The Apple Tree (Sunday Morning #2)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAKA KHAN, “I FEEL FOR YOU”

Eve

“Eve? You’re going to be late. What are you doing?” Mom called upstairs the next morning.

Gabby was an easy sell to watch Josh. My parents didn’t think twice about my plans to go out with friends. But before any of that could happen, I had motel rooms to clean and babysitting to do while Kyle coached.

However, my infatuation with Coach Collins grew exponentially overnight, and I couldn’t show up to his place looking like the previous day’s version of myself. I needed to curl my hair, lotion my legs (in case he wanted to touch them again), and wear something nice.

“Why is your hair down? And why are you wearing that white blouse to work?” Mom quizzed me the second I stepped into the kitchen to grab a quick bowl of cereal.

I didn’t need my mom to grill me. I’d already met my quota of lies, yet she insisted I tell one more.

“I’m going to change my clothes before I go to work. Most of my work clothes have stains, and I think they smell like Pledge even though they’ve been washed. I’m just putting my best foot forward so Kyle trusts that I’m responsible and presentable while I babysit Josh.”

I didn’t believe my lie and never imagined my mom would.

But she did. “That’s very mature of you.” She smiled with pride.

“Thanks. I’m trying.”

“Martha Wertz, Tali Rae, and Denise Overton have all called me about Kyle,” Mom said.

“Why?” I screwed the cap back on the milk.

Mom dried her hands and grinned. “Because they are single and found out he is too.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Are you serious?”

“Why the look?” She sat next to me at the table and sipped her coffee.

“He just moved in. Talk about vultures.” I shoveled cereal into my mouth so I wouldn’t be late to Kyle’s.

“Eve, they’re not stalking his place. And I’m sure he doesn’t want to stay single for the rest of his life. Josh deserves a motherly figure in his life, and Kyle deserves a wife.”

“So why did they call you? Are you supposed to be a matchmaker?”

“No. They just wanted to know if he was divorced or widowed.”

“And what did you say?” I mumbled over a mouthful of cereal while milk dribbled down my chin.

Mom frowned and handed me a napkin. “I said he’s neither.”

“What do you mean? And how do you know?”

“Your dad talked to Fred the other day. Josh’s mom wasn’t ready to be a mother, but she had him anyway.”

“And then what?”

Mom shrugged. “Fred said she left.”

“Left? When? Recently? Or when he was a baby?”

Mom shook her head. “Your dad didn’t ask. He didn’t want to pry. It’s nobody’s business.”

I couldn’t imagine leaving a child at any age.

“Maybe he didn’t want Josh’s mom to leave. Maybe he’s heartbroken. I wouldn’t play matchmaker quite yet.”

Mom shook her head. “I’m not. But it’s a free world. If they call him and one thing leads to another, then I guess it’s God’s plan.”

No.

God’s plan was for Kyle to be my crush.

My obsession.

My favorite dream.

I didn’t want to share him, even if he wasn’t mine to not share.

And he didn’t have time to date because he was too busy teaching me things.

“Good morning,” Kyle said with an irresistible smile as I approached his house.

He was sitting on the porch swing with a steaming cup of coffee.

My gaze devoured every inch of him in his Devil’s Head T-shirt, jogging shorts, and black Nikes.

“Morning. Where’s Josh?”

“Still asleep. But he’ll wake up soon. Do you drink coffee?”

I shook my head. “It tastes grody, even with sugar.”

“Have you tried it with cream?”

“Why?” I leaned against the wooden post.

“Because it tastes better with cream.”

“Better than what? If something tastes nasty, why try to make it less nasty unless it’s something like broccoli or Brussels sprouts that are good for you?”

He chuckled before sipping his coffee. Then he held it out to me. “Try it.”

I had no interest in trying his coffee, but I was very interested in sharing a drink with him, putting my mouth close to where his had been.

I pushed off the post and took the mug, taking a small sip.

It was still grody.

“Better, huh?”

I shook my head, handing him the mug. “No. Not better. Orange juice is better. The apples on your trees are better. Brussels sprouts are better.”

“You look extra nice today. What’s the occasion?”

I glanced down at my blouse and pleated khaki shorts. “They’re just clothes.”

“Do you clean rooms in those?”

Why did everyone have to comment on my clothes?

“Where are you taking me fishing?”

“Black Paw Lake.”

“Nobody fishes there.”

“Exactly. But there are fish in the lake, so two birds, one stone.”

“You don’t want anyone seeing us fish?”

“Bingo.” He winked.

I opened my mouth to protest his need to be so secretive, but then it hit me that we would be secluded and alone, which was fine too.

He stood and sipped his coffee again before heading into the house.

“You should know that three desperate women in town are interested in you.” I followed him into the kitchen. “They asked my mom about you. I said she should stay out of it. You just moved here. You have a new job. And you have Josh. So …”

He set his mug by the sink. “You assume I don’t have time to date? Or you don’t think any of these women are a good match for me?”

“Yes.” I returned a sharp nod.

Kyle grinned. “You don’t think I have time to date, and you don’t think any of these women are a good match for me?”

“Correct.” I pressed my lips together and shrugged.

“Or is it that you don’t want me dating anyone, which makes no sense.”

“First, why would I care if you date someone? And you’re right; it wouldn’t make sense for me not to want you to date, but why do you think that?”

“Because if I date someone, I’ll need a babysitter. And if you babysit for me, then I’ll owe you which means you’ll learn more things on that long list of yours. You should want me to date.”

Or you could date me.

“True. But we don’t have time to discuss this any longer. You have practice, and none of these women are the ones. I’ll let you know if I find a good fit.”

Kyle’s eyebrows made a slow ascent of his forehead. “Are you my babysitter and my matchmaker?”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “I hadn’t planned on it, but I’m obviously the best qualified, so I’ll do it.”

He grabbed his keys. “Why are you best qualified?”

“Because I’m young. I know almost everyone in town. I hear all the gossip. And I have totally awesome taste in everything.”

“And you’re humble. So humble.” He smirked, stopping beside me before continuing to the door.

I didn’t turn my head at first, but when I did, he winked.

Why was he such a winker? And why did I think it meant he liked me? Like … liked me.