"That is one weird guy," Ian said as they watched Jason leave.
"Be nice." Piper said. "He can't help it."
"What was that about dinner?" Ian asked.
"He invites himself over to eat with us whenever the mood strikes."
"Hm." Ian returned his gaze to her. "How about riding out to the lake with me? We could do a little swimming. Cool off."
"Absolutely not."
Ian grinned. "I'm not giving up."
He'd given up ten years ago. And vestiges of that old hurt throbbed below the scar that'd formed. But they'd both grown up a lot since then. Time changed everyone. And everything. Her mama dying being the biggest example of that. Maybe they could work through all the baggage. Deep down she hoped that was true.
"Let me give you a ride home, at least."
Walking the nearly one mile back to the house in the hot summer sun; or riding with Ian in the comfort of his air conditioned car. It should be a no brainer. But somehow the obvious answer felt like the most dangerous one.
