Chapter 16 #2
I work to hide my disappointment. Shaking my head, I reach for a ketchup. “No. This is great.”
Next, he pulls out a bag of potato chips.
As I’m about to tear open the ketchup packet, I’m struck by a flying packet. “What?” I pick up the small blue foil. “Mayo.”
His smile blooms. “I got the feeling that day when we were packing your apartment that you liked mayonnaise.”
Tossing the ketchup aside, I eagerly tear open the packet he’d tossed my way. “I do.”
He remembered.
The bottom layer of the basket is a cooler. Justin removes two bottles of water and a bottle of wine. It’s a blush from a local winery. His lopsided grin quirks. “I don’t know if you like wine. And I promise, I’m not trying to get you intoxicated. There’s always water.”
“I like wine, especially from Oliver winery.”
Justin is prepared with a wine opener. As he pulls the cork, he explains, “My mom likes wine. I’m more of a beer guy.”
“I like both.”
He pours wine into two plastic cups and lifts his in the air. “To one kiss.”
We tap our cups.
The wine is light and fruity, perfect for a summer evening. We talk as we eat, about nothing and everything.
“How do you feel about baseball?” Justin asks.
Shrugging, I reply, “Unless it’s the Red Sox, I’d rather watch Riverbend play softball.”
His nose scrunches. “I was afraid of that.”
“Not a Red Sox fan?”
“I cheer for local teams, and since Indiana doesn’t have a major league team that leaves St. Louis.”
“Or Cincinnati or Chicago,” I say with a grin.
His smirk grows. “Challenge accepted. I will turn you into a Cardinals fan yet.”
“Pretty sure of yourself. My whole family cheers for the Red Sox.”
He shakes his head. “And here I thought you were perfect.” His smile grows. “I guess this makes you nearly perfect.”
At first, I thought it was odd talking at night on the phone to one another, but in hindsight, it’s made both of us more comfortable around each other. When there is silence, it’s not awkward.
Justin has said more than once that he feels out of his element.
Yet I don’t sense that. The drive, walk through the woods, and picnic destination are perfect in every way.
He tells me about Quintessential Treasures, a store his sister owns in Riverbend.
I’ve been in the store a hundred times. However, not recently.
He talks about changes she’s made in the last few years since Ruth Richards passed away.
Listening to Justin Sheers speak about his sister with pride is another unexpected surprise. It’s when he mentions his niece, Molly, that his entire countenance lightens.
“You really like being around her.”
Smiling, he nods. “When I found out Kandace was pregnant, I was pretty pissed off.” He shakes his head. “Molly…the first time I held her, I knew she wasn’t a mistake. I think Kandace and I got closer during those years. I know Mom misses having them living with us.”
“Moms…” I sigh. Looking up at light, fluffy clouds high above, I say what I haven’t said to anyone. “I’m worried my parents have put their dreams on hold for me.” I turn to him. “I don’t think anyone is supposed to know, but Ricky told me that they were talking about selling the farm.”
Justin lets out a long breath. “I’m so glad you know.”
“You know?”
“Ricky told me. I told your dad I don’t want him to sell to that developer. I’ve offered to buy it.”
“You what? When?”
Justin shakes his head. “It was before…before our kiss.”
“In other words, you’re not trying to buy my home because of our kiss.”
“No, but that’s a damn good reason.” He leans closer, pushing my empty plate out of the way and brushes his lips with mine.
The energy we gained from our meal energizes me as I push toward him. His lips are full and strong. Like when he holds my hand, I feel safe and protected in his presence.
I fall back on the blanket, Justin follows, his face close to mine. Staring into his blue gaze, I say, “I think I need more practice.”
He teases rogue strands of my long hair away from my face. “I want to make this official.”
I nod.
“Ricky is probably going to hate me, but he’ll hate both of us more if we don’t tell him.”
Stretching my neck, I kiss him again. “If you’re asking if I want to date you, the answer is yes.”
His smile grows. “No, Devan, that’s not what I’m asking.”
“You aren’t?”
“I’m asking if you’ll date only me. You see, I’m not great at this relationship thing. My track record is…well…mostly nonexistent. I also know that you blew me away that first night and every day since. I don’t want to be clingy, but I can’t imagine seeing you with someone else.”
Words don’t form for me. The world around us has stilled. Except, that is, for my heart that is fluttering out of control. All I can see is the depth in his eyes, the different shades of blue, much like that of the quarry below.
Justin continues talking. “Walking into your apartment and seeing you turned my world upside down.” He swallows.
“I thought I’d built that night—that kiss—up in my head.
It was the night Ricky told me your parents were considering selling.
I wasn’t in a great mood. And then I saw you, started talking to you.
You were beautiful, fun, and despite my bad mood, made me smile.
And then you were gone. I tried to find out who you were, but no one knew you—no one remembered seeing you.
I couldn’t understand because you were all I remembered.
Then I decided maybe you weren’t real. I’d practically given up hope of ever seeing you again, and then there you were. ”