Page 78 of Crazy for You

“I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you soon, okay?” He pulled her in and kissed her, hard, then headed for his bike.

Emma watched him go, her emotions tumbling like a whirlwind inside her. Maybe she was feeling a little homesick about leaving them all behind—Ryan especially—but she wasn’t going to let it ruin her celebration tonight or her plans for the future. She was going to get her degree and start her own landscape design company. And hopefully the rest of her life would fall into place behind it.

Ryan pulled up in front of Emma’s apartment a few hours later and cut the engine. She walked out her front door, dressed in snug jeans and a blue jacket, her eyes wide.

“What’s this?” she asked, eyeing his new ride.

He swung out of the cab and grinned at her. “We needed a way to move equipment and gear around the property, and I knew a guy selling a truck.”

“So you bought a pickup truck?” She ran her hand over the hood.

“Sure did. What do you think?”

“I like it. It suits you, I think.” She glanced over at him, her lips curved in a soft smile.

“The bike suits me better, but it sure doesn’t help me move lumber across the property to make repairs on the zip-line platforms.”

“I think there’s room in your life now for the bike and the truck.” She was still smiling, and he got the feeling she was talking about something more than just moving lumber. But okay, yeah, it had been frustrating that he couldn’t drive Trent anywhere. Ryan wasn’t a lone wolf anymore. Sometimes a man needed a passenger seat.

And a truck bed.

He glanced at the empty truck bed, then at Emma. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“We might need to christen it at some point,” she said with a wink.

“I think that’s a definite.”

She giggled as she walked around to the passenger side. “So I hear we’re meeting everyone at The Drunken Bear.”

“That’s the plan. Ethan and Gabby will be coming late after he finishes coaching the swim team at the high school.”

He cranked the engine and drove them into town. Climate control was nice and all, but he missed the rush of riding on his bike. Holding Emma’s hand as he drove through town was pretty nice, too, though. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was room for both vehicles in his life.

“This worked out well for tonight,” she said after he’d parked. “I love riding with you, but it really does a number on my hair.” She ran her fingers through its blonde lengths.

“Don’t get too used to it,” he said, leaning in for a kiss. “I don’t plan to drive the truck all that much.”

“Didn’t think you would.”

They walked down the street together and found Trent standing outside The Drunken Bear, busily texting on his phone.

“Hey, Trent,” Emma said, “I’m so glad you could make it.”

He looked up with a smile. “So you’re going to college, huh?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Ironic, right?”

“Yeah,” Trent said. “It really is.”

“It’s never too late,” she said, hooking her arm through Trent’s as the three of them walked inside The Drunken Bear.

They were seated at a table near the window. Emma ordered a Celtic Sunrise—a house special with Irish whiskey, Grand Marnier, orange juice, and a splash of grenadine. Ryan wasn’t big on mixed drinks, but this one wasn’t half bad. He’d tasted everything on the menu when he started tending bar here. Tonight, though, he stuck with beer. Trent ordered a Dr Pepper.

“I do think it’s cool that you’re doing this,” Trent said.

“That mean you’re going to re-enroll in the fall?” Ryan couldn’t help asking.

Trent shrugged. “Still thinking about it.”

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