Page 62 of Fumbled Beginning

“What’s the question?”

“Do I have anything to worry about? Do you still have feelings for this person?”

I cupped her cheek to stare into her eyes and give her a portion of the truth. “You have nothing to worry about, Rylee. I swear, it’s just you I want.”

She kept her face neutral. If she realized how I avoided the second part of her question, she wasn’t calling me out on it. Eventually, I would have to tell her. But with coming clean came the risk of losing her, and I wasn’t quite ready to let her go yet.

Once I got through the benefit next week, I would tell her everything.

CHAPTER19

RYLEE

“This is a cute little town,”I said as we approached a sign that said, “Welcome to Skaneateles.”

The main drag was lined with boutique-style shops, restaurants, an old bank, and a bed-and-breakfast. It was quaint and beautiful. People were strolling around in their winter jackets, walking their dogs, and browsing the shops.

“You should see it in the summertime, it’s busting at the seams with seasonal residents,” JP said, as we passed by a long pier that flowed out into the frozen lake with a little park on the right. “Lots of money in this small town.”

“You never had the desire to buy a place here?”

It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it, and from what he told me, a few celebrities owned vacation homes here.

“Nah, spring training starts at the end of July, and the weather doesn’t warm up until the end of May. It wouldn’t be worth it to me because I would barely use it,” he said, taking a left at the firehouse.

JP’s mind seemed a million miles away from the moment we boarded the flight in Atlanta. I couldn’t tell if he was bothered about seeing his dad or nervous about the banquet. This was the most he’s said during our thirty-minute drive from the airport.

“Maybe we could come back during the summer and visit some of the wineries.”

Just as I said that, I noticed the big Victorian mansions that were splayed along the hill overlooking the lake.

“You might want to get through this weekend first before you go making plans to come back.”

He glanced in his mirror and pulled down a long gravel driveway where a white, modest lake house came into view.

“You could do a better job at putting my mind at ease,” I joked, sensing how anxious he was. JP has been dreading this visit, and my gut told me it was much more than just his complicated relationship with his dad.

“Sorry.” He killed the engine and ran a hand through his hair. “I just need to get through these next two nights, and then I’ll be back to normal.”

“Hey.” I grabbed his hand. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “Sorry, if I’m freaking you out. I’ll be fine. Being around my dad makes me agitated.”

I stared down at our joined hands. “If it gets to be too much, just say the word and we are out of here.”

He lowered his head; his nose brushed against mine. “Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me that you’re here.”

“I would do anything for you.”

We grabbed our bags and ushered them into the house. There was an older version of JP standing in the doorway. He looked exactly as I pictured him in my head. Dark brown hair, the same green eyes, only Greg Watson had a weathered face, and it looked a little too tan for this time of year.

“Dad.”

“Hello, son, it’s been so long, I almost didn’t recognize you,” he said, coolly. “I see you brought your friend.”

JP’s hand stiffened on my back. “I told you her name when we spoke, but then again, I was interrupting your happy hour, so it makes sense that you wouldn’t remember.”

Jesus! We were off to a great start. I pulled my carry-on to the side and slipped my boots off.

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