Keondre turned at the sliding door. “Hey, Mom, when’s supper? I’m starving.”
“Supper’s in the oven. Grab a towel—don’t you drip all over my clean floor.”
Maggie got in her car and checked her phone for any texts that might’ve come in during the lesson. Nothing. Then, just because she couldn’t help herself, she opened Josh’s text from this morning.
Still like me?
She’d waited a full ten minutes before texting back.I think I can tolerate you.
??
After lunch he’d texted that one of his favorite local bands was playing at Beats on the Boardwalk. She hadn’t answered yet.
Last night as he’d accompanied her to her car, they walked closely, their arms brushing. And even though they’d done that a million times, it felt awkward. Everything had changed. She was giving them a chance. Giving Josh a chance. The future was uncertain. And despite her agreement to see what happened, she couldn’t help but fret about the damage a bitter breakup might cause. About Josh’s short attention span in the romance department. About what his family might think. He was her brother-in-law. She winced as the silence lengthened between them. Was this too weird?
No weirder than you enjoying his kiss two and a half years ago.
The recollection provoked another thought that made the fried flounder in her stomach churn. What if he tried to kiss her now? Did she want him to? Her heart rate couldn’t seem to keep pace with her lungs. Her palms grew sweaty, her mouth dry.
They reached her car and she unlocked the door with her fob. The sun had set, ushering in darkness, and the scent of honeysuckle carried on a breeze.
“I’ll text you.” Josh opened her door, putting it between them.
No kiss then. She dredged up a smile. “Okay. Good night.”
“Night, Maggie.”
As she drove away she wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved that he hadn’t tried to kiss her.
Now she gave her head a hard shake and the Johnsons’ house came into focus. Josh had promised to take it slow. Grabbing her for a kiss two minutes after agreeing to thisshiftwas hardly slow. They needed to find their footing. Surely going out with him wouldn’t be much different than what they’d been doing for years. And dancing might be the perfect activity, the perfect tension breaker. They’d always excelled at having fun together.
They’d just go out and have fun. What harm could come from that?
She lifted her phone and replied to his text about dancing tonight.
Bring it on.
Chapter 25
Beats on the Boardwalk sat just two blocks from Seabrook’s carnival grounds. On this busy Saturday night, the rustic building teemed with locals and tourists alike. Sounds of chatter and laughter punctuated the space between the band’s songs, and the smell of grilled burgers dominated.
Josh and Maggie had been fortunate to score a table far enough from the speakers to allow communicating. Though conversation had started out a little stilted.
Probably didn’t help that he could hardly take his eyes off her. Her brown hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves. Her doe eyes seemed large and luminous under the pendant light, her sun-kissed skin flawless.
He could hardly believe he was here with her, on a date. He’d waited so long for this chance.
Since their conversation the night before, he’d been unable to keep the smile from his face. The wonder from his heart. It had been hard putting himself out there, risking her rejection. But her admission that she could feel more than friendship for him had turned his world upside down.
Across from him, Maggie shifted in the booth.
He was staring. And his daydreaming had ushered in a long, awkward pause.
Don’t blow it now, idiot.He needed to get them back on familiar ground.
He dropped his napkin on his empty plate. “How did your lesson go today? This was the teenager who’s hoping for a spot on the high school team?”
“Right. Keondre’s a strong athlete, a good swimmer. He’ll have no trouble making the team.”
