“Ӓlskling.”
“Minste.”
“Prettiest thing I ever seen,” he murmured, smiling at her sadly.
And they stared at each other, not touching, not saying a word, until it was time to go home.
***
It was six o’clock by the time Erik pulled into the parking lot in front of a ‘73 Hoyt. He cut the engine and turned to Katrin, a familiar melancholy taking root as the time came closer to saying goodbye. He hated that another week would pass before he saw her again, even as he knew he needed to get away from her. Being around her was poking holes in his carefully constructed logic about staying away from commitment, hobbling the strong stride of his bachelorhood.
“So…” he started.
“I had a great time.”
As he looked at her pretty face, his heart beat faster, letting loose butterflies in his chest.
“Me too. Thanks for coming.”
“We never saw the wild horses.”
Erik nodded, smiling back at her. “No napping next time and maybe we’ll find them.”
She returned his smile and seemed to be waiting for something, searching his face with her bright blue eyes. “Well, I guess I should…”
She reached for the door handle and he grabbed the hand closest to him before she could go. He was overwhelmed by his attraction to her and his—it was ridiculous to deny it anymore—growing feelings for her. He swallowed the uncomfortable lump in his throat.
“Katrin…”
She turned to face him, smiling like he knew she would, because she was actually that open, that trusting, that vulnerable. Because it didn’t matter that someone had shattered her life six months ago. She wasn’t afraid to open her heart again.
“Next Sunday?”
Her smile widened and she nodded, looking a little relieved. “I wasn’t sure if you—” Her expression changed suddenly and she looked down, frowning. “No, wait. I can’t. I have plans with José and…”
He stopped listening. It felt like she had punched him in the gut. No. A punch would have felt better. Of course. She had another date. She had said on the ferry today…not yet.
He dropped her hand, barely listening as she explained something about dinner with José. The pounding in his head was merciless. Stupid, stupid, stupid. You deserve this. You deserve it for letting your guard down. The blood rushing into his face was making his cheeks hot and he wished she’d just get out of the car. Just get out. Get out, Katrin. Please get out so I can drive away.
She was staring at his face, wide eyes and furrowed brows. “Erik!”
Had she said his name more than once?
He tried to look neutral, even though he felt like throwing up. His nostrils flared and he found he couldn’t meet her eyes, couldn’t bear for her to see the feelings behind them. José would try to kiss her at the end of their date. Put his hands on Katrin. He’d lean in all tan and smooth—would she let him? Would she—
“Erik! What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing. I guess you have other plans, so I’m going to get going…”
She cocked her head to the side and took a deep breath looking sheepish. “So you don’t want to go?”
“Go where?” He was genuinely confused.
“Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said? To the dinner with José and Gabrielle. Next Sunday. To celebrate the clinic opening next Monday.”
Erik was still trying to get his head around the situation. “Wait. Gabrielle? You’re not going out to dinner with José?”
“I am. And Gabrielle. And…I was hoping, you.”
“As your date?”
Katrin’s shoulders slumped and she shook her head, her smile fading. “Forget it, Erik.”
“No! No, I mean, yes. Yes, Katrin, I’ll be your date to dinner.” Relief coursed through his veins, and he felt so happy, suddenly, so incredibly happy it should have scared him. But, it didn’t. He was too distracted by her pleased, lopsided smile.
“You’re being weird. Okay, then. It’s a…date.”
She got out of the car then tapped on the passenger side window again. He lowered it, still smiling at her. Back for a kiss?
“Really bad scratches over here.” She pointed to the car underneath the window. “Maybe when it was in the parking lot? Someone hit it?”
He got out and took a look, squatting down. “Wow. It’s been keyed. Badly.”
“Keyed?”
“Someone dragged their key all over this side of the car.” He touched it gingerly, frowning. What a mess. The jagged marks were everywhere in haphazard, furious scratches. Both doors would need to be repaired. “It’s dented too. Looks like someone was kicking it in.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just hit by another car? Maybe someone who parked too close?”
He glanced up at the windshield where a Montana Department of Justice sticker identified the car as a law enforcement vehicle. “Nah. But, I’ve heard about this. Some jokers think it’s funny to vandalize a cop’s car when he’s off duty.”
Katrin put her hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, Erik. Sour end to a great day.”
“It can be fixed.” He looked up at her. “Didn’t ruin anything for me.”
“See you next Sunday?” she asked, smiling, and he nodded.
“It’s a date.”
She gave him a short wave before skipping up the front steps and through the front door, looking back at him one last time before closing it behind her.
Erik stood up slowly, damage to his car forgotten. Since when were “It’s a date” the most amazing, relieving, comforting words he had ever spoken?
Since he met Katrin Svenson.
And that’s all Erik cared to think about that.
ENTR’ACT
Got all distracted with my car.
I wish I had kissed you goodnight.
–M
***
I wish you had too.
–Ӓ
***
Maybe I’ll come back.
***
Maybe you should.
Chapter 9
The wheels made a screeching noise as he
