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“I hope you’re hungry,” I tell her. “I think we need to get one of everything.”
She laughs, and the sound washes over me like a cool mist on a hot summer’s day. “I think you already know I can hold my own.”
“Have you been dreaming about a funnel cake?” I tease her.
“No, but it’s definitely on the list.”
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving Harris without getting my girl a funnel cake,” I say with mock horror.
She doesn’t comment on the fact that I just called her my girl, but that’s okay. I didn’t really expect her to. In just a few short hours, she’s going to know where that comment originated from, and then we can make it official. I bring her hand to my lips again and kiss her knuckles to calm myself down. I’m ready to just pull this fucking truck over to the side of the road and confess all right here. Right now.
But I won’t. I have a plan, and I’m going to stick to it. A few more hours of holding my tongue won’t kill me. Besides, I think holding her in my arms beneath the stars is the perfect way to tell her what she means to me. To tell her that I’ve given her my heart and I never want it back.
“What did you do today?”
“Other than missing you? Cleaned, did laundry, and went to the store. Just adulting like a boss.” I chuckle.
“I need to do all of that too.”
“I can help.”
She gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “I appreciate that, but you and I both know that you being parked at my apartment is a red flag.”
“I can ride with you.”
“You don’t have to go through all of that, Brooks. My place is tiny compared to yours. It doesn’t take me long.”
“I don’t mind. That’s just more time we get to spend together.”
“I’m sure you have better things to do,” she says, turning to stare out the window, as I guide my truck into a parking spot at Sunflower Park.
I put the truck in Park and kill the engine before turning to look at her. On instinct, I reach out and touch her, not only because she’s close but because I feel the need to be closer to her. “There is nothing better than you.”
“You’re full of pretty words today. What’s gotten into you?” She shakes her head as if she’s not sure if aliens have taken over my body.
She’s not acting like herself. Rushing to clamber out of the truck, I catch up to her, sliding my arm around her waist.
“Brooks.” She steps away. “We’re only twenty minutes from Willow River.”
“Okay?”
“We could see someone that we know.”
“Would that be such a bad thing?” I ask her.
“No, but if you’re holding me, it might be. How would we explain that?” she asks before taking another step away from me. “Are we going to divide and conquer again?” she asks, smiling as if she didn’t just verbally slap me.
Yes, that’s a little dramatic, but I’m on the verge of confessing my love for this woman, and she seems dead set on the fact that this isn’t real and that no one can find out about us. She’s smiling at me, and it’s her smile, it’s real and genuine, so maybe that’s just her fear talking. Maybe it’s my fear talking. I’ve never been this tied up in knots over a woman before. I probably should have called my dad for a few words of advice on my way over to pick her up. He always knows what to say.
“Brooks?”
“Yeah, we can divide and conquer. It’s getting colder. You want to eat inside the truck?”
“That works for me. I’m going left. You go right.” She grins and takes off for the fry truck.
* * *
“I’m so full,” Palmer groans from the passenger seat. “I think we ate more than last time.”
