Page 23 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

‘Torran.’ He gently touched my shoulder. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

‘And go where?’ God, I hated the way my voice shook. ‘It’s like this all over Ivy Falls.’ I planted my feet and steadied my shoulders. ‘No. My mom said the only way out is through and that’s what I’m going to do.’

‘Are you sure? I’ll take you anywhere.’

The way his eyes filled with worry, the firm set of his lower lip, was how he’d always acted when we were children. Like he thought he could shield me from the jagged-edged parts of the world, but we weren’t children anymore and I wasn’t about to run away.

Barb placed our drinks on the counter and went back to the kitchen. I grabbed mine and moved to the now free table where the women had been sitting. After sinking into a metal chair, I did my best to ignore Beck even though I knew he’d probably take the chair next to me.

When we were kids, we’d spent hours sitting at these tables talking about our dreams for the future. We’d been friends since his family moved to Ivy Falls the summer before sixth grade. It was here he’d first held my hand on my fifteenth birthday. That day I was convinced I’d never worn a smile so big. Back then I’d have never thought we would become total strangers as adults.

I focused on my caffeine and carbs, trying to ignore the heat of Beck’s stare. The pity that lingered in his whiskey-brown eyes. There were too many things going on in my life right now. Why wouldn’t he listen and go away?

As I expected, he slid out the chair across from me. He lowered his voice and said, ‘Give me five minutes. Let me tell you about my ideas for the house.’

The rumble of his voice sent a zip of heat through me. It was the voice of a man, not the boy who’d left me behind so many years ago. I did still see hints of the young Beck I knew back then. It showed in the way he chewed on his lower lip when he was nervous. How he scraped a hand through his hair when he was deep in thought. I’d tried so hard to forget those things about him, but memories had a sneaky way of hiding away until they decided to appear when you least expected, or wanted, them.

There was one other thing I remembered about him. He was determined to always get his way. Tessa’s words in the bookstore about not knowing the full story, about forgiving him, banged around loudly inside my head.

‘Fine,’ I grumbled. ‘Your five minutes start now.’

Chapter Eleven

BECK

Nothing’s A Secret In Ivy Falls.

As Torran dumped half a carafe of creamer and three packs of sugar into her coffee, I examined the curve of her lips. The way her mouth pursed in concentration. It was hard not to reach for her. Offer her some comfort as people glared like she was a black storm cloud threatening their otherwise sunny day.

‘Enough with the staring,’ she huffed. ‘Yes, I did crawl out of bed this morning. No, I haven’t brushed my teeth or combed my hair.’ She yanked down her baseball cap a little too roughly. ‘That’s what happens when you race out of your house to save some jackass who thinks he wants to play contractor for the day.’

‘So we’re back to jackass again?’ I teased. ‘Want to be a little more creative?’

Her gaze moved to the army of small boys in soccer uniforms scrambling in the door. ‘Oh, I have much better words for you,’ she said in a low grumble. ‘Things like dumbshit and asshat come to mind, but contrary to public opinion I do have some self-control.’

I swallowed down a laugh. I’d forgotten how quick she could be with a comeback.

Two teenage girls rushed in the door giggling over the funny message on the sign outside.

She glanced at her watch. ‘You now have four minutes.’

‘What’s the deal with all the weird signs around town?’

‘That’s what you want to ask with your remaining time?’

I refused to break eye contact with her.

‘Since my dad’s become mayor he’s wanted to bolster town spirit and tourism.’ She huffed and pushed away her bag of donuts. ‘He figured he could do that by creating a contest for the funniest, or most clever message put on signs for the local businesses.’

‘Your dad is the mayor? I can’t picture him being the type to shake hands and kiss babies.’

‘That’s where you’re wrong. He loves all the fawning because, you know, his ego wasn’t already big enough.’

I chuckled and a hint of a grin tugged at her lips.

A chink in the armor. I’d take it.

‘Do they win a cash prize or something for the funny sayings? Seems like people take it pretty seriously around here.’