Page 32 of Playing for Keeps
“It’s never too late to start.”
Caroline lowered her hands. “Whose side are you on?”
Alicia grinned and squeezed Caroline’s arm. “Yours.”
Caroline’s phone rang, and she reached into her apron pocket. “Sorry. This might be Skye.”
When she saw the random number on the screen, she silenced it and tucked it away. “Never mind.”
“Answer it,” Alicia demanded.
“What? It’s not an emergency.”
“Caroline, please answer it.”
Caroline eyed Alicia and pulled the phone out again. “Hello.”
“Hey, Caroline?” Justin’s voice on the phone was the last thing she’d expected.
“Yes.”
How had Alicia known it wasn’t a spam call? She watched Caroline with wide eyes as she leaned on her elbows over the table.
“Please don’t run away, I’m walking over to your table.”
It took two full seconds to process what he’d said before Caroline turned in her chair to look for him. “You what?”
There he was, stalking toward her like a man on a mission. He held her gaze as he lowered the phone.
“Can we talk?”
Oh, sugar cubes. He’d cornered her, and now she had no idea what to do. “I’m… I’m having lunch with my sister-in-law.”
Alicia stood and grabbed her coat and purse off the back of the chair. “No, you’re not. I’m leaving. Have fun!”
Caroline closed her gaping mouth. Now she didn’t have a clueora buffer.
Justin gestured to the seat across from Caroline. “About that talk…”
Caroline fidgeted with the napkin in her lap. “Have a seat.”
He took the seat and settled in with his forearms propped on the table. “Listen, I just want to talk. I know I didn’t handle things the right way between us. Trust me, I know. I wish I’d done a lot of things differently. I really thought you would be happier here, and I hated the thought of taking you away from your family, and…”
The words were tumbling out. Everything he said was an apology or regret, and none of it madeCaroline feel any better. In fact, it made her want to hurl. She’d been heartbroken, but he’d been torn up too. They’d both believed they’d found something special back then. They’d just made mistakes like everyone else and lost it.
“Justin.” She reached across the table and covered his hand. “Justin, I hear you. I get it.”
“I don’t think you do. I?—”
“I do. Or I think I’m starting to get it.”
His broad shoulders sank, and a deep breath wooshed out of him. “I’ve been so focused on what I should say, I didn’t think about what I’d do if you actually responded.”
Caroline’s lips pressed together, begging to grin. He was so cute when he was flustered. A red blush crept up his neck and jaw. “I’m not saying I’m ready to forget everything, but I think we can start by becoming friends.”
Justin stared at her for a few moments, then slowly nodded. “I’d like that.”
Bella returned with a breakfast plate in each hand and looked from Caroline to Justin and back. “Wait. Where did you come from?”
