Page 64 of Keep My Heart
Okay.
I get up and go over to Matt and Tessa on the dance floor. ‘Hey, sorry to interrupt, but I’m heading out. I’m gonna take my dad’s truck so you guys can have your car back.’ I hand Matt the key.
‘Where are you going?’ he asks.
‘I need to go talk to someone.’
He nods, smiling, because he knows that someone is Lyndsay. ‘Good luck.’
I might need it. I’m worried Lyndsay’s going to tell me she doesn’t even want us being friends, which I totally get, but I hate the idea of never talking to her again.
I walk up to my parents. ‘I’m gonna head out, if that’s okay.’
‘Of course.’ Mom lets go of Dad and gives me a hug. ‘It’s so good having you home. It’s the only gift I needed.’
Dad smiles at me. ‘Where are you off to? You got a date?’
‘How could I have a date?’ I say, laughing. ‘I just got here.’
‘Word around town is you’ve been spending time with the Davis girl.’ He winks at me. ‘You had quite a crush on her back in the day.’
‘Dad, I’m not—’
‘She’s such a sweet girl,’ Mom says. ‘I’m glad she finally got rid of that husband of hers. The things I’ve heard .?.?.’ She sighs. ‘You go off and have a nice time. Tell her we said hello.’
Why are they assuming I’m going to see Lyndsay? I didn’t tell them I’ve been hanging out with her. Maybe my brothers told them.
‘Is it okay if I take the new truck?’ I ask Dad, feeling like I’m 16 again, asking to borrow the car.
‘Go ahead. Keys are by the door.’
‘Thanks. See you tomorrow.’
I go back to the house, where I’ll be staying tonight. I kind of wish I was staying with Sawyer again instead of my parents. If I’m out late, they’ll question me about it and I don’t want to answer their questions.
When I get to Lyndsay’s house, she’s sitting outside on the porch swing, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. My pulse rises the moment I see her. The girl takes my breath away, always has, always will.
She sees me and heads to the truck. I’m about to get out to open her door, but she’s already there, opening the door for herself.
‘Hi, Nick,’ she says in a tone that’s friendly but not at all flirtatious. She’s made her decision. She just wants to be friends, nothing more, or maybe she doesn’t even want to be friends.
‘Are you hungry?’ I ask. ‘We could get something to eat.’
‘I already had dinner. Maybe we could just go somewhere and talk.’
I drive to a coffee shop that also serves food, just in case she changes her mind and decides she wants to eat.
‘Let’s just stay here,’ she says as I open my door.
‘In the truck?’
‘Yeah.’ She turns to me. ‘I’m guessing this won’t take long, whatever it is you wanted to say.’
‘Um, I guess not. Are you in a hurry?’
‘No.’ She looks down. She seems sad. I hope it’s not because of me. The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt her, which is why I’m not letting myself get more involved with her.
‘Lyndsay, I know things were moving fast with us, but I promise you, that wasn’t my intention.’
