In lieu of an answer, she welcomed his kiss.
They spent the morning walking, taking selfies on Boulder Bridge, and of course kissing. They held hands as they strolled and chatted about their families, work, and old times, falling into a familiar rhythm derived from years of friendship.
When morning melded into afternoon, they found a snack bar at the tennis center and settled at a secluded table for an impromptu picnic. Afterward they rented a canoe, and Tyson gave her palpitations when he stepped in wrong and nearly tipped them into the river.
By the time they exited the park, Jenna felt so refreshed and joyful that she hated to leave. Hated the thought of that conversation she had to have with her mom. Hated the thought of returning to theisland because that would burst this bubble of intimacy she’d enjoyed with Tyson.
As he turned onto the highway, she glanced his way. In roughly three and a half hours they’d be home, and they’d go back to the way things were before. Back to being only friends.
The thought left her hollow. But as much as she’d enjoyed these hours together, not to mention the monumental kisses, she couldn’t escape the fact that she couldn’t be with Ty.
As they headed back to the island, heaviness swelled inside the cab. There was little conversation. Obviously she wasn’t the only one with conflicted feelings. She could read the tension in Ty’s body language. See that the sparkle in his green eyes had dimmed.
They hit a drive-thru for supper, and when they were an hour from home, he gave her a sidelong glance. “Want to talk about what’s going on?”
She held his gaze for a long beat. “I’m not sure it would do any good.”
He turned his attention to the road. “Probably not.”
“We can just, you know, carry on as usual. We’ve been friends for a long time. It’s familiar ground.”
“I’m not sure it’ll be that easy for me,” he said quietly.
Or for her. A frisson of fear passed through her. The closeness they’d shared might’ve changed everything between them. And the thought of losing what they’d had before the past twenty-four hours knocked the wind out of her.
Chapter 30
It was dark by the time Jenna approached her mom’s house. Her mind was still on the awkward good-bye hug she’d shared with Ty. He still sat at the curb, waiting for her to enter the house. Ever the gentleman.
As she stepped onto the porch she gave him a wave.
With the weight of everything that had happened, she’d decided to put off her talk with Mom until tomorrow. Maybe arrange another girls’ night at Island Creamery. A little something sweet to help the bad news go down. Sure, that would help.
Her mother’s car wasn’t in the drive anyway. But when Jenna entered the house, she found Mom curled up on the sofa, watching a reality TV show. She looked younger than her years with her stubby ponytail and pale blue loungewear. The familiar smell of molasses and vanilla reached Jenna’s nose.
“Hi, honey.” Mom jumped up and embraced her. “I’m so happy the interview went well. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“I can’t wait to tell you.” Jenna had only texted broad details about the interview.
“Ty’s not coming in? I have a fresh batch of oatmeal-raisin cookies cooling on the stove.”
“His favorite. He said to tell you hello but he had to get going.”
“I’ll just take some over tomorrow. Ronda likes them too. I made some without raisins for you and Gordon.” The man had a huge sweet tooth, which might account for the uptick in Mom’s baking this summer.
“Thanks. I’ll have one later.”
They settled on the sofa as the program broke for a commercial. Jenna answered all Mom’s questions about her conversation with Nancy and the job particulars. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours that the interview seemed like it had taken place a week ago.
“The job sounds perfect. So you think you’ll get it?”
“It seems promising, but she’s not finished interviewing so I don’t want to be too optimistic. Where’s Gordon?”
“You just missed him. He went to Island Foods for basil. He’s planning to make his homemade spaghetti sauce tomorrow, which apparently has to simmer all day.”
Island Foods was a twenty-minute errand at most. Maybe that was Jenna’s cue to have that talk with Mom. But Jenna had already been here ten minutes, and this wasn’t a conversation to rush.
Mom’s phone vibrated and she checked the screen. “They didn’t have fresh basil, and the man refuses to use dried herbs. He’s heading to Food Lion.”
