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“She had some great stories about Mexico. Said it was quite an experience.”
“Yeah, it was.” He left it at that, hoping the dead air would move them past the chitchat. He didn’t want to talk about Grace.
“Well,” Pastor Will said, slapping both hands on his knees, “I think you’d be a great addition to our YCS planning committee.”
Noah repressed the urge to laugh out loud at the irony. Maybe heshouldhave talked more about Grace. “Uhh...”
Pastor Will’s smile faltered. “Grace is one of the cochairs, so that should be an easy transition since you already know each other.”
Noah cleared his throat, fishing for some valid excuse to say no.
“It’s a large committee,” the pastor said, shoring up his smile, “so it shouldn’t take up too much time. Would you be willing to help out?”
“Sure,” Noah answered, his hook coming up bare.
Pastor Will thanked him profusely, let him know the first meeting would be next Sunday, and sent him on his way with an enthusiastic handshake.
It did nothing to settle the butterflies in Noah’s stomach.Maybe this is my chance, he thought as he walked out of the building, trying to put a positive spin on it. Maybe Grace and Alec weren’t serious, though Alec’s attentions suggested otherwise.
Noah growled in irritation.
A car was pulling out, but it paused, the window rolling down to reveal a familiar face. “Hey, Noah!” the girl called out.
“Jamie, right?” he said, recognizing her from the activity as he came to her car. “Grace’s roommate?” Probably the only reason he’d remembered her name.
“Yep.” She smiled. “How was your first week?”
“Not bad,” he said.
She put the car in park and folded her arms onto the open window. “You’re an accountant, right?”
“Yeah. You?”
“I’m a nurse for a pediatrics office.”
He shifted on his feet, sweating from the sun on his back and realizing her car was still running. “I don’t mean to keep you. I’ll just—” He motioned to the street, leaned that way to start his walk home.
“Do you want a ride?”
Grace’s roommate. Hmm...
“That would be great,” he said, scrapping his plan to walk in favor of some firsthand research.
Small talk as Jamie drove consisted of the usual who-where-when of his move and his roommate. She hadn’t met Jake, as she’d been in town for only a couple of months herself. When she asked if Noah had done anything fun over the summer, he mentioned the Mexico trip. Physical therapy with Matt had been time well spent, but most people wouldn’t label it as fun.
“Same trip as Grace?” She looked over while she waited at a red light.
“Yeah.” Noah paused before adding, “Alec too.”
“Right!” Jamie brightened. The light changed, and at Noah’s direction, she turned onto his street. “It’s so great how they reconnected there. Grace had a huge crush on him a few years ago, and now they’re so cute together.”
“Does he live by you guys?” Noah asked, striving to keep his voice neutral.
“No,” Jamie said, gathering her hair to one shoulder. “He lives about twenty minutes from here, but he started coming to church with Grace a few weeks ago so they can spend more time together.”
Noahhmmed, hoping and dreading that Jamie would keep talking as he directed her to his apartment building.
“I guess their schedules don’t line up, with her working evenings and Saturdays. I think it’s sweet that he’s willing to do that for her.”
