I shake my head. “News sure does travel fast.”
“Just be careful, Shelb. You’re too good for him, and I say that because I have known you my whole life. Heck, I never thought Drew deserved you some days with everything the job put you through.”
“I will be, I promise. Besides, Brody comes first, and that will never change. I also have you.”
“Yes, you do. I always have your back.”
“Just try to be cool about it. I’m a grown woman, Grady.”
He brings his hands up in surrender. “I’ll be cool, for now.”
I stand and round the desk, hugging him around his neck and placing a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for everything, Grady Malone.”
“Have you seen Ember around?”I ask Haden.
“I think he’s outside.” He responds as he tinkers with a truck. I walk out and grin when I spot him. His back is to me, and he’s talking to someone. On closer inspection, I notice it’s his father. He turns, spots me, and waves me over.
“Hey, you.” He leans in to plant a kiss on my cheek.
“Hi, Mr. Dale,” I greet his dad.
“Just Edmund will do darlin’.”
“Glad to see my son finally dating a Sunnyville girl.” He chuckles.
“Dad!” Ember laughs. “You’re putting her on the spot.”
“Sorry, honey,” Edmund tells me.
“It’s all right.”
“Okay, I have some work to do, so I am going to leave you kids to get on with whatever it is you’re doing.”
“Nice to see you again, Edmund.” It feels weird calling an older man by his name.
“Likewise, sweetheart. The Mrs will be expecting you over for dinner soon, no doubt about that.”
Ember visibly cringes.
When his father drives off, we return to the bench. “I brought you lunch.”
“Really?” He laughs, and I roll my eyes, knowing he’s thinking about the last time I was at the station.
“That feels like a lifetime ago,” I say with a smirk, squinting at the sunlight, trying to look at his face.
“I know. I like this right here so much better than that time.” He leans in and places a soft kiss on my lips. Placing his hands against my cheeks, he looks at me with such sincerity my insides melt. “I don’t want to remember a time I didn’t know you.”
“You are full of flattery.” I flush.
“I mean that, though,” he tells me.
“I know you do. Are you okay?” I have this nagging feeling he isn’t. And when I saw his dad here, it just made that niggling grow.
He sighs, then looks at me. “I am now. Can I come over after my shift, work on the treehouse with Brody?”
“Of course, he’ll be really excited to see you.”
“I should head back in. Thank you for lunch.” He kisses me again, and I wish we were anywhere but here.
