Page 35 of My Secret to Protect

I hold both my breath and his gaze. I didn’t expect him to be so honest, and it has me wondering about theherhe’s referring to.

Choosing not to focus on questions I don’t expect he’ll answer, I think about the rest of what he said and settle on something I’ve been wondering for two decades.

‘What was it like in there?’ I ask quietly, and his jaw clenches as he grinds his teeth.

‘This is not a first date conversation, Bree.’ His voice is softer now, and he lowers his gaze. ‘I’m going to have the cheeseburger.’

He gestures to the server who heads over to take our order, and I press my lips together, wondering if he’ll ever help me understand why he cut me out of his life the way he did.

The last time I laid eyes on Arlo before he burst back into my life and my town, his face was pressed against the hood of his van, and a cop was cuffing his hands behind his back while another aimed a weapon at himjust in case. My heart stopped that day. I think part of it is still there in that yard. He glared at me in a way I never understood as he was put in the back of the cruiser and taken from me. I watched the man I loved ripped out of my life, and then he stayed gone.

‘I’m going to go to the bathroom,’ I say as I slide out of the booth, and Arlo nods as I walk away. I’m not going to cry over old wounds. I healed. I moved forward, and we’re not the same kids we were back then.

Bracing myself against the basin, I take some deep inhales and blow them out. If my eye makeup wasn’t so perfect, I would splash cold water on my face, but no, I look hot, and I’m not fucking that up for a bad memory.

Taking a couple more deep breaths, I head out and back to the booth, my heart tripping at the way Arlo’s gaze eats me up as I walk toward him.

‘I really do like that dress,’ he says, smirking as I sit.

‘Good, that’s what I was going for.’

‘Merv, that was some damn good food,’ Arlo says, holding out his hand for Merv’s once more. ‘Thank you.’

‘Ah, well, we aim to please.’ Merv winks at me. ‘You kids heading out?’

‘Merv,’ I laugh at him calling us kids as though we’re a couple of teenagers, and he chuckles.

‘Yeah, we’re heading out.’ Arlo, without enough warning for my heart to get ready, takes my hand and leads me out of the diner, then holds it all the way home.

We don’t head straight for the cottages, choosing to enjoy the cooler evening air and walk through town, Arlo holding my hand the whole time.

It’s summer, so the sun sets late, and I was thankful for that as the last of the pinks and oranges danced across the sky and settled my nerves through the diner windows. Now, it’s nothing but inky black, punctured by thousands of tiny stars and a bright shining moon.

‘I love these country skies,’ Arlo says as he follows my gaze up while we walk. ‘It ain’t nothin’ like this in the city.’

‘We live in a beautiful spot, day and night.’

‘Sure do, pix.’ He squeezes my hand a couple of times, and the butterflies that have just about settled down start fluttering their wings again.

‘I had a nice time tonight,’ I admit. ‘I was a little nervous.’

‘A little?’ His tone is playful, and he chuckles. ‘I thought you were going to pass out.’

‘I wasn’t that bad.’ I groan, and he laughs again.

‘I had a nice time too, Bree.’

We turn toward the cottages, and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise up, as though we stepped into a bubble of discomfort, out of the safe place that distance and fun brought, and now, the sight of the house I always loved so much reminds me of the prison it’s become lately and I hesitate, slowing my steps. Arlo notices, turning to look at me curiously.

‘You okay?’

I nod. ‘Yeah, fine. Sorry.’

‘Not ready for the night to end?’ He smiles, and I swallow, nodding.

‘Something like that.’

Arlo steps close, and I tip my head back to look up at him. God, he’s beautiful. Streetlamps don’t do his eyes any justice, but he still holds me captive, and his hand on my back makes me feel safe.

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