“No. But now that I live back on Long Island, how about a nice download over dinner one night?” I suggested, trying to will my eyes to focus on her and not watch the one-sided conversation behind me.
“That sounds fantastic. Yes, lots to catch up on.”
She brought me in for another quick, tight hug.
“I’ll let you get back to…” She glanced over my shoulder, scurrying away before I could set her straight that Jesse was just my ride home.
“I promise I’m okay.”
I pretended to pick an imaginary piece of lint off my dress as I fought hard to ignore Jesse’s deep chuckle. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine. And I think it’s a little past your bedtime, young lady, even if it is the summer. I’m surprised you conned Grams into letting you stay up this late.”
Jesse had a kid. A little girl. I’d bet he was a great dad too. Judging by the love written all over his face, he adored his daughter. I was happy for him, if a little sad for me. I’d always wanted kids, but nothing had ever worked out. I’d been looking into other ways to go about it, but as I was nearing my thirty-ninth birthday, I needed to figure out what I wanted to do soon.
The pang in my chest from eavesdropping on Jesse and his daughter was enough to tip the scales for the moment.
I turned, fighting to keep my eyes straight ahead and not intrude on a conversation that was none of my business.
“I’m parked on the side street,” Jesse said, coming up behind me and almost making me jump. “We can just get right in and not wait around for valet.” He pointed to the already long line by the entrance as we headed out.
“They tried, I guess,” Jesse said, smiling as he clicked the key fob in his hand. A midsize SUV parked on the corner chirped in response.
“They did. I remember us saying the same thing when they had the prom here.”
Jesse rushed in front of me to open the passenger side door.
“Well, prom was more fun. For a lot of reasons.”
The only light on the street was the lamp on the corner, but I saw something in his eyes as they held mine. I spied equal partsheat and regret. Could nostalgia be kicking his ass a little bit tonight too?
“I suppose,” I said. It was a wimpy reply, but it was all I could muster as I shifted to climb into his truck.
“We could stop at the diner on the way home if you’re up for it.”
I stilled at his invitation. I didn’t want to be rude, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure how much one-on-one time I wanted with Jesse tonight if the simple notion of a car ride home had me this jittery.
“Maybe they still have that carrot cake you used to like?”
I examined Jesse’s face, annoyed at his easy grin.
“I think I heard that the Starlight Diner was under new management. I doubt the carrot cake is the same.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to try, would it?”
“That depends.” I lifted my foot out of the car and leaned against the back door. “How far down memory lane are you expecting to go?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged, again with that damn smile. “A cup of coffee, a piece of cake, talking without our friends eyeballing our every move. Would that be so bad?”
“Maybe not,” I said, crossing my arms as I darted my eyes away from Jesse and toward the street.
“Maybe not,” he repeated, his deep chuckle so maddening and yet sexy at the same time. “I’ll take that.”
I should’ve told him just to take me straight home, but hadn’t I wondered about Jesse enough over the years? Maybe I didn’t owe him a cup of coffee and a talk, but I owed it to myself—even if the answer I’d always wondered about would hurt me all over again.
4
JESSE
“Your truck is really nice,”Emily said as I pulled into the diner parking lot.
