“I thought you might be thirsty,” McKenna says, handing me a sweet tea.
“Thanks, babe.” I drop a kiss to the top of her head and twist open my tea, taking a hefty drink.
“So, what did the two of you talk about while we were gone?” McKenna asks.
She looks worried, and to tell you the truth, I was worried that Harold was going to tear into me about dating his granddaughter and not hurting her. Instead, he thanked me for coming home early with McKenna and making sure she wasn’t alone. To say I was shocked was an understatement.
I’ve known Harold and Agnes since I was little. They’ve been our neighbors for longer than I’ve been alive. The one thing I know about them is that McKenna is the apple of their eye. I was sure I was in for a lecture. Don’t get me wrong. I was ready for it. I’m ready for anything anyone tosses my way. I’m not going to let anything get between us.
“Nothing much. Your gramps thanked me for coming home with you.”
“You didn’t have to do that, you know.” She turns to look at me.
“I did.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“I didn’t do it because I felt like I owed you or because I felt obligated.” I turn to face her. Reaching out, I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I did it because I wanted to. I did it because I wanted to be there for you and because not being where you are didn’t sound the least bit appealing to me.”
“Awe,” Agnes coos. “Hold on to this one, Mac.” She smiles at us.
“Knock knock,” a nurse says while knocking and pushing into the room. “Visiting hours are over,” she tells us.
“I’m staying,” Agnes tells her.
She nods. “That’s fine, but I’m afraid only one of you, and it’s the same deal as last night. If you get caught, I saw nothing.”
“Deal.” Agnes laughs.
“You kids head home and get some rest. They said I might be able to go home tomorrow.”
“Maybe,” the nurse reminds him.
“Maybe.” Harold nods as if he’s agreeing, but we can all see his desire and determination to convince the doctors to let him go home.
Quickly, we say our goodbyes and leave the hospital. The drive home is quiet until we turn on our road. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever had. Besides, you promised Harold.”
She contemplates her answer. As we are about five hundred feet from her grandparents’ driveway, she says, “Yes. I’ll stay with you.”
I’m glad. I hadn’t planned on stopping anyway. I was going to drive on past their place and pull into mine to see if I could sway her decision. Not that I would ever force her to stay with me. But I was hoping a few kisses might help persuade her. If she decided to go to her grandparents’ place, I was good with taking the couch. Parking my truck in the driveway, I turn off the ignition and angle to look at her. “You hungry?”
“Starving, actually.”
“Come on, let me feed you.” Grabbing my phone and keys, I climb out of the truck and meet her at the bottom of the porch steps. With my hand on the small of her back, we climb the steps, and I give her the code to unlock the door.
“What if I come back and steal you blind?” she asks, pushing open the door.
“You won’t. Besides, you don’t have to steal anything. If it’s mine, it’s yours. I’ll give you anything you want.”
“Those are big declarations, Rip Callahan.”
“They are,” I agree. “That should tell you that this isn't a game to me, Kenna. I want you. I want you in my life, in my house, in my bed. I want anything and everything that you’re willing to give me.”
“That’s… unexpected.”
“Is it? I’ve been honest with you from the day you came home. When I kissed you that night at the bonfire, I knew I was tired of waiting.”
“Tired of waiting?”
“Let me make us some dinner, and I’ll tell you anything that you want to know.”
“Can I help?” Hope blooms in my chest. Maybe we can finally talk, and she’ll listen.
“You can. You can sit your fine ass at the island so I can see you while I’m making you something to eat.”
“I know how to cook.”
“I know you do, baby, but I want to take care of you. It’s been an emotional day, and you just need to relax.”
“What are we having?” she asks, ignoring my term of endearment. Well, she tries too. I saw the flash in her eyes, the one that tells me she’s not immune to me.
“Omelets.”
“Perfect. I always loved eating breakfast for dinner. Gram used to do it pretty often when I was growing up.”