“So why are you acting anxious?”
Robert stopped fidgeting and looked at her. “No reason. I just...would you like to go for a walk again?”
“I’d love to.” The offer of a walk was an evasion tactic, but no way would she turn it down. “I have a serious case of cabin fever.”
She expected him to laugh at her pun and come up with something equally cheesy, but he barely cracked a smile before stepping toward the door.
He’s definitely distracted by something.
Not wanting to push him to talk, since she wasn’t keen on sharing her own thoughts, Jessie followed him out the door.
They walked side-by-side in silence for a time, then Robert started talking about his family and what his siblings and mother were doing now. The conversation shifted to reminiscing about Robert teaching her how to drive a stick shift.
“I swear, I had some serious whiplash for that week,” Robert said with a chuckle.
Jessi smacked his shoulder. “I wasn’t that bad. Besides, it served you right for making me shoot that horrible high-recoil buckshot bullet.”
Robert laughed. “I’ll never forget the look on your face when it nearly knocked you on your butt.”
Jessie joined in the laughter. “I couldn’t figure out what happened with that shot. I should have realized something was up when Jake warned me not to trust you as we rode out that day.”
Jessie marveled at how easy it was to talk to Robert after all these years. She’d always been comfortable with him and could talk to him about anything.
He’d been her sounding board after her father walked out on their family, and when she’d been trying to decide which college to go to, or when she’d been torn about leaving for a year and a half to study abroad. Robert was patient and supportive; a superb listener, offering helpful advice, never trying to influence her decisions.
“Do you miss it?” Robert asked abruptly, all trace of humor gone.
She shot him a quick glance. Had he read her mind? “Do I miss shooting bullets that leave my shoulder bruised for a week? No way.”
“I mean, do you miss the carefree days of our youth? Where all we had to worry about were chores and homework. You know, before we had to start making the hard decisions?”
“Decisions like whether to stay and marry my boyfriend or chase my dreams?” Her voice was so quiet she wasn’t sure he heard her.
He stepped in front of her, making her come to a stop. “No, Jessie. That’s not what I meant.” He raked a hand through his hair. “It’s just...we’ve both been through some rough stuff. Don’t you wish we could just go back?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation then silently added,And I’d choose my boyfriend over my career.
Her single word answer must have been enough, because he nodded and started walking again. “Me too.” After a few strides he added, “Too bad we can’t.”
“Yeah.”
Too bad wishing they could go back didn’t change the way things were now. She couldn’t help but wonder what difficult stuff Robert had been through, besides her leaving him and losing his dad?
When they returned to the cabin, Jessie put water on to boil for spaghetti, hoping to convince Robert to stay for dinner. She watched him out the window as he split more firewood. Though not bulky, he had a solid, muscular build, with broad shoulders and a trim waist. He loaded his arms full of split wood and warmth raced through her at the memory of being held in his embrace.
Giving herself a mental shake, she turned away from the window. She didn’t particularly want to share an intimate meal with him, but she didn’t want him to leave yet. The solitude was driving her crazy.
After Robert deposited his armload of wood, he shifted from one foot to the other as though uncertain whether he should stay or go.
“I’m making spaghetti,” she blurted when he stepped toward the door. “Would you like to stay for dinner?” She held her breath, waiting for his response. Her stomach tightened in anticipation.
Robert looked out the window at his Tahoe again and rubbed his hands against his thighs. “I’d like that.”
Jessie frowned as she turned back to the stove. If he was so eager to leave, why did he agree to stay for dinner?
“Should we watch a movie while we eat?” Robert called from the front room.
Hmm...maybe he’s not so eager to leave after all.So why did he keep looking out the window at his SUV?
