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“Oh, right, we were horny teenagers, we totally would have…”
He faked a gasp. “Why, Miss Adams, I meant that we couldn’t go off for a weekend alone! Or buy beer without a fake ID! And here you are jumping right to the dirtiest thought…”
I shoved him lightly, mindful that he was driving, and Pike laughed as he focused back on the road. “Okay, yeah,” he admitted, “I meant the sex stuff too. But I meant all of it. We were four years apart back then and that was… that was huge. Now it’s less huge.”
“Why do you think I waited until I was eighteen to pounce on you at the kegger?” I asked. “I knew it could never work before I was legal.”
“You were legal, yeah, but… you were also only eighteen. You hadn’t even gotten into college yet. There was so much… life experience, there was such a difference there.”
“Are you saying you’re glad we didn’t get together then?” I asked, not angry, just genuinely curious.
Pike thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I am. I’m not happy with how it went down. I should never have just left without telling you ahead of time. It was stupid of me, and inconsiderate.”
I put my hand over his on the gear shift. “It’s okay,” I promised him. Not that it was okay what he’d done, but that it was okay now. I forgave him. “We’re moving past that. And you’ve… you clearly needed to leave, so that you could come back. And appreciate this place and know it was what you wanted.”
Pike looked pleased and surprised, like he hadn’t expected me to say that. The look that slid onto his face next was something almost like awe.
“What?” I asked, self-conscious.
Pike shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just—I don’t think anyone’s ever understood me as well as you do. And… even though I think, because of the age difference, it was a good thing we didn’t start dating back then… I can’t believe that it took me so long to notice you.”
“I was terrified that you would,” I laughed as we pulled into the parking lot of what seemed to be a lovely downtown area, with lots of restaurants and shops around. “I felt like such a dork. Just the little sister of your best friend. I wanted you to notice me and I also wanted you to never notice me.”
Pike grinned at me. “Well. I definitely notice you now.”
He parked the car and opened the door for me, taking my arm as we walked the short way to the restaurant. It was a nice restaurant, nicer than I’d ever been in except for Morgan’s and my graduation dinners. But more than that, it was cozy, and small, with low lighting and mostly small tables obviously meant for couples. This was the kind of place that you went on for a date, and a nice date, too.
Pike gave his name and we were immediately seated. Over to our left I could see one table was covered in flowers, and Pike smirked. “Bet you that’s a proposal.”
“Oh no way am I taking that bet. I know a losing bet when I see one, you’re not getting my money that easily.”
“Who said we were betting for money?”
I would’ve thought that Pike would be uncomfortable in a place like this, but he seemed in his element. I remembered how charming he always was, how flirtatious, and I figured… this was just another part of that, wasn’t it? Except that I got to see the other side of him, too, the side that was laidback and covered in car oil.
Sure enough, it was a proposal at the other table. I shook my head but smiled as the girl burst into tears and said yes. “What, not for you?” Pike asked as we observed.
“I wouldn’t want something public,” I admitted. “I mean, if some friends or family were there, sure, but not at a restaurant or a big party.”
“So the Jumb-o-Tron is out, good to know,” he teased me.
It was just a joke, but my heart did a flip. Was he thinking—did that mean that he had given thought to us being together? Married? Or was it just another one of his jokes?
My heart was hammering in my chest as we finished up our meals and ordered dessert. “What about you?” I asked. “You ever thought about all that?”
Pike nodded. “I want to have a family at some point. Kids. Not a ton, you know, but a couple. My parents weren’t great, well, you know, but I’ve always really loved kids. Even when people in town were writing me off as a bad kid with no future, the kids always loved me and I could make them laugh, do little slight of hand tricks for them. Kids don’t judge unless you teach them to. I want… I always wanted the chance to be the kind of parent that I didn’t get growing up. I wasn’t born with a great family, so I wanted to make one for myself.”
