Chapter 65 Georgia
Georgia
I’m about to call for a switch out to allow the kids waiting in line to have their turn in the bounce house when a familiar
voice speaks from behind me. “There a height limit on these things?”
I’m already grinning from ear to ear when I turn to look at Eddie Rigsby. “You, sir, will have to wait for the adult bounce
that will commence at 11:00 a.m.”
“Will I see you out there?” he asks, stopping at my side.
“You and Junie in cahoots or something?”
Eddie lets out a laugh. “I mean, no, but I’m also not surprised if she’s pried a commitment from you already.”
“If she wasn’t my little sister,” I say, jokingly shaking my head.
“Speaking of which,” Eddie says. “Now that everyone is doing the whole ‘being truthful’ thing, I did receive an SOS text from
Junie regarding the new info she shared in hopes I could help cheer you up.”
The sadness hits me again as I remember the facts he’s referring to, but they are no longer paralyzing. “It was . . . is? . . .
I don’t know. It’s devastating. But . . .” I remind myself, You are human, you did your best—the people you love want you to live beyond this. “I’m doing my best to make peace with the fact that I can’t go back and change it.” I swallow the sadness that sits in my throat.
Eddie tucks his hands in his pockets and nods. “It’s the tough part about being human. Not being able to go back and change
the past.” His eyes linger on me and I feel my insides flutter, knowing we’re both thinking about our shared history. “And
for what it’s worth, I think acting in good faith counts for a whole lot.”
I nod. “I’m starting to believe the same. It’s just, you know how I am. A tad black and white at times. All this stuff with
Junie and the family, it’s just very gray with all sorts of shades.”
“You? A tad black and white?” Eddie looks off and frowns. “Not ringing a bell. You sure we’re talking about the same person?”
I whack a playful hand into his middle. “Oh, cut it out.”
He throws an arm around me, and by reflex I turn into him, giggling. It’s my favorite muscle memory. It’s the part of loving
him that never left, despite my best efforts. I think about the kiss in the kitchen, and I savor the pressure of his arms
around me. I wonder in the most optimistic of ways that were once entirely out of reach: Could there be a road back?
“Hey, we’re waiting over here,” calls a child-size voice.
“Sorry!” I call over. I shoot Eddie one last look. “Here I am slacking on my duties.” I disentangle myself and head for the
bounce house, where I rotate kids in and out.
Eddie follows. “Hey, I was wondering, did Junie get her MRI results back yet?”
I shake my head. “It’s been just over a week. I think her doctor scheduled an appointment for next week to go over results.”
“Let me know if I can be of help with any of that. As always.” Eddie looks at his watch. “And speaking of Junie, I should
head over there for my shift at the snack shack.”
I laugh. “Watch out, I hear she’s running a tight ship.”
Eddie drops his eyes and shoves his hands in his pockets. When he looks back up, he seems to be talking himself into—or out of—something. “Hey, before I go.”
My insides lurch in anticipation of another Bad Thing. I frown.
“Oh no.” Eddie holds up a hand. “Good thing.” He pulls in a breath. “I know this is not your priority, and there’s a million
more important things in your life than me, but I just wanted to put it out there, no pressure, but maybe, would you want
to get together? Be open to it? Consider it for a day when you’re not overwhelmed, and I—”
“Yes.” I can feel the smile crinkle every fine line life has gifted me thus far. “Can we call it what it is?”
Eddie nods, blushing slightly. “I’d love to take you on a real date.”
I want to close the gap between us, leap into his arms, and kiss him for far longer than we got in the kitchen. But gaggles
of elementary schoolers surround us, ones who are already waiting very patiently, and I am unsurprisingly not one for public
displays of affection.
“You are a bright spot right now”—I look at him, feeling hopeful—“in the middle of a terribly tough time.”
“Anything I can do to make it a little more bearable,” he says, then offers a lopsided grin.
I smile and look away. I might be thrilled at the idea of dating Eddie Rigsby again, but it’s fresh and the butterflies are
swarming.
“See you around,” I say, immediately wondering if that sounds too much like something one pal says to another.
“Sure thing, bud,” he says, confirming my suspicions, and he winks as he turns to go. “Thanks for making my day.”