Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I laughed. “And you did?”
“And I did.” He paused. “Are you thinking that way about Ari? I know you said you weren’t dating, but then I saw you at the wedding.”
“Yeah. We were trying to keep things quiet, but it didn’t really work.” I readjusted the cap on my head. “I’m not really thinking that far ahead with Ari—I’ve got things I want to do and so does she—but for the first time in my life, the idea of having a family doesn’t seem so out there.”
He shrugged. “You don’t have to rush it. Although a ring might have been less expensive than a food truck.”
Laughing again, I climbed in. “Ari is that girl who’d rather have a food truck than a diamond. Although maybe someday, she’ll have both from me.”
“I have a feeling,” Gianni said.
I pulled the door shut and rolled down the window. “Thanks for everything.”
“My pleasure. Let me know how it goes.”
I turned the key and headed back to Cherry Tree Harbor, my excitement growing with every mile that brought me closer to home.
Closer to her.
TWENTY-SEVEN
ari
“More coffee, Gus?”
“Sure, Ari.” The old-timer pushed his half-empty cup toward me, and I refilled it. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Larry?”
He nodded, and I poured more for him too, giving both of them a smile I didn’t feel. I could do it—the muscles in my face worked, my mouth would stretch, my lips would curve up—but it might as well have been a mask. I hadn’t smiled for real in days.
After my conversation with Ellie, I had idly hunted around on the internet for another truck, but my heart wasn’t in it. Veronica, who’d come up to Buckley’s Pub with Austin last night, had given me a hug and told me not to worry. “Food trucks aren’t one-of-a-kind,” she pointed out. “Another one will come along.”
“I know,” I said. But it wasn’t the one-of-a-kind truck I was mourning the loss of, and Veronica knew it.
She was sitting at a table now with Owen and Adelaide, since Austin had left early this morning on a business trip. In fact, the twins were approaching the counter now with mischievous grins on their faces.
“Hey, guys.” I tried my best for a real smile. “What’s up?”
“We have something for you,” said Owen.
“It’s a note.”
As if they’d argued over who’d actually get to hand me the note and decided they’d do it together, each of them held a corner of a folded piece of paper as they laid it on the counter.
“What’s this?” I glanced at it as I set my coffee pot down.
“Read it,” Adelaide urged.
“It’s from—” Owen’s sentence was cut off by his sister’s hand over his mouth.
“Owen. It’s a surprise.”
I picked up the note and unfolded it, my breath catching as my eyes skimmed the words scribbled in cursive.
Make it count. Meet me in the kitchen.
Immediately I looked over at where Veronica was sitting. She smiled.
“What does it say?” Adelaide asked eagerly.
“It says I’m supposed to go into the kitchen.” My heart had taken off running like a racehorse out of the stall. What was going on?
“Do it.” Owen clapped his hands.
Gerilyn appeared at my side, her expression sly. “Go on, honey. I’ll cover you.”
Tucking the note in my apron pocket, I wandered to the kitchen door and swung through it.
Then I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth.
Standing not six feet away from me was Dash, wearing a grin so joyful and familiar I could have wept. “Oh my God!” Forgetting that I’d said I didn’t want any visits, I went running into his arms and felt myself swept right off my feet. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to surprise you.”
“It worked.” I inhaled his scent, burying my face in his neck—God, I’d missed him. What did it mean that he was here?
“I brought you a present.”
“You did?”
“Yes.” He set me on my feet. “Close your eyes.”
I closed them and he took my hands.
“Walk forward, okay? I’ve got you.” He led me out the back door, which someone must have opened for him. “Keep them closed.”
“They’re closed.” I heard the door shut behind me, felt the breeze on my skin. “Can I open yet?”
“No.” He let go of my hands, took me by the shoulders, and gently spun me around so I faced the back of the diner. “I want to say something first.”
“Okay.” Barely able to breathe, I felt him press up close behind me. His hands covered my eyes.
“I was worried you wouldn’t trust me,” he said.
“I’ve always trusted you.”
“That’s good. Because trust is going to be important.”
“For what?”
“For the future. For what I hope we can have.”
Hope was shooting through my veins like dynamite. “You hope we can have a future?”
“Yes. I know it will take work, but I’m willing if you are.”
“I’m willing,” I said breathlessly.
“Good. Because I’m definitely going to need your help with something.” He took his hands from my eyes, grabbed my shoulders, and turned me around. “Open your eyes.”