“I think I might be dooming myself to heartbreak if I do.”
“Or opening yourself up to happiness.” He handed her the plate of food. Eli carried her tea and Penelope shot Sam a grateful wave as they parted.
“Still starstruck by Sam, I see,” Eli said.
“Yep,” she replied fervently.
They found a sidewalk bench in the shade and she started in on the sliders.Delicious.
Companionable quiet settled over them as they watched people flow past.
Inwardly, Eli argued with himself. Penelope wouldn’t date him until he was honest with her, but as soon as he was honest with her, she wouldn’t want to date him.
She looked incredibly cute today, with her hair piled on top of her head. Her long legs were bare and toned. And she smelled like pie.
He didn’t want to push her away. Yet in order to win her over, the first obstacle he had to overcome was her belief that she couldn’t count on him to be honest. And, frankly, if he couldn’t be honest with her even when he didn’t want to be, he didn’t deserve to date her.
“I learned on Monday that I’ll be restationed to Germany in January,” he said.
His words appeared to catch her unprepared—like a thief sneaking into a house. Her face went blank as she turned to him. “Restationing means that you’re being sent there permanently?”
“Semi-permanently. I’ll be sent somewhere else after a few years there.”
He thought he saw a flare of sadness in her features. “How do you feel about the news?” she asked.
“Not great.”
“Germany’s beautiful.”
“Germany comes with language differences, cultural differences, and climate differences.”
“Yes, but think about all the places you’ll get to see.”
“Right, but you live here. I don’t love the idea of moving far away from you.”
She went still.
“I’m afraid that, because I’m going, I won’t be able to convince you to give me a shot.”
“I’m glad you told me that you’re going, Eli. I appreciate it. I do.”
A vague answer. She had not responded by assuring him that hedidstill have a shot. His mood darkened at the edges like paper held to a candle flame. He’d done what he’d failed to do the last time. He’d told her about an upcoming assignment as soon as he’d found out. He should find comfort in that. But didn’t.
They talked about other things while she polished off the food, then they visited a few different shops. She purchased a bar of handmade soap, a fake USA tattoo for her cheek, and a pottery fruit bowl.
On the way back to the pie truck, they passed a nondescript corridor between buildings. He gestured to it and asked her, “Do you remember?” Their kiss had occurred just yards from where they were standing.
“I do.”
He walked into the corridor.
She hesitated. He kept walking, hoping she’d trail behind him. She did.
The passage opened into the small courtyard. On its far side, the river. The town bank and post office wrapped around its other sides. It had been deserted the night they’d kissed. Then, the sky had been a blanket of stars and red and white flowers had filled the planting beds. It was deserted again now, the bank and post office both closed. The sky shone bright blue. The planting beds overflowed with pink flowers.
This was the first time he’d returned here since that night, which caused memories from the past to hurtle forward.
He’d been carrying her packages. He set them down carefully. “I think I reached for your hand, like this.” He extended his arm. “May I have this dance?”
