Chapter 14
After they finished their meals, Carter paid the check. Then he and Darcy headed out to the sidewalk. Crowds of people moved
up and down the block, where vendors had set up booths to sell different items during the Flowering Grove Memorial Weekend
Festival. The air was warm and smelled like popcorn mixed with funnel cakes and nachos.
“Carter! Look at those,” Darcy exclaimed. She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to a vendor selling custom keychains.
He relished how natural it seemed for Darcy to hold his hand, and he loved the feeling of her warm skin against his.
“There are keychains for all of the local cities,” she pointed out. Then she dropped his hand.
Never mind.
“Here’s Matthews, Mint Hill, Monroe... Oh! There’s Flowering Grove.”
She was adorable as she fluttered around the displays, pointing out the ones she liked.
“Carter?”
He turned just as Jovan Rodriguez, one of his best friends since childhood, approached him. His sister had just brought up
his friends, and now he’d run into one of them. “Jovan.” He extended a hand to him. “How are you?”
“I’m great.” Jovan’s dark eyes seemed to study his. “But how about you? I haven’t seen you since the transplant.” He gestured toward Carter. “You look fantastic.”
Carter turned toward Darcy, relieved she was still on the other side of the booth examining a display of keychains. He had
to keep this conversation short or he’d risk Darcy overhearing. “Thanks, Jovan.”
“What have you been up to?”
Carter snuck another peek over toward Darcy, who was talking to the vendor by the cash register. “Work, mostly. Gage and I
are staying busy at the shop.”
Jovan’s dark eyebrows careened toward his hairline. “You’re back to work full-time now?”
“Yeah. Have been for a while.”
“I’m so happy to hear that. Me, Mark, and Todd worried about you when you just seemed to drop off the face of the earth, but
we understood you were going through a tough time. I’m glad life is back to normal for you. How’s Shauna?”
“Staying busy working for Dr.Moore over on Sunset.”
“That’s good, and she didn’t have any complications with donating?”
“Nope.” Carter shook his head. “How’s Julia?” He recalled receiving their wedding invitation, but he’d been too ill to attend.
Jovan grinned. “We’re expecting our first in a few months.”
“Congratulations, man. That’s amazing.”
“Thanks. I’m still working for my dad’s company, so if you need an electrician, you know who to call.”
Carter chuckled. “I’ll remember that.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Darcy approaching him. “Jovan, this is Darcy.”
“Hi,” Darcy said.
Jovan gave Carter an approving smile, then turned his attention back to Darcy. “Nice to meet you.” He faced Carter again. “We should all get together sometime. Mark and Todd would love to see you. It’s been too long, buddy.” He shook Carter’s hand.
“Tell them hello for me.”
As Jovan walked away, Carter rested his arm on Darcy’s shoulder. “We’d better get going so we’re not late for the movie.”
Then he steered her toward the sidewalk.
She looked up at him. “How do you know Jovan?”
“We’ve been friends since kindergarten.”
“You should invite him and your other friends to your birthday barbecue. Then they can tell me stories about your youth.”
She laughed and bumped her shoulder against his side. “I bet you were wild and crazy, huh?”
Carter forced a smile. If he invited them to his barbecue, then Darcy for sure would hear about his transplant—and he wasn’t
quite ready to share that yet.
She stopped walking, her smile fading. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no.” He nodded toward the theater. “We don’t want to miss the previews.”
“Okay, but just wait one second.” She handed him a small bag. “I got you something.”
“A present?”
She nodded, and her expression was sheepish. “Open it.”
Carter pulled out a wooden keychain with the words Flowering Grove engraved on it.
“It’s kind of silly, but this way you won’t forget where we hung out the first time—in Flowering Grove at a car show.”
Warmth surged in his chest. He couldn’t help but pull her into a hug. “I love it.”
She gave him a tight squeeze before releasing him. “I’m glad it means that much to you.”
He pulled his keys from his pocket and slipped the keychain on the ring with his truck, shop, and house keys. “Let’s go get
our movie tickets.”
They made their way to the Flowering Grove cinema, and Carter purchased two tickets to the movie.
When they stepped inside, Darcy pointed toward the concession stand. “Do you like popcorn?”
“Who doesn’t?”
She pulled her wallet from her purse and started toward the counter.
“Whoa,” he said. “I can get our snacks.”
“Nope, I’m getting the popcorn.”
