As soon as they finished, she put their bowls in the dishwasher, and then grabbed her keys. “Let’s get you back. I’ve got other things I need to take care of this morning.”
They were quiet on the short ride back to Main Street.
“Thanks for letting me help tonight, and for letting me tag along to feed the pig. The chili brought back some great memories. It’s been a really good night.”
She resigned herself to roll with the evening. “I’m glad too.”
She pulled behind his rental car. He sat there, quiet, and she hoped he wasn’t thinking about kissing her. That would be a mistake. To break the mood, she blurted out, “A convertible. In the winter? With the top down?”
“Seemed like a fun idea at the time.” He shrugged. “I want to see you again.”
It was what she’d wanted to hear for so long, but now that he’d said it, it scared the dickens out of her. Her heart pounded so hard she could hear the beats. Her body was telling her to run from trouble. She fidgeted, grappling for a response. “Maybe next time you come to town you’ll give me some notice.”
“But I’m here now.” His words were warm. “You haven’t changed a bit.” He touched her face with the tips of his fingers.
A ripple of excitement ran through her. “Neither have you.” She wanted so badly at that moment for him to say he’d be staying, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen. “You’ll be leaving soon.” The words rolled out like an accusation.
He lowered his head. “So this is it?”
“I guess so.”
He pulled his hands together. “Can we stay in touch? I’ve missed this. I didn’t even realize how much I’ve missed this, but I do.”
She was so tired, and her defenses were down. She knew better. Her heart should know better than to set herself up for another huge letdown. Be strong. “Andrew, you’ve had seven years to not miss me. I think it’s time we just say goodbye and close that door.”
A part of her felt so brave for having the guts to say that. She’d wished she’d said it seven years ago when he’d first left for France, but now that she had…a new emptiness filled her heart. She wished she could take the words back. “I can’t let you break my heart again. We’re better off being old friends. At least now we’re not enemies.” Only the truth was, no matter how much she’d tried to convince herself that she was over Andrew, her heart was still broken from all those years ago.
He opened his mouth, and then closed it. Without a word, he opened the door and got out of the car. Without looking back, he climbed behind the wheel of his car and sped off down Main Street.
Chapter Eleven
Andrew paused with his hand on the front door of his parents’ house. It was still early, and there was no way he could sleep now. He turned and sat down on the top step of the front porch.
As much as it hurt to walk away from Kelly, he didn’t want to say the wrong thing and push her further away either. Walking away had seemed to be the best option, and as awful as that should have made him feel…it didn’t really. Happiness filled him when he was near her.
Even still rallying from the jet lag and being up all night, he was ready to conquer anything.
He’d played the role of student in France and had followed the path that had unfolded for him, and he’d excelled. But that was nothing compared to how he’d felt standing next to Kelly, creating for the sheer joy of doing it…that was real.
Is it the creativity I’ve missed? Or Kelly?
It had been so easy to be with her again. Her laugh still tickled him. He loved the way she pursed her lips when she was thinking, and her sheer delight in the finished product—as if it had been luck, rather than her talent.
He wished now that he’d gone in for that kiss last night when they’d been working the pliable sugar. It had taken everything he had not to put his lips to hers. He was sure she’d felt the same connection too, or at least something.
But he’d hurt her, and there was no making up for that in one night of walking down memory lane. That much he knew.
The door opened behind him, and he spun around.
“Your bed wasn’t slept in last night.” Mom stepped out on the front porch. “Where have you been?”
Why do I feel like I’m sixteen and caught sneaking in after curfew all over again? The thought made him chuckle. “I told you I was going to take a ride.”
“And you’re just getting home now? Where’d you go? Georgia?”
“Nope. Main Street.”
Mom cocked her head. “There’s nothing to do there in the middle of the night.”
“Ran into Kelly.”
“Oh? In that case, I guess you’re right on time.” She gave him a crooked grin. “I’ve got coffee made. I’ll pour us both a cup.”
“I’ll come inside.”
He sidled up to the counter next to her and took one of the mugs. “Did Dad already go to work?”
“Oh, yeah. You can still set a clock by him. Up at five. Out of the house at five-thirty on the dot.”
Andrew found that amusing, since not one clock in the kitchen read the same.
She slid a steaming mug of coffee in front of him. “You’re meeting him for lunch today, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’ll probably take a nap before I head over.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you going to small talk me all morning?”
“What do you mean?” he said, but he knew exactly what she was eluding to.
“Are you going to tell me what you were up to all night with Kelly or not?”
He leaned his elbows on the counter. The news of them being together had probably
