Page 43 of No Place Like Home
“And now you’re leaving again.”
She rolled in her lip, then nodded. “I guess I am.” Then she snorted a little. “Ironically, afteryourcircus.”
Definitely ironic. Cade slowly let his hand drop onto the console between them. Rosalyn eased away at the same moment, so smoothly he wasn’t certain which of them retreated first.
Reality had come for them both.
He swallowed, unwilling to let the moment fully go but equally unsure what to say. “I…that…”
“Yeah.” Her eyes assured him she felt the same.
But the truth remained an obstacle between them. She was leaving—and her heart didn’t appear free to give away.
His stomach fisted into a knot. “We’ve missed our chance again, haven’t we?”
Honk-honk.
Oops, they were still at the stop sign. Cade quickly eased off the brake and continued through the intersection as Rosalyn settled back in her seat.
“You’re a good friend, Cade.” She adjusted her seat belt. “I really appreciate you.”
Oof. Friend. Right.
And that was that.
nine
Rosalyn stabbed her veggie omelet with her fork, regretting the fact that she’d let her guard down with Cade. Regretting that the ride back to the diner had been awkward, regretting that he’d paid for her breakfast while she’d escaped into the bathroom and then slipped away before she’d emerged. Always the gentleman. Always the hero.
Even when she didn’t deserve it.
She speared a mushroom, the clatter of silverware and the soft buzz of customer conversations fading into the background.
It didn’t matter what Cade thought, because as she needed to remind herselfonemore time—she wasn’t a free woman. She would be leaving Magnolia Bay after the circus.
Like Cade said, they’d missed their chance.
“You still doing okay over here?” Elisa appeared at Rosalyn’s table, holding a steaming mug of tea.
“I’m fine, thank you.” She took the offered mug and cupped it between her hands. “This smells amazing.”
“It’s a new herbal blend my tea-drinking customers love. Mind if I join you?” Elisa slid into the adjacent bench, her gaze landing on the unfinished omelet between them.
“It was good, I promise.” Rosalyn pressed one hand against her stomach. “I don’t eat well when I’m stressed.”
Elisa nodded, eyes flickering with understanding. Had she seen Cade come in with Rosalyn, yet not stay? Elisa seemed like the kind of person who was too kind to pry. What it would be like to have a close friend whowouldask nosy questions? Cade had, in the car. Maybe she should’ve told him more. She’d meant it when she’d told Cade he was a good friend—these days, her only one.
But she loved the way Cade looked at her right now, like she was a polished star—all clean and shiny. Someone worthy of protecting. If he knew the truth about the past year, that look would change. Shift into something distant and disappointed.
“I think the sudden storm threw all of us off.” Elisa leaned back against the booth, crossing her arms over her apron as she surveyed Rosalyn. “Of course, there are different types of storms.”
There it was—her window into deeper friendship.
Rosalyn wrapped her fingers around the mug handle. Could she trust Elisa to keep her secrets? If she and Cade were friends, Elisa’s loyalty could be to him first.
Rosalyn couldn’t take that risk. Magnolia Bay was too small a town, and if Cade knew everything, her parents wouldn’t be far behind. “Trying to get my routine figured out for the circus, that’ll all. It’s a lot to plan.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great.” Elisa smiled.
