which came as a shock to me, things are different.

I wondered why Nina never introduced us two. I wondered why she never told Khandi that the two of us were good friends. I wondered why she got upset about it.

So many things crossed my mind and I had so many questions to ask her, but I have a full day of work today and after the fight between Arnie and I, I've been under strict rules. Apparently, Jessie has noticed that I've been bringing people (Nina and Khandi) over to the farm during my work hours, which is now prohibited. He also noticed that I've been spending too much time on my phone texting and calling them, which has also been prohibited.

He told me that he knows I came out here for a reason.

"Grafton is filled with so much to do. Some people might tell you otherwise, but that's because they're more focused on what's on their phones rather than what's right in front of them. Look around you. Listen to the sounds of nature, the birds chirping and the whistling of the wind in the trees. Look at the high mountains and the streams of water running through town. Life is beautiful out here. Enjoy that." He told me.

He was right, of course.

While I had some fixing to do with Nina (and Khandi after I completely forgot about our date at the coffee shop), I had to take a step back and realize where I was. Where I am.

So I got up, went straight to work, enjoyed the air and the nature he was talking about, and when I was done ... I called Nina.

She didn't answer, so I texted her instead.

Me: meet me at the cliff, 7pm

I wasn't sure if she'd actually come, but it was worth a shot.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

By 7:20pm, I was still sitting in the parking lot alone. The sun was still up, but only for a little while longer. I heard a car roll up, the crunching of tires over gravel, but I knew Nina didn't have a car so I wasn't sure if it was her or not.