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Sweat glistened over Lincoln’s tanned skin as he arched a brow.
I gulped, then shook the devious thoughts from my mind to focus on why I was there. “Hey, Linc.”
His lips curved up in a lopsided grin. I couldn’t help but smile back, my heart soaring at the sight of my long-lost love.
“Hey, yourself.” He took a few steps toward me, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “What are you doing here?”
My face heated. I felt embarrassed for not calling first, but I didn’t know what to say in what would have been the most awkward phone call of my life. “I got your letter. I thought it would be better to talk in person.”
He nodded as he came up to the gate. His eyes shined with remembrance as they ran over my face. “Crazy, huh? After all these years.”
I nervously tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “Yeah. I can’t believe it.”
He leaned against the gate separating us. “You wanna go somewhere and talk? I can finish up the rest of my work later.”
Shit. I hadn’t thought about interrupting his work. I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called before I came to make sure you weren’t busy before showing up uninvited.”
He chuckled. “Don’t apologize. You’re definitely a wanted distraction. Trust me on that.”
My cheeks heated. “Okay.”
We stared at each other for several seconds in silence, then the dog started barking and jumping on Lincoln.
Lincoln laughed as he playfully patted the dog. “Down, Rufus. Go bother Mom.”
I giggled as Rufus took off running toward the house.
Lincoln shook his head. “Crazy dog.”
He opened the gate. “You wanna grab a bite to eat? It’s about my lunchtime.”
I hadn’t been able to eat the sandwich my mom had started to make before we’d taken our stroll down memory lane. “Sure.”
Lincoln smiled. “How about Clawson’s? You used to love that place.”
My heart warmed at his remembrance. Clawson’s was a family-owned restaurant on the waterfront that had been around since 1905. It was one of my favorites from when I was young.
My lips curved up in a bashful grin. Lincoln was stirring up all kinds of feelings in me. “I’d like that.”
We walked to his driveway. The truck he’d had in high school sat on the red dirt. “I can’t believe you still have this.”
His brows furrowed. “You really think I’d get rid of good ole Betty?”
I ran my hands over the side of the bed as he continued, “We had a lot of good times in this truck.”
I glanced over at him, and he waggled his eyebrows playfully. I couldn’t help but laugh as I shook my head at him.
We’d spent many nights on a blanket under the stars in the bed of his truck, bathed in just moonlight and each other. Back when we had dreams and hopes bigger than ourselves. Before we’d been broken.
As I looked at him, I couldn’t help but wonder if we could ever go back to that.
I hopped into the cab as Lincoln got in the driver’s side. “This thing is older than you, isn’t it? I can’t believe it still runs,” I teased.
He chuckled as he rubbed the dashboard. “Don’t talk about Betty like that. She may be old, but she’s just as good as all those young trucks out there.”
I laughed as he started the truck. Betty rumbled to life, and Lincoln revved the engine a few times. “See? Perfect condition.”
Once we backed out of his driveway, Lincoln asked, “When did you get back?”
