Page 247 of Small Town Firsts
“You had something to do with this?”
“Well, not exactly. I just told him that he’d have to be knocked over the head before he did something really special to let you know how much he loves you. So I did a little knocking. A few well-placed insults never fail to get a man moving.” She paused, her smile fading. “He does love you, Al. I saw it in his eyes.”
My own eyes filled again and I blinked the tears away. I simply didn’t have time for them. The sky was still smoky from the aftermath of the fireworks, but they were getting few and far between. “I really hope so.”
“Oh, girl. He does. How can you even question it?”
“I’ll remind you of this conversation when you’ve got real hearts in your eyes, not just the lusting kind.”
Sage blushed and fussed with the strap of her tiny tank top. “He is dreamy. But we’re not here to talk about Mike London. Go get that big hunk of real estate before he turtles again.”
“You do have a way with words, Sage.”
She bumped me out of the way and slid behind the wheel of my old car. “Go on.”
I looked up at the sky, then to the pier. There was only one place that would allow for those kind of fireworks. “Can I have my bag?”
“Right.” Sage leaned over and hauled my knapsack onto her lap. “Good Lord.”
“My life is in there.”
“It’s heavy as hell.” She handed the bag through the window. “Now go get him.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Sage.”
“I didn’t do anything. I just told him to get with the program. Just like I’ve been telling you.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Actually, as of late, she’d been lamenting how stupid Seth was, but it was just easier to nod.
At the moment, I had bigger fish to land.
I took off across the street and over the grassy hill that led to the path around the lake to the park.
My heart raced inside my chest as a single heart speared the darkness. My legs pumped and I was eternally grateful for mysneakers right then. They squeaked as I rounded the bend and the gazebo and lights came into view.
So close.
Don’t lose patience with me now.
A stitch lanced my side and I slowed to a fast walk. I was not a runner by any means. I could hike for days, but speed was definitely not my thing.
I stared up at the star-strewn sky as sulfur and smoke burned my nostrils.
Please, just one more.
The pop and whistle of a single flame speared upward. A huge purple heart shined in the sky over the lake. A lonely boat was tethered to one of the fishing docks off the shore. Two men stood on the little steel deck.
But only one mattered.
Seth’s broad shoulders nearly blocked the short, burly man at his side. They were arguing. Only snatches of conversation came across on the wind as it kicked up. Seth was shoving his hands into his hair and pacing the tiny space.
I dropped my bag as I got to the end of the pier.
Relief bubbled up inside me and out on a sobbing laugh.
“Seth!”
The wind was rising and the boats along the pier were slamming around. There was no recognition. Just more of Seth stalking around with his phone to his ear.
