Page 66 of The Dating Dare

“You must be excited to start a new life in a new country,” Jack said, sounding a little wistful.

“Yeah.” Seth cleared his throat. “Sure.”

But he wasn’t sure how he felt anymore. When he’d made the decision to take the job, he was excited for a new chapter in his life to begin—the move would propel his career forward and take him away from his comfort zone. He’d hoped the change would fill up the nagging hollowness he felt in his current life. Yet in the last few weeks, he’d hardly thought about Paris.

“I love Paris,” Tara piped up, saving him from more questions. “When I was still studying wine, I went and lived there for six weeks on a summer program. Honestly, I love California wine more than French wine, but the baguette and cheese…”

“You wouldn’t stop talking about it when you came home.” Jack smiled affectionately at his little sister. “I still don’t get why you changed your major, though. Not that I’m complaining. You were meant to be a brewer. But graphic design was so out of the blue.”

“I was barely twenty.” Tara shrugged, cutting out a perfect triangle from her stack of pancakes. “It’s really too young for anyone to decide what they want to do with their lives.”

So even her family didn’t know about her douchebag ex. Not wanting Tara to get uncomfortable with where the conversation was heading, Seth brought it back to Paris. Besides, he wanted to know more about Tara’s love of Paris. Why hadn’t she brought it up before?

“You know what I love about Paris? Berthillon ice cream,” Seth said.

“Berthillon? That ice cream store near Notre Dame?” Her eyes got as big as Alex’s omelet.

“Yup. That one.”

“Best ice cream in the world,” she said with hushed reverence.

“No truer words,” Seth said, high-fiving Tara. “I’m going there for a triple scoop as soon as I land in Paris.”

Tara smiled at him, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Perhaps she wasn’t quite as indifferent to his leaving as she acted. His grin broadened.

“I like being home in Weldon just fine,” Alex said between gigantic bites of food. “We travel often for beer festivals and contests, which is fun. But living somewhere else is a whole other story. I don’t want to know what homesickness feels like.”

“Me, too,” Tara said in a near whisper, staring at her hands wrapped around her mug. “Traveling is fun and exciting, but nowhere in the world is worth leaving home for. I know what homesickness feels like, and I don’t want to feel that way again.”

Seth’s eyes shot toward Tara, but she continued studying her coffee. It was black as usual. What had she meant by that? She hadn’t just been talking about being away from home for college. Homesickness seemed to be a loaded word, and his stomach lurched for reasons he didn’t understand.

Not knowing what to say, Seth stuffed pancake into his mouth, washing it down with gulps of coffee.

“Your place is here.” Alex tapped her nose. “Weldon Brewery needs you. Our family needs you.”

“And I need you guys,” she said with love written plainly on her face.

Seth’s heart constricted painfully. They were right. Tara’s place was in Weldon. It was her dream to become a champion brewer and to grow Weldon Brewery into an institution. Everything she wanted was here.

An inexplicable sense of hopelessness weighed him down, like gravity wanted to hug him tight. But why? He knew going in that she belonged in Weldon, and their time together was limited. He doggedly shook off the despair that threatened to overtake him.

His place was in Paris. A new chapter of his life awaited him. Even if he wanted things to be different—and he didn’t—there was going to be an ocean between them soon.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Seth and Alex did the usual Korean tug-of-war over the bill, and Tara watched with avid attention. They were both so stubborn, she wondered who would get the honor of paying for their meal. It was a win-win situation for her. She got free breakfast either way.

“You’re a guest in our town,” Alex insisted, tugging the bill toward him.

“And I’m grateful for you welcoming me here. It wouldn’t be right for me to let you pay,” Seth countered with a tug toward his direction.

“We’ve been inconsiderate in not inviting you to a meal sooner. Let us make it up to you.” Tug.

“This might be our last meal together. It’ll be my farewell treat.” Tug.

Then her big brother brought out his ace card. “I’m the oldest one at this table. It’s my prerogative to treat everyone to breakfast.”

“I… fine.” Not having anything to trump the age argument, Seth grudgingly released his hold on the check. “But you have to let me treat you next time.”

---