“Hi, DeSoto, I hope you can have at least one beer tonight.” She climbs inside.
I shut the door, and my hand stays on the handle for a second before I round the back to get in my side.
The road stretches out ahead of us, dark except for the glow of the headlights. I can’t stop stealing glances at her. She’s nervous based on the way her hands twist together in her lap. A memory of those hands tugging me closer flashes through my mind. Feeling them sneak up the hem of my T-shirt and explore my chest as she stared into my eyes.
I feel her hand touch mine and turn to see her looking at me.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“For what?”
“This.” She gestures between us. “I know it’s because you feel guilty, and you shouldn’t?—”
“Guilty?”
“Well yeah, but still, thank you.”
I should tell her I didn’t go get her because I felt guilty. I came to her house because I want to spend the night with her. I want to walk into The Hidden Cave with her by my side. I want to make her laugh and smile and be the reason she has a good time. It’s all selfish reasons, and guilt has nothing to do with it.
“Romy, I don’t want you missing out on anything more than you have to because of me.”
Coward.
The rest of the drive passes, and by the time The Hidden Cave sign comes into view, my chest is filled with a mix of nerves and anticipation.
And with that, we step out of the truck together, the night air cool against my skin.
I offer her my hand, and she accepts it. We walk to the front door with DeSoto right behind us. Maybe we can move past what happened and have a new start. I sure as hell hope so.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Romy
The Hidden Cave is packed. Zander and I are the last to get there, which means we’ll be making an entrance.
We walk through the main bar inside toward the door leading outside, and I try to wiggle my hand free of Zander’s, but he grips me tighter.
I stop and tilt my head in his direction. I haven’t questioned why he wants to hold my hand sometimes on our walks because it feels natural, and I’m just desperate enough to take what I can get, I suppose. But walking out there holding his hand makes a statement, and even I’m not delusional enough to think he really wants that.
He releases my hand and reaches past me, pushing the door open for me to go through first. Laughter and country music fill the cool October air.
Sure enough, my entire family is huddled around the same four tables we usually take here. The girls are together at one end and the boys at the other.
We walk in the direction of my family, but someone pulls Zander’s attention away. I’m prepared to leave him to talk, but his hand wraps around my wrist. I circle around, and he tugs me closer to him, his hand warming the small of my back, so I’m tucked into his side.
Zander leans down, and my heart beats out of my chest as his mouth lowers to my ear. “Sorry, I have to talk to Cal. I’ll be right there,” he says loudly enough that I can hear him over the music. He draws back as if he wants to see my reaction.
I nod, and a smile pierces his face, and my damn heart disobeys, pitter pattering. Then he releases me, leaving only the chill of the air.
Oh boy, I need to get a hold of these feelings because this man doesn’t want commitment. He’s only being this way because I’m having his child.
Scarlett slides off her stool and opens her arms. “Lottie said you weren’t coming. Are you feeling okay?” She grips me tightly, and from her outfit, I see she came straight from work.
I look at Lottie over Scarlett’s shoulder, and she raises her eyebrows at me as if she said what she could without lying.
“I’m feeling better and?—”
“Mr. Country Superstar came over to get her,” Poppy says from across the table.
