I bent down and gave them all hugs, and my chest tightened. This family was real and kind, and it was easy to imagine fitting in with them.
“Keep Harrison in line for us, would you?”
Ben earned a grin from me. “I’ll do my best.”
“I can hear you.” Harrison put a hand on my shoulder, and I tensed. It was such a boyfriend thing to do.
Oh, honey, it’s time to go! Say goodbyes!
“We should get going, but it was great seeing you. You guys are all my favorite.” A genuine warmth came from the hard-ass football coach.
The world really didn’t know him. It saddened me because they were missing out.
“You, too.” Blair hugged her brother.
“Ready Becca?” Harrison flexed his jaw as he shouldered the bags.
“Yup. Lots to do today now that the ice age is over.” I waved at Blair and her family and headed toward the truck.
Each step brought more sadness. It was the same melancholy I’d get at the end of a vacation, only this time it was rooted around my heart.
Harrison loaded the back of the truck without a word, and an awkward tension filled the cab once he joined me. He gripped the steering wheel, swallowing so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed. “You buckled in?”
“Yes.” I motioned with my finger as though checking it off a list.
He didn’t react. Instead he nodded and started the drive home.
A million thoughts raced through my mind—like how much I liked his sister and her family, how much I liked him, and how much I hated that the temporary arrangement was coming to an end. Do I thank him after I get my stuff from his house? Do I kiss him before leaving? Do I give him a high five for a great time? I didn’t know. This was out of my element, and I couldn’t risk asking for more. I’d have to follow his lead.
Goodbyes were awful.
He said he would be my date, though!
A thrill shot through me knowing I’d see him again. He wouldn’t back out of that, I was sure. But what else did that mean? Did he regret agreeing to it?
My heart raced as I thought about him showing up to the damn gala and putting a stop to my mom’s shenanigans. But I wouldn’t bring it up yet. There was an obvious finality in the air. The ball of nerves and anxiety grew in my gut, and I snuck a glance at him. His shoulders were straight, and his jaw was tense, like he had ten pieces of gum in his mouth holding his teeth together. Was he wondering, too, about how to end this without hurting my feelings? Or was he simply focusing on the icy road?Good lord, this is why I don’t date.
“You’re squirming over there. You good?” He flicked his gaze to me for a second.
“Uh, yeah. Just thinking.”
He let out a pent-up breath, like he was annoyed with me. “I’m sure the house is doing fine. We checked it, remember?”
“Right.” I didn’t tell him the house was the furthest thing from my mind. But he’d given me an out, and I had welcomed it.Coward.
“There’s so much to do.” I pulled at a hangnail.
“It’ll be quicker if we tag-team it.” He gave me a tight smile.
“Tag-team?”
“If you want.” He spoke fast, and I swore the man stuttered. “If you want an extra set of capable hands, I mean. I’d be happy to help you.”
He’s being nice. That’s all.
“Yeah, that’d be nice. I’ll do a quick assessment and let you know what needs to be done.”
“Got it.” The smile disappeared, and he turned on the radio.