“Fine. But I’ll get the drinks.”
“Deal,” she agreed.
After purchasing a tub of popcorn and two sodas, they strode into the theater and found seats in the center.
“I’m so excited to see this movie on a big screen,” she told him. “My mom always loved ’80s movies, and we used to watch them
when I was in high school. I haven’t seen it in at least five years.”
“When I saw it on the marquee yesterday, I thought of you.”
A few more people joined them in the theater, and soon the lights dimmed. When the trailers for upcoming movies began rolling
on the screen, Carter settled in the seat and stretched his arm across the back of Darcy’s chair.
She smiled up at him and held up the bucket of popcorn. He slipped his hand into the bucket at the same time as she did, and
their fingers touched. He waited for her to pull her hand away, but she didn’t. Instead, he placed the bucket on the seat
next to him, and they held hands for the rest of the movie.
Carter tried to concentrate on the story, but he was too aware of how well Darcy’s hand fit in his. He adored the sound of her laughter as she enjoyed the comedy in the movie, and he noticed her wipe her eyes during a few scenes.
When closing credits filled the screen, she released his hand and turned toward him. “That was so much fun. Thank you, Carter.”
“You’re welcome.”
They exited the theater, depositing their bucket and cups in the trash on their way out the door. The street vendors had closed
for the night, and the stars above them were bright in the sky. Only a few couples milled about on Main Street. He threaded
his fingers with hers.
“When exactly is your birthday?” she asked as they walked toward the parking lot.
“Next Saturday.”
“Am I officially invited to your birthday barbecue?”
Teasing her, he lifted his eyebrows. “Well...” A smile played on his lips. “Yes, of course you’ll be invited, Darcy. I’ll
find out what Shauna has in mind and text you details.”
“Good. And let me know what I can bring.”
“Just yourself,” he told her as they approached his truck. He hit the button on the key fob and opened the passenger door
for her. Then he helped her climb inside.
As he jogged around to the driver’s side, he wished the evening could last forever.
***
Darcy and Carter stood by her front door, and she looked up at him with a smile. “I had a really great time tonight. Thank
you for planning a night you knew I would enjoy.”
“You’re welcome.” He trailed a finger down her cheek with a featherlight touch, making her blood sizzle in her veins. His dark-brown eyes became intense, and she shivered as they focused on her lips.
This is it! He’s finally going to kiss me!
The air froze in her lungs as he leaned down, and she closed her eyes, awaiting the feel of his mouth against hers.
Instead, his lips grazed her cheek before he pulled her into his arms. Her eyes fluttered open, and she swallowed back her
disappointment.
“I’ll text you,” he promised as he released her and took a step back. “Sleep well tonight.”
“You too,” she managed to say. Then she unlocked the door and stood in the doorway while he backed out of the driveway.
After setting her purse and keys on the bench, she jogged up the stairs to her bedroom and pulled out a framed photo of Jace
and her. Nearly two years ago, her father had taken the photo on the beach. She took in his handsome face and their bright
smiles. She closed her eyes and tried to recall the sound of his voice when he said her name, the taste of his lips, the feel
of his warm embrace.
Her eyes moved to her left hand in the photograph, and the large diamond she had worn until six months after Jace passed away.
Opening her jewelry box, she pulled out the ring and stared at it. After he died, she had offered the ring to his parents,
but they insisted that she keep it. Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled their plans for a life together—living in the
townhouse, starting a family, growing old...
“I’m sorry, Jace,” she whispered to the empty room.
Darcy flopped back on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. Her mind replayed the wonderful time she’d had talking and laughing
with Carter tonight—holding hands as they walked down the street and enjoyed the movie. If only he had kissed her.
Her mind spun. To feel remorse for moving on from Jace while hoping for a relationship with Carter left her conflicted and confused.
She pushed up from the bed and wandered into the bathroom to take a shower. She couldn’t make heads or tails of her complicated
feelings, but she knew one thing for sure: She was falling for Carter Donovan. She just hoped he felt the same way about her—and
she had a strong inkling that he did.
***
The following morning Darcy awoke to the sound of her phone ringing. She reached over and grabbed it off the nightstand and
hit the speaker button.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded hoarse.
“Darcy,” Mom sang through the phone.
Rubbing her eyes, Darcy sat up. “What’s up?”
