“Luke, I’m—” I’m what? I’m falling for you? I can’t say that. Would it even be true if I did? Can I really say I’m falling for him?
Yes.
“I know. You’re leaving tomorrow, and your life is in the city. I just wanted you to know that”—he pauses, seeming to decide his words carefully—“that I have zero regrets. Getting to know you this week has been incredible.” Luke pushes the hair off my face and tucks it behind my ear.
“Why are you telling me this?” My nose stings and my eyes burn. I try to swallow it down.
“Because I would hate for you to leave thinking that you don’t matter to the people here. You do. At the very least, you matter tome.”
He pulls my face toward his. Lips softly brushing against my own.
“Are youseriousright now?” a voice shrieks from the end of the dock.
Luke’s head snaps to attention, and I spin to face the clawing sound.
Chloe’s eyes are wide and furious, her hands balled into fists. Her whole being is coiled tight like a viper ready to strike.
“First you blew me off last night when we were supposed tomeet. Then I come here to saygoodbyebecause we’releaving,and you’re out here kissing someoneelse!” She stomps her foot, pointing at me. A toddler throwing a tantrum. “Is this why you didn’t meet me last night? Were you withher?!” she shrieks again. “You’re disgusting.” With a growl of frustration, she turns on her heels, storming back down the path.
“Whoa,” I say, turning back to look at Luke.
Scrubbing a hand down his face, he groans. “Do you see what I’m up against?”
“Holy shit. Now what?” I ask.
Luke pinches the bridge of his nose, releasing a heavy breath. “I don’t know.”
“Hey, Gertie,” I say, sitting in the Adirondack chair beside hers.
“Oh, hello, dear.” She pats my arm.
“Where’s Frank?” I look around, not seeing him anywhere.
“He took a walk. My tired old legs can’t handle his walks. So I told him I’d sit here and wait for him to come back.”
A question nags at me. “Gertie, can I ask you something?”
“Certainly.”
“Why do you come back here every summer? There are so many places to visit and see, so why here?” I feel silly for wondering, but I’m curious.
“I’ve been vacationing on this lake every summer since I was a little girl. I met Frank on this lake, you know.” She peers over at me, permanent smile lines etched on her face from a lifetime of laughter.
I raise my eyebrows at her, and she nods.
“Every summer our families would vacation here, and he and I would play and horse around like children do. Every summer we were the best of friends. Then one summer, my goodness, it waslike I was seeing him for the first time. He was so handsome!” She reaches over and places an old, weathered hand on my arm.
“He kissed me for the first time that summer, and I said to myself, Gertie, you better never let this boy go. So I didn’t. We got married on this lake. Eventually, through family, we learned the Huffmans turned their home into a bed-and-breakfast. That was that. We never wanted to spend our summers anywhere else. So we’ve been coming here ever since.”
“Isn’t there anywhere else on the lake to stay?”
“Well, of course. But we knew the Huffmans growing up, and honestly they’re just the nicest people. Have you seen their son? Handsome fella.”
My cheeks heat, and she nods, seeming to understand something unspoken.
“How’d you know Frank was the one?”
“Well…” She thinks on this, pursing her lips. “I suppose there was something about the way he seemed to know me that made me feel like I could be entirely myself with him. Don’t forget, we were friends first. Knew each other's flaws, secrets, dreams. The physical attraction only made knowing him that much better. My heart knew long before my head did though I think.”
