I try to keep the smile in place. I really do. But it slips, because I'm only human and I've been sitting with that image since Main Street, and I am tired of pretending I hadn't seen what I'd seen.
"I told her I was dating you." He holds my gaze. “Thing is, I did want to go to dinner.” He pauses for a moment, and my heart breaks.
A part of me knew that I would never be what the other girls were. Chic and classy. I am rough around the edges, and more than people knew, I am actually shy.
“Just not with her,” he says, walking up behind me and placing his arms around me. "It was a no-brainer," he whispers in my ear, which sends shivers up my spine.
I breathe out in relief. I can’t believe it. “You chose me over Veronica?” I ask, looking up at him upside down.
The corner of my mouth turns up before I can stop it.
"Really?" I ask.
And then the smile fades again. Because the inn was still there. The waves, the makeup, the lean over in the cab.
Bo's expression shifts. "What's up? You look like you're about to cry."
I take a breath. "I drove past the inn on the way home. I saw the two of you." I blink at him. "She kissed your cheek."
He moves around me, coming to face me. Pulls me up from the chair and into his arms.
"I don't know why she did that," he says, his eyes searching mine. "She hasn’t changed one bit since high school. But I told her about us,” Bo says, “and not one time was I ever interested in her." He tucks a strand of loose hair behind my ear. "It's always been you, sweet girl.” The corner of his mouth curves up. "She said, ' Lucky her.’ I said, ‘Lucky me,’" he says.
I press my forehead against his chest for just a second.
Then I step back and pick up my pen.
"Gerald absolutely upsized that pot on purpose," I say.
"He did," Bo agrees, pushing off the counter. "And it's a better size."
I point the pen at him.
He grins and goes out the back door to install the sprinkler.
“Oh, and don’t make dinner. I preordered it. Delivery should be here around five. I have to know if that no-nose wizard ever dies.” Bo says on his way out, and just like that, we are back, even if my confidence is shaken a little. If there was ever a reason to wonder, her name is Veronica Eden. I sit back down at my binders, and the kitchen goes quiet again.
I think about what Mae had said.Dated Bo Gates for a hot minute their senior year.
A hot minute.
And Bo had said no to dinner. Had walked into my kitchen and told me about it before I'd even asked. He toldher he was dating me, the one she called Fay, because she hated that I liked Bo.
I'd spent a long time being someone's something. Tyler's sister. Rick's daughter. The girl Kevin wanted.
But Bo Gates had called me his. My heart is dancing.
I close the supplier quotes and start the laundry.
I smile at the window.
Lucky me.
I am loading my jeans when my phone rings.
It is Mom. I answer, ready to hear her complain about Dad not wearing his boot.
“Hey there, sweety.” I know something is wrong just by her tone. “Just got a text from Tyler's headquarters.” She doesn’t even wait for me to ask; she knows. “He’s had an accident, but he’s fine. There was a landing crash, and he’s in surgery now. They’ll call later when they know more.”
