Free Graveyard Games by Sheri Leigh Page A

next to Shane’s, so out of place in a
suit and tie. Today he was back in jeans, ripped and tattered as
usual, and looked more like she remembered him from high school,
although the “Coldplay” t-shirt was new.
    “ Sorry I didn’t come by
after the funeral,” he apologized. “I had to work.”
    That makes one of us, Dusty thought.
Although her career was dangling over the edge of a deep ravine, it
was actually the least of her worries, and that irony didn’t escape
her.
    “ That’s okay. Where are
you working?”
    Billy looked down at the front of his
t-shirt. “I’m a walking advertisement.”
    “ Guitar lessons?” she
guessed, remembering that he’d had the typical high-school rock
star aspirations of any young male guitar player.
    “ Guitar, piano, whatever
pays the bills,” he agreed, waving to Nellie and calling, “Pick
up!” She gave him an acknowledging nod, slipping behind the counter
and heading back toward the kitchen.
    “ You still play?” she
asked. She’d only heard him on the few occasions Nick had allowed
her to tag along with them, but she remembering being impressed
with his talent. “I mean, for yourself…”
    “ Don’t do much for myself
anymore.” He snorted. “Hey…I’m really sorry about Nick. Really
sorry.”
    “ Thanks.” She nodded,
trying to ignore the pain blossoming in her chest at the mention of
his name. Part of her understood Julia’s need or desire to put
everything away. If people would just stop talking about
it…
    “ I only just saw him the
week before, when I went to see my mom in the hospital.” Billy gave
Nellie a five when she set a brown paper bag stapled shut across
the top on the counter. “Thanks, Nell, keep the change.”
    “ Oh the generosity,”
Nellie replied, rolling her eyes but pocketing the cash.
    “ That was the last time
you saw him?” Dusty asked, remembering Chris’ denial that he hadn’t
seen Nick the night before he’d— been
killed —died.
    “ I think so.” Billy stood,
frowning. “Days run together for me nowadays. My mom’s got lung
cancer and has been in and out of the hospital for the past few
months.”
    “ I’m so sorry.” Dusty
squeezed his arm, wishing there was some other way to express
sympathy besides that pat phrase. She was tired of hearing it
herself.
    “ Thanks.” He gave her a
small smile, his eyes veiled, and she’d given it to others enough
to recognize the look. He glanced at his watch and then said, “I’ve
got to run. Good seeing you. How long will you be in
town?”
    She hesitated. It was a
good question. How long was she going to be in town exactly?
    When she didn’t answer, Billy went on.
“Maybe I’ll see you around before you go?”
    “ Sure,” she agreed as he
moved away, heading toward the door with a short wave. She blinked
after him, surprised how much he had changed. He wasn’t the Billy
she remembered at all, the extrovert, the flirt, the one who had at
least two girls hanging on him at all times. This Billy was a more
somber version.
    Maybe Nick was right, she thought, turning
back toward the counter and taking a sip of the drink Nellie had
left for her. Maybe people do change. Or maybe we never really know
as much as we think we do about who they are…
    "Hey, came in ’cuz I saw the Jeep outside.”
Shane took a seat on the stool next to her, the one Billy had
vacated just moments before. “Gave me quite a start for a minute
there."
    Dusty faced him, startled herself, not ready
for another trip down memory lane quite yet. Instead, she just
looked at him, and when she didn’t reply, he asked, "What's the
matter? Cat got your tongue? No pun intended, of course."
    She didn’t bother to answer him, and she
knew he didn’t really expect one. He looked pale, as if he’d seen a
ghost. The Jeep really had given him quite a shock and she was
glad. The burning in her chest was worse now with him sitting so
near.
    "Here you go, Dusty," Nellie said, and Dusty
turned back to the