Page 30 of Love Her

“This one is my favorite.”

I feel him before I hear him. His warmth close but not too close that he’s in my personal space. Peering over my shoulder he takes the picture from my hand. A small smile plays on his lips.

“They’re so little.”

“It was in the hospital after Jacob was born. Clem was only two but was all about being a big sister.”

“I have a younger sister and I remember when she was born. Mostly it’s the crying that I recall but also all the promises I would make to her when she was asleep. That’s when I liked her best. I would sneak into her room and talk to her through the bars of her crib.”

“They aren’t bars. It isn’t prison.”

Shrugging, he places the frame back in its spot. “Looked like it from the outside.”

We shift over to the island where I’ve set the pie and, because it’s pie and you can never have too much, I dish out a slice of each for both of us.

“Dish ish sho good.”

Finishing my bite because my mama raised me with manners I say, “If my mama was here, she’d lecture you for a solid ten minutes on talking with your mouth full. Then she’d hug you for the compliment.”

“Sorry,” he says sheepishly as he clears his throat. “I was raised with manners, promise. Your mom is a goddess. These pies are delicious. It’s been months since I’ve had really good pie. When we lived in Fayhill, there was a diner with some of the best pie I’ve eaten. Vera could give your mom some competition.”

“Come on, let’s sit on the couch. After sitting on that bench tonight, I need a little comfort.”

Taking our plates, we move to the couch and fall into comfortable conversation. It doesn’t take long for me to realize I’m starting to develop a little crush on Connor Hall. I knew there was attraction, but now, as we sit here, both of us with an arm propped on the back of the couch, me with my head propped on my hand and him with his arm extended, I don’t want this night to end. Sure, it has to, and it isn’t like we’re on a date but just talking to him is more than I’ve done with a man in so long I realize I’ve missed it.

“Can I ask you something?”

“I don’t know, can you?”

At my snarky comeback, he pinches my arm, causing me to screech.

“Were you at Doris’s alone that night?”

That is not the question I was expecting. I thought it would be why I live with my parents or what it was like growing up in a small town. Just the thought of explaining what life was like for me here, what I was like growing up, fills my gut with dread.

“I was.”

“Not on a date or with a friend?”

I giggle because, a date. Yeah no. “No date and honestly I have one friend and met her after that night.” Thinking of Gigi makes me smile because she is my friend, and it feels good to finally be able to say that.

“I don’t believe that. I’m sure you have a ton of friends. Isn’t the homecoming queen always popular? Coming back to your hometown must have meant reconnecting with all your old friends.”

This topic makes me uncomfortable, and I don’t want to touch on it. I like Connor not knowing who I was or who I can still be when pushed. Stacking our plates, I get up and move them to the sink and begin rinsing and loading them into the dishwasher.

“Did I upset you? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

Turning to face him, I’m startled by the look on his face. Remorse. He isn’t sure what he’s said and yet he’s apologizing. Because I’m upset. Empathy. Something I could stand to offer people more often.

“It’s fine. I don’t want to talk about the past. To answer your original question, no dating and no friends. I like to go there because nobody knows me there. Sure, I’ve run into a few people I know, but for the most part I’m left alone. Dancing clears my head and it’s really good cardio to boot.”

“Are you saying no date like not that night or you don’t date?”

He takes a step forward. Without thinking, I shift back and bump into the sink. Three years. It’s been three years since a man has been this close to me. Even longer since one has looked at me like Connor is looking at me.

And I’ve never felt this overwhelmed at the prospect of what’s to come.

“Lis?”

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