“Great news but terrible news. Our friends, the Pfeiffers, canceled. Remember how they were supposed to spend the Memorial
Day weekend at the beach with us? Anyway, we’d love to see you since we’re freed up. Come out and have some fun.”
“Like... right now?” she asked.
“Yes, as soon as you can. Bring your new boyfriend, who isn’t really your boyfriend, with you. Oh, and invite Haven and Derek
too. We have plenty of room and plenty of food.”
“Um...,” Darcy hedged. “I don’t know.”
“Why not? The weather is beautiful. Call Carter and tell him you’re heading to Coral Cove for the remainder of the weekend.
It’s only Saturday. You can enjoy almost three days down here.”
Darcy considered what could happen if she invited Carter to spend the weekend with her parents. Her mother might start talking about the kidney transplant, or she might talk too much about Jace. Either way, Darcy would wind up crying. She couldn’t let that happen. “I’ll invite Carter, but you need to make me a promise.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t mention the kidney transplant. I haven’t told him about it, and I’m not ready. Tell Dad too.”
“Mum’s the word, and I’ll instruct your father not to say anything either. Now get your butts down here. The weather is too
beautiful to waste.”
“I’ll call you soon with an update,” she said before disconnecting. She opened her last chat with Haven and shot off a text
message:
Darcy: Hey. Wanna go to the beach?
After a few moments, the chat bubbles appeared.
Haven: Right now?
Darcy: Yup, now.
Her phone rang with a call from Haven.
Darcy answered the call. “Is that a yes?” she said.
“Let me get this straight,” Haven began. “You want me to pack and go to the beach now ?”
Darcy leaned back against her headboard and folded her legs under her. “My mom just called and asked if you and Derek want
to come. There’s plenty of room.”
“You should invite Carter.”
Excitement shimmied through her at the idea. “My mom said that too, but I don’t know...”
“Aren’t there five bedrooms?”
“Yes. We’d each have our own room.”
“And you had fun last night, right?”
“We had a blast.” She summarized everything from dinner to the movie to the kiss on her cheek at the end of the night. She gnawed her lower lip. “I just don’t know if it’s too soon to invite him to the beach since we’re not officially dating.”
“Darcy, I know you wanna take things slow, but he might feel your hesitation. Maybe if you invite him, he’ll see you’re ready
to date and ask if you want to make it official.”
An image of kissing Carter on the beach filled her mind, and a sudden rush of desire pulsed through her body. “Okay. I’ll
invite him, but I told my mom not to talk about the kidney transplant. I’m not ready to tell him yet.”
“Why not?”
Darcy cupped her hand to her forehead. “I’m just not. I already told him about Jace and don’t want to overwhelm him. I’ll
explain everything else to him eventually. Would you please tell Derek not to talk about the kidney transplant?”
“I will. Now call Carter and then text me. In the meantime, I’ll call Derek and tell him to get up and start packing for the
beach. Bye.” Haven disconnected the call.
Darcy’s hands trembled as she hit the button to dial Carter’s number. Why was she so nervous? Turning toward her nightstand,
she cringed when she realized it was only eight thirty. She hoped he was awake.
“Darcy,” Carter said through a yawn. “Hi.”
She covered her face with her free hand. “Oh no. I woke you.”
His chuckle rumbled through the phone. “It’s okay. What’s up?”
“Wanna go to the beach?”
Silence filled the phone line.
“Right now?”
“Yeah. My parents are at their beach house for the weekend, and they told me to invite friends down. I know it’s last-minute, but Haven and Derek are coming too, and you can have your own room. We can come back on Monday. If you’re not busy...” Her voice trailed off.
More silence filled the line, and she bit her lower lip as worry coursed through her. Was it too soon for them to do something
like this? After all, they’d only known each other a few weeks.
Oh no...
“I’d love to,” he finally said, sounding fully awake. “What do I need to bring?”
“Your swimsuit.” She felt her cheeks heat thinking of him in his suit. “Oh, and other clothes, of course. Whatever you want
to wear.”
“What time should I pick you up?”
“Whenever you’re ready to leave.”
“Great,” he said. “I’ll pack and head your way. See you soon.”
Darcy hung up and gave a little screech of happiness before texting Haven: Carter said yes! He’s going to pack and head my way
Haven: I talked to Derek and he said yes too. We’ll meet you at your place soon.
Darcy danced out of bed and started packing.