Page 41 of Unbreakable Love

Her head tilted to the side. I tried hard not to notice the way the sunlight caught her eyes, making them brighter. “How’s Josie?”

I didn’t miss that she didn’t accept my apology. Perhaps she’d run out of forgiveness for all my screwups in the few weeks since we’d met.

Couldn’t blame her.

“She’s fine. Better.” I held out the bag. “Would you like me to take this in for you?”

“Oh.” She huffed a laugh. “Sorry. No, that’s fine. I can take it.”

Her hands brushed against mine as she took the bag. Her fingers were soft and cold, but that gentle brush had me fighting off a shiver that had nothing to do with the cooler weather.

“I also put the number in the bag for the garage. If you call, ask for Ryken. It’s his garage and he’ll be able to let you know when your car will be done. If you need help getting there, I don’t mind.”

“Thank you, but I think I’ll call Faye.”

Of course she would. That made sense. My delivery was done, and I’d done the right thing. However, like the last time I’d landed on her front step, I couldn’t bring myself to walk away.

“Listen.” I sighed and shoved a hand through my hair. “About Josie…”

“You don’t need to explain. I think last night made things clear. Had I known that was where her mind was at, I wouldn’t have come or suggested it.”

“It’s my fault, for not seeing it. And I know I haven’t been kind to you, but I did want to apologize. And maybe… maybe since you’re my daughter’s teacher and our neighbor and everything, we could try being friends?”

There was a boulder growing in my stomach with every harsh breath I took. I was back in kindergarten, trying to call a girl pretty for the first time all over again. Talking to this woman shouldn’t be this hard, but there we were. Me, once again, awkwardly standing in front of her, unsure of myself.

Her brows arched into two perfect curves. “Friends?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I mean, we could give it a shot.”

She chuckled. “Okay. Sure, Gavin. We can be friends.”

“Great.”

“Wonderful.” She grinned. “Is that all?”

Right. Because I still hadn’t moved. “Actually, no. Thanksgiving is next week. Josie wanted me to ask if you had any plans.”

“Oh…” Her smile fell. “I would think that might not be a good idea?”

“My parents invite people from all over town who don’t have a lot of family, or any.”

A polite smile returned, along with a blush on her cheeks I hadn’t seen since last night. “Well, tell Josie thank you, but my sister will be in town next week, so I think we’ll be busy here.”

“Daddy!”

I jumped and faced the echo of Josie’s shout from down the street. She was on the front porch, leaning over our rail, waving her arm wildly in the air. I lifted my arm in a wave back and turned back to Penny.

Her smile was soft as she smiled at my daughter, hugging last night’s dinner and fixings to her chest. “You should go see what she needs.”

“Right. Have a good day, then.”

“You too, friend,” Penny said, and there was a tease in that tone.

I shook my head, chuckling, and trotted down her stairs. “Bye, Penny.”

I hustled across the street, careful of ice on the sidewalks, and back to Josie. “What’d you need, munchkin?”

“Nothin’.” She shrugged. “I want to go see Goldie and you were taking too long.”

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