“I’ve been waiting for you.”
I stare at his lips, savoring the words from his mouth. Five words. One sentence. And all my worry that I blew my chance flies out of my head. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
He grasps my fingers and holds them to his lips as he looks me up and down. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Casey opens his mouth to say something, but his mother interrupts him.
“Casey, darling. There’s someone I want you to meet. Mrs. Tanner’s niece is here from Missouri. She is just the cutest thing.”
“Hi, Mrs. Tucker,” I say from behind after she inserts herself between us.
She turns slowly, and I imagine her rolling her eyes as she does so. Then I remember the lights and my lace bra and cross my arms over my chest. She doesn’t look down, but hereyes glare at me instead. “Hello, Sage,” she says with a hint of contempt. Then quickly adds, “Casey, let’s go.”
“I’m good here, thanks.”
“But I told them I’d come get you.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“Go ahead,” I say. “It’s all right.”
Casey looks at me and searches my eyes to see if I’ve said that to dismiss him. Not wanting to give him the wrong idea, I add, “I’ll come with you.”
Casey’s eyes crinkle when he smiles. But his mother rejects my suggestion. “I’ll just tell them you’ll come by later. Don’t be long, Casey.”
We both watch her leave and I sigh audibly. “Why does she hate me so much?”
Casey grins. “I don’t hate you.”
I smile, appreciating that he lightened the mood, and tease him back. “You don’t?”
“Nope.”
“Well, then how do you really feel about me?” I say in a teasing tone.
He blinks and his smile falters. “I… uh…”
Shit. I made this awkward. Why do I keep doing this?
I shake my head, prepared to tell him he doesn’t have to answer it. I didn’t mean to put him on the spot like this. But I often say what’s on my mind, even to my own detriment.
He gently squeezes my hand and smiles. “I like you, Sage.”
A small smile returns on my lips, but a fissure etches in my heart. I didn’t expect him to say he loves me; I really didn’t. But the heart feels what it feels, and my heart wants him to love me back.
I change the subject. “How’s your dad feeling?”
“He’s doing great. He’s walking around slowly but getting stronger every day.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah. It makes it easier to leave knowing that he’ll be back to his old self in no time.”
“You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. First thing in the morning.”
