Page 65 of First Love, Second Draft

Rachel’s gaze bounced off the drinks and food. “Sorry. Should’ve texted you. I’m not all that hungry. I ended up eating a big lunch with Aimee today.”

Aimee?“Oh. Okay. Sure you don’t want some fries at least?”

Her stomach growled, obviously on board with the idea of fries. But Rachel shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I just came back to grab my things. She dropped me off at my house earlier, so I could get my car and run a few errands.”

Aimee?

“Yeah, Aimee.”

He must’ve spoken that last bit out loud. “So you’re just going back to your house now?”For good?

Rachel adjusted the strap of her bag along her shoulder, eyeing the bag of fries like a long-lost lover. “I’m sure you’re ready to haveyour space back. Besides, my neck’s way better. After this morning’s chiropractor appointment, I can change clothes like there’s no tomorrow. I mean, this is my third pair of pants today just because I can.”

“And nobody’s prouder of you than I am, but hey—” He tossed the sack of food on the counter and chased after her when it became apparent the fries weren’t enough of a temptation to keep her at his house long enough for him to figure out how to tell her he loved her way more than a friend. “What about Ace?”

She paused at the front door. “WhataboutAce?”

“What if he shows up at your house?”

She wrinkled her nose and reached for the handle. “He’s not going to show up at my house. Trust me.”

“But what if he does?” He covered her hand to keep her from twisting the door handle.

“Then I’ll call the police.”

“After he hurts you?”

“He’s not going to hurt me. Think about it, if he wanted to hurt me, he would’ve followed me home by now and slit my throat, then dumped my body where nobody could find it until it had decomposed so far beyond recognition that only my dental records would be able to identify me.”

“Was that supposed to reassure me or...?”

“Bottom line, I can’t stay here. Not if we’re going to keep being friends.” She shook off his hand and tugged open the door.

Matt followed her onto the front porch. “Well, of course, we’re going to keep being friends. Why would we ever stop being friends?”

“If we turn out like you and Aimee, maybe.” She hitched her bag higher onto her shoulder with a wince, then rubbed her neck as she proceeded down the sidewalk to her car parked in front of the neighbor’s house.

Matt caught up to her side so that he could snag her bag from her shoulder and place it over his. “What, like broken up?”

“No, boring as all get out, andthenbroken up,” she said, continuing to march to her car. “Oh my goodness, Matt. She droned onand on about your relationship, and I swear watching a two-hour documentary about how crabgrass grows in cement cracks would’ve been more interesting than what she described. Please tell me your relationship wasn’t that awful.”

She popped her trunk, then turned for her bag.

He twisted his shoulder back so she couldn’t reach the strap. “Our relationship wasn’t awful. Just... okay, yeah. Boring.”

“Which is exactly why I have to get out of here. Before this gets any worse.” She stepped closer to grab her bag.

He angled away to keep it out of reach. The closer she stepped, the more he turned. “What are you talking about?”

“Do I have to spell it out?”

“Apparently you do. And the sooner the better. I’m starting to get dizzy.” Not only because they were literally spinning in circles next to her trunk. The girl was talking in circles. “What’s the big deal about staying long enough to eat a hamburger and fries with me? I know you’re hungry.”

“The big deal is I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Matt stopped turning. Her bag slipped from his shoulder and thumped to the pavement. “Are you serious?”Please be serious.

She nodded, not only looking serious, but tormented. The man walking his dog across the street probably thought she was admitting to some sort of heinous crime.

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