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“Good job, but we should probably head out. It’s getting late, and Jen’s been on her feet all day.”
Sara didn’t argue, happily moving back toward the entrance as Oliver sidled up to my side.
“So, how’d you like your first trip to an arcade?” He asked, and I smiled.
“It was fun. I might have to come back later to play again.”
He hummed, eyes far off as he considered something, then he asked. “We could come here after our next lesson if you wanted?”
That…sounded like a date.
Flutters burst to life in my stomach again and I opened my mouth, words not coming as I tried to figure out what to say. A relationship was abadidea, I reminded myself, and I finally managed to unfreeze and speak.
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea…”
He blinked, confusion clear, then understanding dawned, and he waved his hands frantically. “I swear I didn’t mean that as a date! At least, not a romantic one. I just like how happy you were today and-.” He stopped, pressing a hand to his face with a groan.
The flutters went wild, and my nerves eased. Part of me was disappointed he hadn’t meant it like that, but the other was so relieved I could hardly see straight.
I wasn’t in the right place to start a relationship, and I knew that. In a few months, maybe, but now? Taking his hand, I squeezed it and smiled.
“It’s fine, I’m the one who assumed otherwise. I’d love to come back here with you later.”
He relaxed, rubbing a hand through his hair with a sigh. “Then we can plan it later. We should hurry though, Sara looks impatient.”
Glancing in the direction he was, I caught sight of her leaning on her car with her arms crossed. I nodded, moving toward her once we were out of the air-conditioned arcade.
“I’m glad we could hang out today,” I said, and she nodded.
“Me too! We’ll have to plan something else later. Do you need help finding your way back to town?”
I shook my head, gesturing to Oliver. “I’ll just follow him back. I know the way to my place from there.”
She nodded, then turned to Oliver with a frown. “You better not scare her off. Ilikeher!”
Then, before either of us could say anything, she’d gotten into her car and driven off. Once it was just us, I laughed. “She’s spirited, I like her.”
He sighed, even as a small smile curled his lips. “She’s definitely that, but come on. We shouldn’t linger out here.”
It was already getting dark, and I could just make out the shady figures inching out from the nearby alleyway. The hair on my neck stood to attention and I nodded, hopping up into my car. “Good idea!”
Waiting until I was safely tucked away, he got into his own car and drove with me following behind. Today had been exciting, and even the thought of doing it again was enough to send my heart into a series of cartwheels.
I’d have to keep an eye on that. It seemed the longer I spent with Oliver, the worse that stupid crush got.
Maybe if it was still there by the time the sheriff handled Harvey, I could act on it…
That was assuming he even wanted to, of course. Oliver was a handsome man and a kind one to boot. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he had women beating down his door.
There was no reason he’d want me when I came with baggage.
Shaking aside the melancholy the thought brought with it, I noticed as we slowed near Oliver’s house. Once he’d parked, I waved before driving on. When I pulled into my apartment, I got out and walked inside.
I was halfway through making an easy dinner when the temporary phone I’d grabbed my first day in town vibrated with an unknown number. Paranoia climbed up my spine to choke me, and I hesitated, my hand hovering over it.
I’d shut off my phone under the sheriff’s instructions on my first day here, and no one but Oliver had the number…so then who was calling?
I let it ring through, my heart hammering against my ribs as a minute passed, and then finally, it beeped with a message. Sitting down before my legs could give out on me, I hit play on the recording and listened.
