Page 11 of Keep My Heart
‘No. I need to head back on Monday. I’m already behind on work.’
‘Oh, that reminds me,’ Matt says, going over to Tessa. ‘We ran into someone from high school at the airport.’
‘Do I know her?’ Tessa asks, spooning mayonnaise into a bowl.
‘You haven’t met her, but you know her mom. Lyndsay is Patty’s daughter.’
‘From daycare?’
‘Yeah.’ Matt looks over at me. ‘Lyndsay’s mom used to work part-time at the daycare we took Bella to when she was younger.’
‘I didn’t know you went to school with her daughter,’ Tessa says to Matt.
‘I told you. You probably just forgot. I went to school with her husband too. Played football with him.’ Matt takes a drink of his beer. ‘I should probably say ex-husband. They just got divorced.’
‘That’s too bad,’ Tessa says.
It’s actually not. I’m glad Lyndsay divorced him. She deserves so much better than Chris.
‘Did you invite her over?’ Tessa asks Matt.
‘No, I wasn’t sure if I should without checking with you first. I didn’t know if we had enough food.’
‘We have plenty,’ Tessa says, opening the fridge. ‘You should call her up, see if she’d like to come. And invite her mom. Bella would love to see Patty again.’
‘I would, but I don’t have her number.’ Matt smiles at me. ‘We could send Nick over there. He knows where she lives. He used to tutor Lyndsay back in high school.’
He’s giving me a look like he wants me to ask her out. What the hell is he thinking? She just got divorced. She doesn’t want to date me. Even if she did, we live on opposite coasts.
‘I’m sure she’s busy,’ I say. ‘She just got into town.’
‘Wouldn’t hurt to ask,’ Matt says, still giving me that look.
I ignore him and drink my water.
Would I like to see Lyndsay again? Sure, but I’m not going to go knock on her door. I’m here to see my family, and I’m leaving on Monday. Seeing Lyndsay would just bring up old feelings, something I don’t need. I’ve moved on from that part of my life. High school. This town. It’s my past, and I need to be focused on my future.
Chapter 3
Nick
‘So when’s your mom’s party?’ Tessa asks, setting a watermelon on the counter.
‘Tomorrow at four,’ I say. ‘But my dad wants us over there early to help get the barn decorated.’
‘That’s so sweet of him to throw her a surprise party.’ Tessa looks at Matt. ‘You should do that for me someday. Gather up all the kids and throw me a party.’
‘Allthe kids?’ He gives her a funny look. ‘We only have two.’
‘So far,’ she says with a devious smile before turning back to the fridge.
‘Wait—what are you saying?’ He holds onto her arm before she opens the fridge door. ‘We’re having more kids?’
‘Maybe,’ she says with a shrug and a smile.
He sighs. ‘I’m gonna have to get another job.’
She laughs as he walks back to the counter to get his beer.
