Page 87 of Return To You

“I bet she does. Gave him the whipping she couldn’t. Hell, turned him into a close-to-decent human being.”

“That’s all we ever wanted.”

“Amen to that.”

We make our way slowly toward the front. I stop at a display of chocolates “Proudly Made in Emerald Creek”.

“Kiara makes those,” Noah informs me. “They’re dangerously good.”

I snatch a box. “Hey, any idea what basil cleaner is?”

Noah frowns briefly. “If it’s for Lynn, I don’t know. If it’s for Grace, here you go.” He hands me an all-natural, all-purpose, organic liquid soap.

I take the soap. And feel that fucking blush again.

“Shit, man,” Noah says, smiling, “never thought I’d see the day.”

I chuckle slightly, hoping he doesn’t elaborate.

But he does. “Ethan King buying groceries for Grace Harper.”

“Cute, right?” Ms. Angela pipes up from god knows where.

I stifle a smile. “So—tomorrow, noon at the high school?” I say as I pay.

“Awesome. Thanks, man,” Noah answers.

On my way out, I crane my neck to holler goodbye to Ms. Angela and literally bump into Colton coming in. He holds the door open for me and glances at my groceries. “That a Zin you got here?” he asks with half a smile. “You gonna carve the cork into… ah, forget it,” he fumbles.

I hear Ms. Angela’s cackle all the way to my bike.

As I fire my bike up, Colton pokes his head back out. “I thought you were gonna drop her off. The rattle.”

I can’t help the smile. “I will.”

I meet Grace back at the house. She fusses over the flowers, tries different vases before settling on one. Then she folds the kraft paper carefully, places the twine on top of it, disappears toward her bedroom and reappears empty-handed.

The chocolates, she sets in a cupboard.

“Car or bike?” I ask her, pulling her out of the contemplative mood she seems to be falling in.

“Bike!” Grace answers right away.

“Really? The… the chick magnet?” I feign surprise.

She throws a beach towel at me. “How big are your little bags on the side?”

“The saddle bags? Big enough.” I roll two towels tight and grab some water bottles, give Damian a scratch between the ears, and we’re off.

The feel of Grace on the back of my bike is… more than I thought it would be. She’s wearing shorts. “I flashed enough of Emerald Creek last night” is her excuse for forgoing a summer dress, and when the road is straight or we’re at a stop sign, I run a hand on the silky skin of her thigh and feel her tighten against my lower back.

God this woman. She’s under my skin, always was, always will be. No matter what happens between us, she’s the standard I’ve compared all others to.

It was unfair to them. Being back in Emerald Creek and being with her feels natural, and also a little surreal. As if I’m having a glimpse at what my life could have been, if it hadn’t derailed.

Ironically, we reach the intersection where Justin had his accident, ten years ago. I slow down to take the curb, my head turning to where his car was propelled. Of course there’s no trace of it, it’s been so long. I wasn’t even here after the crash, but knowing that’s where it happened gives me chills anyway.

Thinking about it darkens my mood.

---