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He said that thing about how he wanted us to be honest about what’s going on.
I was the one who put the brakes on that conversation.
I’m not ready to be honest about this.
Not to myself, and not to him.
While Nick puts away the checkers, I jog up the stairs and gather Outlaw. Mittens lets out a soft meow before repositioning herself and falling back to sleep.
Nick shows me out to his porch, where a pale moon hangs over the row of dark houses across the street. A chorus of crickets chirp in the shrubs, but other than that the street is quiet. It feels like we’re the only ones awake in the neighborhood. I catch sight of Nick’s yellow kayak, tucked in next to his porch, and hesitate on the top porch step.
“I forgot to ask… Was Hana happy you’re a fellow kayaker?”
“Yeah, she seemed pleased.”
“Did you bring up the idea of a paddle around Stillwell Pond?”
“We got to the end of the date and I started to run through my mental flow chart. You know, like do I say, ‘I’ll call you,’ or ‘thanks,’ or try to make plans for date number two? And I remembered your advice, so I threw out the idea of kayaking sometime.”
“Good,” I say, though the news doesn’t feel good. “And she liked the idea of it?”
“Loved it. She seemed really happy.”
“I’m sure.” A lump forms in my throat.
I rest my hand on the banister. It feels smooth under my palm as I descend the creaky porch steps. Outlaw traipses along beside me.
On the walkway, I look back. “Night, Nick.”
“Hey. Wait…” He descends the steps, too, and the next thing I know he’s on the walkway beside me. He steps in closer to me.
My breath hitches.
What’s happening?
He bends down toward Outlaw. As he rubs the fur between Outlaw’s ears, I feel like a fool.
For a second there, I thought Nick wanted a good-night hug.
Or… or more.
“Okay. Had to get one more pet in,” he says with a chuckle, before straightening up. “He gives you those puppy-dog eyes, you know? Okay, ’night, you two. Sweet dreams.”
“Sweet dreams, Nick.” I walk away, forcing myself not to look back.
Even though I don’t look, I feel Nick’s eyes on me until the minute I’m through Pansy’s door.
Chapter 13
Nick
“Soo… has she broken her promise yet?” Roxie asks me. She stops swiping a rag over the counter and leans on it.
I sip the coffee she served me moments ago.
It’s Friday night, finally. I’ve been excited about this all week.
The diner is officially closed now, and the Bradshaw clan’s been bustling around me for the past ten minutes, bussing tables and cleaning up so we’re ready for the first Friday Night Checkers Club meeting. I was chipping in until Roxie insisted I sit and drink a cup of coffee.
