It hurt to picture it, but it’s what needed to happen. Thankfully that unexpected flash of regret didn’t register with anyone else because they’d latched onto a new topic.
“William?” Cece shrieked.
He winced. How had he forgotten his middle sister’s infatuation with William? He’d brought his friend home with him for Thanksgiving a few years ago, and Cece had followed him around like a horny cartoon grandma the whole time. And now that she was divorced…
“Yes,” he said reluctantly. “But I’m begging you not to—”
“Climb him like a tree? No deal,” she said. “When did you say he’s arriving?”
Just like that, Cece and Vani had their heads together, laughing and whispering about whatever diabolical plans they were hatching over poor William, who wasn’t going to know what hit him once he got to Illinois. While that was happening, Jessie touched his elbow.
“Just a suggestion: I seduce Faith and break her heart. I’m willing to do that for you, out of revenge.” She shot him a teasing grin, but it disappeared quickly when he answered with a growl. She pulled back in surprise. “Oh. I see.”
“What?”
She cut her eyes across the table at their older sisters, then lowered her voice even more. “Tell me you’re not still in love with her.”
“Of course not.” His answer was quick, automatic, and it was also true. Hewasn’tin love with her. But with every day that passed, he was remembering all the things he’d loved about being with her. He broke off a piece of his pumpkin donut and allowed one tiny confession to escape, for Jessie’s ears only. “It’ll be good for William to get here though.”
Jessie shot him a sympathetic smile. “Both my offers still stand: seduction and neck-stabbing.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll let you know.”
By now, everyone had finished with their gourd-based meals, and the kids were squirming in their seats. Leo excused himself to return to the BUILD tent but only after his sisters made him promise he’d be at their parents’s for Sunday dinner the following day. Like he’d miss it. Being closer to family was part of the reason he’d moved back home, and he hadn’t regretted that decision until today.
As he headed back to their booth, Faith’s words about living in his hometown floated to the front of his brain, and he forced himself to make eye contact with the people he was passing, even smiling and nodding when it seemed appropriate. It wasn’t necessarily a huge moment of personal growth, but he didn’t burst into flames either, not even when his old second-grade teacher called him by name and pulled him aside for a chat.
And that’s the reason he was so glad to be back by Faith’s side. It was a desire to let her take the lead in chatting with the public and not at all pleasure at being in her presence again.
“Here.” He thrust a napkin-wrapped donut into her hand. “I brought you this.”
She blinked at him in surprise. “Thanks! My favorite.”
“I remember,” he said gruffly, trying not to watch too closely as she took a bite and chased the stray icing flecks from her lower lip with her tongue.
“So do we need to talk about what just happened?” she asked around a full mouth.
“God no. They’re just…”
“Overprotective,” she said.
“Pains in my ass.”
She laughed softly, then fell into a thoughtful silence. “Do they know why we broke up?”
“The whole story.”
“Ah. So I guess that explains all of that.” She exhaled hard. “I’m lucky I didn’t end up in traction.” She wadded up the now-empty napkin and shoved it into the trash bag under the table.
The day slid to a quick close after that, and Leo found that chatting with the people who stopped wasn’t overly painful as long as he stuck to the Dig Greener highlights. Faith was right; he believed in the program, and the more he talked about it, the more names they added to their list of interested kids. It was all she could talk about as they loaded the remaining supplies into her car.
“I can’t believe how many sign-ups we got! If that many kids want to get involved, we may need to hire another outdoorsy person or two.” She settled the last box into her trunk and turned to face him. The sun was hitting the horizon behind her, its dying rays coating her in brilliant orange light. She was so bright he had to squint to look at her.
“Maybe we could recruit some Rayman students. Offer college credit,” he said. Then, almost without meaning to, he added, “And I can help out occasionally, if you’d like.”
Her eyes slid over him, and he was sure they both understood that this directly contradicted the William escape plan. But neither of them acknowledged it.
Instead, he said, “I’ll follow you to BUILD and help you unload.”
