“What?” Sage looked over her shoulder at Mike and wiggled her fingers. “Just a sec,” she called out.
He waved and then slid his fingers into his thick black hair.
“Isn’t he dreamy?”
I blinked and peered around her, then back at Sage. “For real?”
“I mean he’s cute right?”
“Um…” I honestly hadn’t looked at anyone since Seth in so long it felt foreign to actually look at a man objectively. “I guess.”
“You guess? Do you see how he fills out a pair of jeans? I mean he’s from Texas first of all and then he wears honest to God cowboy boots. The kind that are actually broken in because he rides real horses. I mean just wow.”
I nibbled on bottom lip. “I’m sorry. Can I be the altruistic best friend tomorrow? I really need your help.”
“Of course. I’m sorry. I’m just not even paying attention. All these blasted hormones are messing me up. That’s why I’m on the hunt. I figure I gotta get this virgin thing done. How else am I going to breathe in this town? All the lovey stuff with you and Seth. I mean he did those fireworks for you, you know?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I know. I’m trying to go find him. But…” I waved at the traffic snaking down Main Street and around the park.
“Oh.” She grabbed my door handle and hauled me out of the car. “Of course. Honestly, that man finally is listening and you went MIA. You two are going to be the death of me.”
“You had something to do with this?”
“Well, not exactly. I just told him that he’d have to be knocked over the head before he did something really special to let you know how much he loves you.”
My eyes filled again and I blinked the tears away. I simply didn’t have time for them. The sky was smoky with the aftermath of the fireworks, but they were getting few and far between. “Well, I really hope so.”
“Oh, girl. He does. How can you even question it?”
“I’ll remind you of this conversation when you’ve got real hearts in your eyes, not just the lusting kind.”
Sage blushed and fussed with the strap of her tiny tank top. “He is dreamy. But we’re not here to talk about Mike London. Go get that big hunk of real estate before he turtles again.”
“You do have a way with words, Sage.”
She bumped me out of the way and slid behind the wheel of my old car. “Go on.”
I looked up at the sky, then to the pier. There was only one place that would allow for those kind of fireworks. “Can I have my bag?”
“Right.” Sage leaned over and hauled my backpack onto her lap. “Good, Lord.”
“It’s my life.”
She handed it through the window. “Now go get him.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Sage.”
“I didn’t do anything. He had all the bright ideas, I just told him to get with the program. Just like I’ve been telling you.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Actually, as of late, she’d been lamenting how stupid Seth was, but it was just easier to nod. I took off across the street and through the grassy hill that lead to the path around the lake to the park.
My heart raced inside my chest as a single heart speared the darkness. My legs pumped and I was eternally grateful for my sneakers right then. They squeaked as I rounded the bend and the gazebo and lights came into view.
So close.
Don’t lose patience with me now.
A stitch lanced my side and I slowed to a fast walk. I was not a runner by any means. I could hike for days, but speed was definitely not my thing.