9
Jeff pulled up at the airport, his heart beating rapidly. He couldn’t believe he would finally see Megan after all this time. He wasn’t sure where they stood on friendship grounds, but this seemed like a step in the right direction.
It was already evening, and Jeff wondered if he would be able to see her much before she left town again. He stepped out of his car and walked around to the sidewalk. He immediately spotted her walking out the double sliding doors. She waved and hurried to him with a small suitcase in hand.
“That’s not a very big bag,” Jeff said.
“Unfortunately, it’s just an overnight bag. I couldn’t swing longer since I already have my current place booked through the end of the month,” Megan said.
Jeff’s stomach sank. “Oh. That’s unfortunate.”
He took her bag and put it into his trunk before closing it and walking around to her side, pulling the passenger door open for her.
“Such a gentleman,” Megan said.
“I try.”
He shut the door behind her and walked around to his side, sliding behind the wheel. “To Jessa and Noah’s?”
Megan furrowed her brows and rubbed her face. “Um. Do you think we could go get some dinner first? If you’re hungry.”
Jeff smiled. “I’d love to. Do you have a preference?”
“Antonio’s?”
His eyebrows raised. He had expected her to say the resort restaurant since she loved the nachos, but she requested a restaurant in the town over.
“Surprised?” she asked.
“A little, yes. What made you pick there?”
She shrugged. “I figured it would be somewhere nice to go. Try something different.”
While he was surprised, he couldn’t help but be excited he would get to spend even more time driving with her.
“I’m not complaining or anything, since I’m happy to spend time with you, but I figured you’d want to see Jessa immediately,” Jeff said.
“I just saw her yesterday before she flew home.” Megan’s cheeks tinged red. “So when was the last time you went to Antonio’s?”
That was weird.
“Um,” he thought back. “I think it was when I took Mia on a date there last year when we were trying to get Jackson to realize his feelings for her.”
The truth was, he had feelings for Mia, but he knew she could never love someone as much as she loved Jackson. It was obvious that Jackson and Mia were made for each other, but he felt the loss of having a chance at love when she turned him down. He realized now it was more about the loss of love rather than the loss of Mia specifically that bummed him out.
Megan snorted. “That’s right. I forgot you were involved in that. Those two were made for each other. Even I could see it the first time Jessa and I visited Wintervale.”
“Yes, they were.”
Jeff pulled into the parking lot for Antonio’s and turned the car off. Then he got out and quickly walked around the car and pulled Megan’s door open for her. She smiled brightly at him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He rested his hand on the small of her back and walked with her into the restaurant. They were seated quickly, and Jeff looked around to see if anyone from Wintervale was there. He saw one couple he knew and waved before turning back to Megan.
“Is it weird constantly seeing people you know and having them tell the town your business?” she asked.
He laughed. “You get used to it. And you learn what to share and what not to share.” He tilted his head from side to side. “Andwhoto share it around.”
