“Until me?”
I nod, my chest tightening. I want to give Lemon everything, but how do I even begin when I have spent my life protecting myself, my heart?
“I know we just met but it doesn’t feel like that. I know we have a shit ton to learn about one another, but at the same time, I have a feeling you’re like me—not faking anything. You are who you say you are.”
“I think it’s amazing you got past your fear of the water by facing it head-on with that show.”
“Thanks,” I say, looking over at this beautiful woman who seems willing to accept me, flaws and all. “And I think it’s amazing you don’t lose your shit all the time considering you have a bunch of brothers dead set on giving you a hard time.”
She laughs. “They liked you.”
“Ya?”
“I was nervous. I mean, they know we slept together, and I was expecting some kind of throwdown, but you held your ground with them. Didn’t give them any reason to fight.”
“I’m not scared of those boys,” I say with a chuckle.
“I suppose not, considering you’re a real man.”
“Damn, I could take you right here, if we had the time.”
She moans playfully. “Tonight, at my house, we can make good on that desire.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that, Lemon Rough.”
She laughs, and I am glad to take her mind off the reality that we are driving Home to see her grandmother in the hospital.
When we roll into town, she calls her father on speakerphone. "So the visiting hours are over?" she asks.
"Sorry, Lemon," her dad tells her. "I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but she is sleeping now and that's a good thing. You can see her in the morning."
"Okay," Lemon sighs. "What are you doing now?"
"Rye, Prairie, Bart, and Abby are over. And Reuben's here too, with Plum. I wish your mama were in town. I know she'd be making a good dinner for everyone, but I figure we can wrestle up something. We've been at the hospital all day."
"I'm so sorry, Dad. I’ll be there soon to help. I just got into town now." I look over at her. The worry in her voice endears her to me. "Dad," she says. "I know you've had a lot going on, and I don't want to spring anything more on you, but..."
"What is it?" he asks.
"I'm bringing home a friend—Anchor. He's the new neighbor out at the lake house. So he's driving me back. I was a little shook up and..."
"I'll be happy to meet him," her father says. “Though, I'm sorry if I'm not exactly the best company tonight. I'm tired and, well, seeing my mom like that, that was a hard pill to swallow."
“I’m so sorry. I love you, Dad. See you in a few minutes.” She ends the call, exhaling, then directs me to her father's home.
"So where is your mom?" I ask her.
"She's on a trip with my little sister, Fig, in LA for spring break. Dad said they are waiting until they get an update in the morning before flying home. I'm sure she's a nervous wreck right now. She loves Grandma Rosie so much. We all do." Her voice cracks and damn, I want to get out of this car so I can wrap that girl up in my arms.
"It's going to be all right," I say. "Like your dad said, your grandma's resting. That's probably the best thing right now."
She nods. "I'm sure my grandpa is a mess."
"Will he be at your dad’s place?”
"Oh, I'm sure he's at the hospital, waiting. He's loved my grandma since they were little kids. Can you believe that? They grew up on the same street here in Home. They were childhood sweethearts. It was just the sweetest love story." She sighs wistfully. And I'm glad she's thinking of something happy instead of something so damn heartbreaking.
"Up this hill," she directs.
"Hill?" I laugh. "This is a mountain."
"Fair enough," she says as we pass a street called Tender Trail and head into the woods.
"It's beautiful out here even in the dark. I bet it's gorgeous in the daylight."
"It is," she says. "It's the most beautiful place in the world. I never want to move away from it."
"It's got to be nice to feel like you're exactly where you belong."
"Where do you belong, Anchor?" she asks me softly. The huge pine trees tower above us, the sky dark but filled with stars.
"I've been looking for a place to belong my whole life," I tell her.
"And now look at you," she says. "You've come Home."
Her words are spoken easily, with a smile. But they terrify me in a way she doesn't understand. Giving my heart, my whole heart, over to someone means there's a cost involved. Losing what I love scares me shitless.