Page 48 of When Cardinals Appear

“Lanie,” Nate replied, giving a brief nod.

I frowned. “Are you okay?”

“Fine. Excuse me. I forgot something in my car.” He turned and stalked away.

For a moment, I stared at his retreating back, shocked at his cold and distant demeanor, then I raced after him.

“Wait!” He didn’t turn, and I scrambled to catch up. When I finally did, I grabbed his arm. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Nothing. I told you, I forgot something.” But he refused to meet my eyes.

“It looks like you’re leaving.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I am. There’s no point in my being here.”

“Why not? The whole town is here, and you’re part of the town,” I teased, but my joke fell flat. “Please tell me what’s going on.” I tried to sound firm, but my voice cracked, and I shivered—whether from the winter air or his frigid reception, I couldn’t say.

His face softened. “Go back inside before you freeze.”

“Come with me. I’d love to dance with you, like old times.”

That struck a chord. His eyes darkened, and he pulled his arm free. “Maybe you should dance with your boyfriend.”

I staggered back as the air left my lungs, like someone had punched me. “You know about James?”

“Your brother told me.” His lips set in a grim line. “You should have told me.”

He was right. Of course I should have told him. I knew why I hadn’t, but I was too much of a coward to admit that to him, even then.

“It just never came up,” I said with a shrug. What a terrible excuse.

He shook his head. “This whole time, I thought it was the job taking you to California, but it’s not, is it? It’s him.”

“That’s not true! I do have a job lined up.” At his raised eyebrow, I blew out a breath. “But yes, James is part of it. He and I have plans to move in together.”

Nate inhaled sharply, and I hurried on.

“But things have changed,” I said. “These last few weeks, spending time with you, I realized—“

“I don’t want to hear it, Lanie,” he retorted, backing away from me.

“Nate, please!” I cried, grasping for something to make him understand. Lifting the locket, I held it out, and it glinted in the streetlights. “I wore this tonight for the same reason I sang you that song at karaoke.”

His eyes widened when he recognized the locket. “B-But what about your boyfriend?” His tone was rough, and I could see the anger in his eyes dissipating as he stared at the necklace.

“I...” What about James? That was the question of the moment. I wasn’t being fair to either man. There I was, trying to assure myself of Nate’s feelings when I had someone waiting for me in California. How selfish could I possibly be?

Before I could formulate a response, a throat cleared behind me. As I whirled around, my hand flew to my mouth, and I gaped as a familiar figure stepped from the shadows.

“Hello, Lanie.”

“James?” It came out more like a whisper. The shock of seeing him stole my breath.

He chuckled as he moved closer to us. His thick dark hair was parted to the side, though I struggled to make out his expression as the light played across his full beard. Pushing his glasses up his nose, he stuck out his hand to Nate.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” James said, his tone cool.

Nate stared at his hand for a moment before he accepted it. I monitored their every moment, both men grim-faced as they shook hands. When they stepped back from each other, they both turned to me. I tried to arrange my features into a blank expression, but I wasn’t sure I achieved it. Blood pounded in my ears as I processed the situation.

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