He nods. “I was hoping to get to spend more time with you now that you’re home.”
“I’m sure I’ll see you around.” It sounds like I’m brushing him off, but I’m not. I just need to process what all this new attention from him is. I mean I know what he says it is, but it’s hard for me to grasp. It’s confusing. On Saturday, when he drove me home from our day at the lake, he patted the seat next to him. I rode there in the center all the way home. His hand was on my thigh, driving me crazy. He walked me to the door, hugged the shit out of me, and kissed me on the forehead before stepping back and making sure I got inside safe.
That’s the last I’ve seen of him. I don’t know what any of this means, and the girl in me who had daydreamed about these exact moments doesn’t have the guts to ask.
“Dinner tonight?” he asks.
“Sorry, I already made plans with Laramie.”
“My sister is stealing my time with you too,” he says softly.
“Another night?” I suggest. My voice quivers as my nerves take over. “Or not—” I stop talking when he steps in close.
“Anytime you want to see me, all you have to do is say the word. I’ll be there.”
My head tilts back as I stare up at him. “Tomorrow night?”
“My place. I’ll make us dinner.”
“Y-You don’t have to do that. We can go out.”
“Kenna.” He pushes my hair back off my shoulder. “I’m making you dinner.”
“Okay.”
“What time will you be finished studying?”
“Never.” I laugh nervously. “How about five?”
“Perfect. Come on over when you’re done.”
“Around five-thirty or six?” I suggest. I’ll definitely need time to freshen up.
“I’ll be ready for you. How about we eat at six? Will that give you time to change and do what you need to do?” He knows me so well.
I nod. “What can I bring?”
“Just you. Now give me a hug. I need to get back to work.” He pulls me into his chest and wraps his strong arms around me. I don’t hesitate to hug him back. I don’t know how many hugs like this I’ll get with him, so I’m taking what I can get. “Have fun tonight. Call me if you need a ride.”
“We will.”
With a wave, he’s back in his truck and driving away from me. I watch him until I can no longer see him. It’s not until I reach the door of the house that I realize I forgot the container. This should be fun to explain.
“Rip leave?” Gram asks.
“Yes.”
“Where’s the container?”
I look up to find her smirking. “He um… he thought he had it, but he didn’t.”
“I see.” She grins. “Well, it’s no worry. I can get it next time.”
“Right. Next time. Let’s get this put away.” I keep my focus on the task at hand and pretend to ignore her knowing looks.
As I help Gram store all of her baking supplies, I can’t help but think about Rip. About the change in him, at least when it comes to me, and the fact that he helps Gram every week. I wonder if Gramps did put him up to it. Regardless, the act has my heart swelling in my chest. I’m glad he helped to look out for them while I was gone.
It really is good to be home.
Chapter 9
Rip
I’ve been sitting at my desk for twenty minutes. I’ve stared out the window pretty much all that time. I wanted to beg McKenna to cancel on my sister, but I know they miss each other. I also wanted to ask her where they were going to dinner so that I could just happen to be there. I realize my thoughts are stalker-ish, so I refrained. Now, here I am, sitting and staring off into space, thinking of her.
My phone rings, pulling me out of my McKenna daze, and I laugh when I see it’s my sister calling. “Lara,” I answer.
“Big brother.”
“What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing. I just called to tell you that Colby might be reaching out to you. I’m having dinner with Mac tonight, so he might be lonely. He mentioned calling you and Corbin.”
“Yeah? Where are the two of you headed?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“You going to tell me what’s going on between the two of you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It’s not a complete lie. I don’t know what’s going on. I know that I want her. More today than I did at the lake on Saturday and more than the day she left for college. Time hasn’t diminished my desire for her. It’s fueled it.
“Come on now,” she pries.
“I think I need to have this conversation with her first.” Eleven words are all it takes for my sister to understand my feelings for her best friend.
“How long?”