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My stomach did a little flip as my eyes inhaled him. I noticed he’d developed a few fine lines around his eyes, but otherwise, he was still the best-looking guy in town. “Yep. We still host it every year.”
As Seth was about to say something, I noticed Milton barreling our way, his gaze intently on me and my cart. Seth picked up my line of sight and turned toward Milton. Milton’s eyes lit up in recognition, and the two men did a little bro hug.
“Hey, man. I heard you were back in town.” Milton grinned at Seth. The two of them were best friends from the start of middle school. Seth had moved to Cherry Creek Academy in sixth grade as a boarding student, and they’d played sports together through the years.
“Yeah. I’ll be here until the first of the year if everything stays on schedule. I was at school all morning with my team getting started.”
“Lot of memories out there.” Milton’s expression appeared contemplative. He turned his attention to me then. “Can I help you load these?”
I nodded, grateful I’d scored a parking spot right up front. “Sure. Thanks.”
“I’ll help,” Seth offered, and the two men loaded the food into the bed of Daddy’s truck and finished within seconds.
Seth stepped forward. “Hey, how about I help you unload these at your dad’s and hitch a ride back to the academy? I just bought several sandwiches and sent them back to the school with one of the guys in my truck.” The school was half a mile from the diner, so it wouldn’t take me out of my way.
I didn’t know what to say besides, “Okay. I can drop you off at the school on my way back to the diner.”
Milton’s eyes narrowed for a split second. He perceived a competitor for my attention. “Thanks for your help, Milton. I’ll see you soon.”
“Sure. Anytime.” Milton’s peeved expression disappeared in a split second, and he refocused on his delight over running into Seth. “It was great to see you, man. Give me a shout if you get some time off. We can do some crappie fishing out at the lake if you want.”
“Will do, Milton.” They shook hands.
Seth came around to the passenger’s side and hopped in. “So, you and Milton, huh?”
I shrugged as I put the truck in gear. “We’re just friends.”
“He wasn’t looking atyoulike a fishing buddy.”
That made me smile a little. “No, I suppose not. I think he would like us to date, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings, you know?” Seth was the first person I’d admitted that to.Why did I tell him that?
“You always had the softest heart for people.”
“I can’t tell if that’s a bad thing—” And what I’d said about my feelings, or lack thereof, for Milton didn’t put me in the best light. “Anyway, I guess not being clear that I’m not interested in dating him is more cowardly than kind.”
“I believe you meant to be kind and not hurt his feelings.”
“Keep it between us, okay?” I really wouldn’t want to hurt Milton’s feelings, but now I realize what an injustice I’d done Milton by stringing him along and not nipping his romantic interest in the bud. Maybe I’d been hoping he would grow on me.
“Of course, I won’t. Your secret is safe with me.” He grinned, and my stomach flipped. I can’t believe I still reacted to Seth the same as I had in high school. Did it make me pathetic that I’d never found anyone else who made my pulse race the way he always had?
I pulled the truck into the driveway at Daddy’s house, and we both hopped out to unload. “This place brings back a lot of memories.”
“Yes, it does. Especially since I’ve moved out. I’d spent my entire life in this house and can’t imagine being unable to come and go here as I please.”
He stared at the house for a few seconds as if remembering something. “We shared our first kiss right over there.” Seth pointed to the recently-painted white swing hanging from four chains on the porch.
I followed his gaze. He was correct, and I remembered every detail. We’d been fifteen then and had just returned from the ice cream place in town. Fireflies had begun a summer’s evening twinkling light show as darkness overcame the sunset, and the sounds of crickets and tree frogs commenced their evening symphony.
His eyes appeared dreamy. “I was so nervous and sweating, and you smelled like cotton candy.”
Our eyes met then, and I shivered at the memory. I could picture it like no time had passed—I smelled the ice cream and sweat and remembered the anticipation of that moment. To lighten the mood, I said, “Only because I’d dripped cotton candy ice cream down the front of my shirt.”
“It’s something I’ll never forget.” His eyes cleared then, and he appeared sad, his shoulders drooping. “We were so young and hopeful back then.”
“Yes, we were.” I didn’t have anything cute to say about that.
“I’ve missed you, Kayla.” It was a simple but heartfelt declaration, but I couldn’t say everything that raced through my mind.I missed you so much I wanted to die along with my mom,orWhy are you here torturing me when none of it can be undone?Or even,Why didn’t you come back for me?
