“Well, that’s a relief, but either way, I think I would take my chances with you,” I grin, getting a small laugh out of her.
Looking out the window, she bites her lip, processing everything I just said. I’ve just made this a million times harder forme with this friend zone thing we have going on, but I’m hoping I can earn her trust enough for her walls to start to crack. The more time we spend together, the more I can learn about her and convince her to stay if she ever feels the need to leave.
“How about I show you the house and go over everything? Then you can decide for yourself if this job is something you want?”
“Okay. That’s fair,” she says, looking back at me.
“Perfect,” I smile and put the truck in gear before heading through town. “So, how long have you lived in Bayside?”
“Almost a year.”
“What made you decide on Bayside?” I glance over at her, and she’s watching the town go by through the window. She’s deep in thought as she ponders the question I just threw at her.
We have a half-hour drive until we reach Blue Haven, and I plan on taking advantage of her being trapped in the truck with me, hoping I can get more information out of her.
“I just got on the bus one day and went south along the coast. I didn’t care where I was going as long as it was further away than where I was. I’ve always loved the ocean, so I knew I wanted to be as close to the water as possible. After a few stops, we arrived in Bayside, and I don’t know. I just got this feeling that this is where I was supposed to be, so I got off,” she shrugs.
“I found an apartment that day and then found the bakery job. Clara came in three months later and hired me for her catering events, which led me to you, I suppose.” She studies me as I glance over at her. I wish I knew what she was thinking right now. Her eyes have a haunted look to them as her memories resurface.
“I’m glad you got off that bus,” I say quietly, forcing my eyes back to the road.
“I am, too,” she finally whispers before looking back out the window. “So, you never did tell me how you found me.”
“Well, I planned to ask Bella, who was the bride at the wedding, for the name of the caterers and then beg your boss until she told me where I could find you, but my mom, of all people, told me you worked at Al’s Bakery when we got back from the wedding.”
“Your mom?” Her head whips toward me in confusion.
“She got a text from her friend Laura while I was with her at the beach. She was excited to learn about your meeting today.”
I see the wheels turning in her head as she puts it all together. “Your mom is Meaghan,” she murmurs. “No wonder she looked familiar. I see the resemblance now with the dark hair and eyes.”
“She called me this afternoon and told me Laura hired you. I think she’s trying to play matchmaker now. I was a little too eager to get information from her yesterday, and I think she saw an opportunity and jumped on it,” I laugh. “I wanted to say congratulations in person today and ask you out on a friends-only celebratory dinner. I almost waited until we had a few more talks between us, but I’m glad I listened to my gut and came when I did.” I grip the steering wheel tighter and focus on the road. I know we need to talk about what happened back at the bakery.
“I hope I didn’t scare you back there,” I say quietly. “When he said those things about you and then tried to blame his actions on you…I lost it. I don’t want you thinking I’m some ass that has a temper and enjoys beating people up.”
“I don’t think that,” she sighs. “You were protecting me, and the anger wasn’t directed towards me. I know the difference, believe me.” She says the last part so soft that for a second, I think I’ve imagined it.
“This isn’t the first time a guy has bothered you, is it?”
She avoids my eye contact and fidgets with the hem of her white t-shirt. “Al is a creep. I’m fully aware, but I can handlewords. Words only hurt if you let them get under your skin. I’ve gotten good at letting them roll off of me. If he had laid a hand on me, I would have quit on my own. I want you to know that.”
I glance over, and her eyes plead with me to understand.
“I may look weak and stupid for putting up with him, but I did what I needed to do.”
“I don’t think you are weak and stupid. Far from it, actually. You stood up for yourself back there, and I’m proud of you for facing him instead of running. It took a lot of guts to do that.”
“Sometimes running is your only option,” she says quietly, hugging her arms to her chest and looking out the window.
“Sometimes it is, especially if you are alone. But you’re not alone anymore, Lyla.”
She continues to look out the window, and I see her hand come up to swipe the side of her face.
Shit.She’s crying.
Without thinking twice, I grab her hand and intertwine my fingers with hers. She looks down at our laced fingers and grips me tightly like she needs something to hold on to…something to give her strength when she doesn’t feel she has any left.
“You never answered my question. Has someone bothered you before? With more than words.” I hold my breath, praying I’m wrong but feeling deep in my bones that it’s the reason she’s running.
