3. Michael
CHAPTER 3
Hope Diner is packed this morning, which is not unusual for this time of day, especially since we’re in the height of tourist season, given that school starts in just a few weeks. Lilly refills the cups of a young couple, smiling happily as she does it, while her husband Alex runs the grill back in the kitchen.
While Alex is a few years older than I am, I know that he and Lilly have lived relatively parallel lives to Reyna and me. He left Lilly behind to join the military as well, but it wasn’t until she returned home after working as a travel photographer that he managed to get her to forgive him.
How? Who knows. Maybe Lilly loves him more than Reyna ever cared for me. Maybe ours was puppy love, like everyone else had called it.
Mood sour, I take a seat at the counter. “Morning, Michael,” Lilly greets happily.
“Coffee, please.”
She arches a brow. “You planning to greet me better than that, or do I need to let your mom know you missed some manners?”
We’ve known each other our whole lives, so I smile. “Fair enough. Good morning, Lilly. How are you? How’s Sarah?”
“Growing. We’re all fine. Thanks so much for asking.” She sets a ceramic mug on the counter in front of me, then fills it with coffee. “How are you this morning?”
“Fantastic. Can’t you tell?”
She laughs and pulls out her notepad. “Your usual?”
“Please. And to go would be great. I need to get into the office.”
“You’ve got it.” She slides the ticket to her husband, then turns back to me. “So what did Reyna do to get you in a twist this morning?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“To me, it is. I’ve known you both forever.”
“Why did you forgive him?” I ask, nodding toward Alex.
Lilly glances at her husband and he grins at her, a lopsided smile that is so full of love that it makes my stomach churn. What I wouldn’t give to have moments like that with Reyna.
“He gave me a reason to.”
“I’ve given Reyna every reason, haven’t I? I volunteer every spare moment of my time, I try to talk to her, to be friends.”
“Have you told her why you left?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“I bet it would to her.”
I swallow hard, then take a drink of coffee. “I doubt it.”
“Well, you’ll never know until you try. As for Alex, he offered me an explanation, and I decided that taking another risk on him was well worth the heartbreak that could follow.”
“And here you are, married with a sweet baby girl.”
“And another on the way,” she whispers.
My mood instantly perks up. “Really? That’s amazing!”
She laughs and presses her finger to her lips. “Shh. We’re keeping the news tight-lipped for now.” She’s beaming, though. Positively glowing with joy, and it eases my own sour mood.
Lilly is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and knowing she and Alex are so happy, even after everything they went through, honestly gives me hope that maybe one day—someday—Reyna will forgive me for what I did.
“Order up!” Alex calls out.
Lilly turns and retrieves the Styrofoam to-go container, then offers it to me as I set a twenty on the counter. “Give her time, okay?”
“Thanks.” I take the container and leave, my mind still on Reyna. The trouble is, I’ve given her time. I’ve been home for nearly five years. How much longer will it take? Will she ever forgive me? Or am I merely holding onto a ghost?
“How’s this?” I ask then glance back at Mrs. McGinley.
She cocks her head to the side, studying the photograph she asked me to hang on the back wall of the library. “Perfect. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” I climb down the ladder and smile at the aged woman. She was practically a second grandmother to me growing up, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. “What else do you need?”
“Well. If you don’t mind, I could use—” She trails off when the bell above the door rings. My breath catches as Reyna walks in wearing a bright yellow sundress, her red hair twisted in a braid that cascades down over her shoulder.
So much beauty.
Her emerald gaze finds mine and hardens.
“You better close your mouth, boy,” Mrs. McGinley whispers. “Reyna! Thank you so much for stopping by.”
The moment she says it, I know that this was not happenstance. Mrs. McGinley has a habit of playing matchmaker. She and Edna Montgomery—a friend of hers who passed away last year—take great joy in helping others find love.
Surely she doesn’t think this one meeting will change things, does she?
“Thank you for calling me. You said you have the box?”
“I do. But it is quite heavy.” She turns to me. “Michael, can you be a dear and take Reyna to the back room? There’s a large tub of books there that I am donating to the school’s library.”
“Sure thing.”
“I’m sure Michael has other things to do,” Reyna replies coolly. “I can find the box.”
“It’s quite heavy, honey,” Mrs. McGinley assures her.
“I can take them out a few at a time.” And she would, too. I know that without a doubt. Reyna would spend all day taking each book out individually just to avoid having to let me help with anything.
“I don’t mind. I’m on my way out, anyway. I can get it into your car.”
Reyna forces a smile at Mrs. McGinley. “Thanks again.”
“Anytime, honey. Michael, it’s the one with the blue lid.”
“On it.” I wait for Reyna to walk past me just so I can smell her floral perfume. I’m weak for her. And the fact that I would be willing to fall to my knees and beg her in front of God and everyone for a second chance grates against my pride.
But I don’t miss the chance to inhale her scent as she walks past me and into the back room. “It’s right there,” Reyna says as she points to the tub. “But I really don’t need your help.”
“You never do.” I lift the tub, surprised that it is actually quite heavy. But when I catch Reyna’s gaze on my arms as I turn to face her, my mood is instantly lifted.
So she’s not immune to me. Not completely anyway.
That’s good to know.
Her gaze pins mine. “My car is out front.”
“Lead the way,” I reply with a grin.
Reyna starts out, walking past Mrs. McGinley, who is on the phone—probably with her other friend Juniper, the third member of the matchmaking trio. She winks at me, and I chuckle, shaking my head.
Honestly, I can’t even tell her to stop because I need all the help I can get.
Reyna pops the trunk to her small SUV, and I slide the tub into the back, noting there are quite a few other boxes of books.
“Collecting books?” I question.
“Yes.” She closes it and turns to me. “Thank you for your help.”
“I can come help you with the unloading if you’d like. I don’t have anything going on right now.”
“I already have help.”
“Oh.”
Reyna’s expression softens briefly, and I get the impression being near me is just as hard for her as it is for me to be beside her. “Have a good day, Michael.”
“Reyna, wait.”
She turns to face me and folds her arms. The cross around her neck catches a ray of sun and shines brightly for a breath of a moment. “What is it?”
“I—can we have lunch sometime?”
“I told you I’m not interested in dating you.”
“I’m not trying to date you. I just—” Why is this so hard? I run a hand over the back of my neck. “I want to try to explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain,” she replies. “I told you that. Goodbye, Michael.” She pulls her door open, then steps back and trips against the curb.
Lunging forward, I catch her right before she hits the ground. Reyna stares up at me, our gazes holding for a brief moment as desire shoots through my body like lightning. Having her in my arms, for even this brief moment, feels so right that it can’t be wrong.
“Thank you.” Reyna straightens and climbs into her car, then pulls away from the curb before I’ve even caught my breath. How am I supposed to move on when she’s the very air I breathe?
God, you’re the only one who can help me here. Please. Help me be the man who deserves her.