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She had at least twelve books. “Not to discourage your reading, but those rental bikes don’t have a trunk.”
“We’ll drop them off at your truck. Look—this copy of The Bluest Eye is practically brand new. I read this in freshman college English and I’ve been wanting to revisit it. I can finally read for fun again!”
She looked at the single book I’d chosen. “You’re really leaning into the house thing. Are you into historic homes? I never would have guessed that.”
I shrugged. “Houses have stories to tell. When you get inside, you see their bones. Their soul.”
Jillian gawked at me. I felt my face redden and I coughed. I grabbed the nearest book I could find. A decade-old thriller about a former Navy SEAL who ran black ops missions to take down bad guys, or something. Looked entertaining.
“Adam.” Jillian said my name almost like a secret. “I like this new side of you. I can totally see you restoring historic homes. I bet you’re fantastic at it.” She smiled. “I’m glad we each picked something to read. Remember, it was our summer rule we couldn’t leave here empty handed.”
As if I could forget. The rule stuck with me.
We paid for our books at the front desk. I slipped a twenty to the librarian for their fund, then bagged all the books together. Outside at the bikes, I wrapped the bag strap over the handle bars. We rode slower as we made our way to my truck. We dropped off the books and parked the bikes in a rack before wandering the rest of the way into downtown.
Tourists swarmed the streets for the Venetian Festival, which added a carnival and food tents. People packed the grassy areas bordering the marina, sitting on outdoor blankets and camp chairs as boats passed by.
Jillian chattered about academic things as we visited shops. We stopped for ice cream—had to, it was in the rules. It’d been a daily requirement during our summers here as kids and up through high school.
Being with Jillian made me feel seventeen again. Okay, maybe only for a flash. Nothing about me felt the same as I did back then. A whole new person had formed on top of that immature seventeen-year-old.
Jillian had ten years of stories I’d yet to hear. Even though I had no experience in Jillian’s current world, I felt part of it, even temporarily, listening to her share her life with me. She was letting me in.
“Downtown is way too crowded,” she said after we finished our circuit. “Want to head back out on the bikes?”
“You were always into exploring. Remember when we found that cave?”
Her eyes lit up. “And I convinced you the faded graffiti was ancient cave drawings?”
“Yeah, I never believed you. I just wanted you to think I did.”
“Whatever. I loved those little adventures. Spending all day on our bikes and then coming home to eat everything in sight and read by the lake.”
When dusk grew too dark, she’d take out a battery-powered light and keep reading. “Good times. And good company.”
I hoped I wasn’t laying it on too thick. Jillian smiled up at me. Not a trace of a sarcastic smirk.
“Yeah, good company,” she said.
As we headed back to our bikes for another round of exploring, it hit me. It wasn’t enough to simply make amends with Jillian and send her off again to her life. I wanted Jillian in my life again. Somehow, some way.
And as scary as the thought felt, I let myself think it. I wanted to win her trust again.
7
Jillian
Okay, the bike seat was likely bruising my delicate regions at this point and my leg muscles demonstrated their own defiance by cramping, so time to turn in the bikes. We’d covered nearly every street in town, including across the downtown bridge. No time limits, no schedule. Only bikes and fresh air. It was glorious.
We returned the bikes at the shop. I checked my phone—a missed call from Noah. She’d called a few minutes ago.
I returned her call. “Noah? Hey, it’s me.” I moved past Adam who chatted with his bike shop friend.
“Hey!” she answered. “I’m back. Exhausted, but I made it home. Did you find us a place after the rental house snafu?”
“So, about that. I found a place, but it’s not exactly the best option for a weekend hang out.” I lowered my voice, putting distance between myself and Adam. “I’m actually crashing at the owner’s other property next door. Remember I mentioned my family knows them?”
“So, you’re staying with the owners? How nice of them. I get it—they probably don’t want a whole party in their house, right?”
