Page 28 of Courageous Yearnings

“There’s a cart full of items that says, ‘I should be worrying about money’…”

“And I’m telling you not to,” he smiled. “I’m not rich by any means, but I’ve got my feet under me, and you don’t yet. So, let’s scratch each other’s backs and things can all be handled later on when things are better.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. Do you want ice cream? I could go for a hot fudge sundae. How about you?”

She blinked at him several times because he was changing directions once again on her, keeping her mind spinning. They were just talking about keys, money, friendship, and now ice cream?

“Um, sure?”

“Let’s get this, head to your place and put it away, then we can make a list of items to get tomorrow because we haven't started a list yet… and have ice cream while sitting on the floor. It will be like picnicking. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

“You’re weird,” she chuckled nervously and looked at him – only to catch his playful wink as he grinned, pushing the cart toward the register.

Thirty minutes later, Blythe was unlocking the front door to her home only to feel Lance scoop her up, carrying her inside. She stared at him in surprise as he set her down not a second later before darting back out to the truck to get the bags from the back.

“What was that?”

“Firefighters are superstitious. We don’t say ‘bye’ to each other. You don’t clean your helmet – it’s bad luck. I have a rabbit’s foot on my keychain and a four-leaf clover. So, when you are walking into a new house – you carry a girl over the threshold.”

“A bride gets carried over the threshold…”

“Well, you’re not a bride, and neither am I,” he harrumphed, lifting the bags and putting them on the counter. If she wasn’t so shocked by his candid statement, she might have been insulted, but it was true – and he was acting like it was nothing.

Ignoring her standing there, he walked over and tried his key in the door, before dropping it back into his pocket. Lance whistled lightly to himself and handed her a sundae that was melting – along with a spoon.

He quickly dug out a notepad and an ink pen before digging into his own ice cream. Walking back into the living room, he flipped on the hallway light, casting a glow in the empty darkness, then plopped down on the floor, leaning against the wall like it was nothing… and hesitated.

Lance patted the floor beside him pointedly.

Blythe sighed and moved to take a seat – only to feel him nudge her shoulder playfully.

“This is nice.”

“Thank you,” she said nervously, smiling as she dug out a bite of ice cream. “I really liked the covered patio and the kitchen.”

“It’s cozy. I see why you were buying this place.”

“I was supposed to move the next day.”

“You are moving now,” he said quietly. “This can be your ‘next day,’ and we can put it all behind you now.”

“I lost everything…”

“You are starting over, yes – but sometimes everyone needs a fresh start in order to find their place… or a swift kick in the teeth.”

“I feel like I got both,” she admitted, taking a bite and trying not to get weepy. “Two steps forward, but I keep sliding down the hill.”

“Then look up, take my hand, and realize that you aren’t climbing alone. I’m attached to an anchor, waiting, and ready to help.”

Blythe looked at him and saw his eyes were watching her – only to see him take a bite of his ice cream pointedly. She chuckled softly, realizing that she was making more of this than he intended or implied. He was just being friendly and sweet, and they had only really begun talking. He claimed they were now ‘dating’ but then had also mentioned that he wasn’t interested in dating anyone either.

Grabbing the notepad, he arched an eyebrow at her.

“You need a couch for us to sit on,” he began and scribbled it on the paper.

“Yes. A television, a couch, um…”

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