Page 37 of Believe in Caloosa Springs

“I can get the Jeep back up to Mandy’s, no problem,” Tyler added quickly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Ty and Porter said in unison.

“Okay,” I replied, a soft sigh of relief quickly following.

***

“I’m so sorry, Tian.”

Confused by his statement, I turned in the passenger’s seat of his car to face him. “Sorry for what? You’ve been nothing but amazing today. I seriously don’t know what I would have done without you back there.”

That made him half-smile. “I’m glad I was amazing today, but last time we were together I caused you harm.That’swhat I’m apologizing for.”

“Porter, that’s not your fault. If anything, it’s both our fault for our lack of knowledge about the dangers of local horticulture. Actually, no, fuck that! It was Mandy’s fault for not telling us. That was a dick thing to do.”

“Feel less bad about wrecking her car?”

I snorted. “A little, actually. And since we’re apologizing, I owe you one.”

Porter shook his head.

“No, I really do,” I insisted. “I’m sorry for ghosting you. That was fucked up and you didn’t deserve it. I think I… I just freaked out.”

Not being able to look him in the eye as I apologized, I turned my head and looked out the window.

“Why?”

His question took me by surprise, though I guess it shouldn't have. Porter was much more direct than I was.

Fixing my gaze to the cloudy sky above, I worried my bottom lip between my teeth, ping-ponging answers to his question around in my mind until the right one fell out of my mouth.

“Because I really like you, Porter, and I don’t know what that means. I also don’t think that I am good enough for you, to be honest. I have a…colorfulpast, and I’m only here temporarily. You are the nicest guy I think I’ve ever met. Besides Pops, of course. The man is some kind of saint.”

Porter chuckled, “Of course.”

“And nice guys like you deserve someone better,” I persisted.

“Why are you so hard on yourself?”

I turned my head to face him. “I’m not. I’m not being hard on myself at all. I like who I am. I’m merely stating facts. I’m not ashamed of anything… which is probably another really good reason why you are way too good for me.”

“What makes you think I’m so innocent and virtuous?”

I barked out a laugh. “Are you kidding me? You look like the hot, grown-up version of Simon from7th Heaven.”

He laughed. “I can’t believe you even know what7th Heavenis. My mom was obsessed.”

“I used to watch it all the time with my grandma. She was a religious nut-bar, and that was about the only thing I was allowed to watch. That, and Fox News.”

“Hey, Tucker Carlson makes some pretty good points…” I narrowed my eyes at him and opened my mouth to rip him, but he continued on. “…if you are a Nazi.”

I let out a slow whistle. “Oh, man. You had me there for a second. Anyway, what I’m saying is that I am damaged goods.”

“Okay, that makes sense.” Porter replied casually. “Hey, Tian?”

“Yeah?”

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