The way she gazes at me makes me think I said too much.
I desperately want her to stay. I know I can convince her if I outright beg. But I can’t be another obstacle in her way.
“It’s better if I go by myself. I’ll be too tempted to make you stay over.” She grins at me, but her nerves are showing in the way she fiddles with the handles of a worn-out duffel bag.
The silence of her absence pierces my ears.
Chapter Thirty-One
ELIZA
It’s surreal. I’m lounging on a chair onmyextended porch admiring the sunset. The evening is cool, and the skies changed into beautiful shades of orange and pink, but the gray clouds rolling in worry me.
The first hour of living here I wander around, admiringmytiny home. From the bright white wood siding to the Victorian lamp Carter got me lighting the porch above the deep green door, I can’t wrap my head around the fact that it’s mine.
When I eventually crawl into bed, the adrenaline rush and excitement fade away and it leaves too much room for the sounds of a home with only one inhabitant. The creaks from the walls, leaves rustling outside as the gentle whistle of the wind moves the trees. A June storm is in the air. Did I close the windows? Turn off the oven? I stare at the ceiling wondering why I thought moving in alone was a good idea.
The phone rattles on the nightstand and I lunge for it, answering a bit breathlessly, “Yeah?”
Carter’s laugh travels through the speaker, a comforting sound in the middle of the storm of doubt brewing in my head.
The stir of the forest echoes in my ear. “Are you out?”
“Just wanted to take a stroll,” he says like it’s no big deal he’s not from around here and it’s pitch-black outside.
“At this hour? Don’t get lost.”
“Don’t worry, I know my way between your house and the cabin with my eyes closed.”
My heartbeat spikes. “Where exactly are you?”
It’s stupid but I want to know, even if it’s a dangerous territory we’ve been both thoughtlessly toeing.
“Nearby if you need me.”
I’m close to flying down the stairs out onto the dirt path connecting us. I fist the sheets and draw my knees under my chin to stop myself.
“Can you tell me more about those satellites of yours?”
He chuckles and I know he’s smiling.
“I was a teenager when my father stood in the middle of the command center, and we launched the first satellites.” Carter’s deep and even voice lulls me to sleep and I close my eyes, a strange feeling of safety relaxing my muscles. I don’t know how long he’s on the phone with me talking about broadband, Earth’s orbit, spot beams, and bent-pipe architecture, but in the morning, I’m still clutching the phone to my chest.
Quinn made me promise to stop by for coffee after I moved and now I’m staring at a house-shaped cake with pink icing that says,Congrats! You’re a big girl.I’m doing my best not to cry and hug her to death.
“There, there.” She pats my head, “it’s just a cake.”
“You’re awesome,” I snivel. “Does Mike know how lucky he is?” The man seemed crazy about Quinn.
“It’s dawning on him.” She plays coy. “He’s been sending me flowers and planning dates.”
“That gets him bonus points in my book. I always had to beg Jared to take some initiative. Not flowers and presents, but the little things to show I was on his mind, you know?”
“You don’t have to teach somebody to think about you. They either do or don’t,” she says with a frown, and I get the impression she’s not talking about Jared. “I’ll come over for lunch someday.” She abruptly changes the subject. “Break the house in for visits. I’ll bring food.”
“Don’t close the coffee shop for me.”
“Ah, don’t worry. My landlord miraculously lowered my rent. By a lot. I don’t know what got into him. I can pay a part-time employee now. I hired him three days ago.”
