Chapter 28
Maggie loved surprises—the good kind anyway—and the Carolina Beach State Park was definitely a good one. Happiness bloomed
inside as Josh turned into the park. “I love this place. Haven’t been here in years.” The kids from her graduating class,
including Erin, used to hang out by the Cape Fear River, eating junk food, gossiping, and goofing off.
“Hope you’re hungry. There’s a picnic in the trunk.”
“Well, aren’t you resourceful.” Not to mention romantic. She glanced at him from beneath her lashes. He was dressed as casual
as she was in khaki shorts and a black T-shirt. He did very nice things for that tee. She cleared her throat. “I’m actually
kind of starving. I took Zoey to McDonald’s for lunch and only had a salad, then we got caught up playing at the beach and
before I knew it, it was time to get ready.”
“We’ll eat first then. There’s plenty of food. I thought we could take a short hike later if you want.”
“Perfect weather for it.” It was a balmy eighty degrees and partly cloudy.
The park’s two-lane road wove through the lush forest. He drove all the way to the back, past the marina, and turned at the lot for the Sugarloaf Trailhead. A picnic table squatted unoccupied beneath a canopy of towering pines.
Maggie carried the tablecloth while Josh grabbed a genuine picnic basket from his trunk. He’d definitely made some dating
upgrades since the old days. She used to tease him about it. He had one or two cheap restaurants to which he brought his dates,
and the night usually ended at Baron’s Point, a quiet parking spot with ocean views.
“What’s that little smile about?” he asked as they settled at the table.
“I was just remembering your affinity for Baron’s Point.”
He smirked. “I hope you can see my repertoire has improved with age.”
“I’d have to agree.”
“It’s a little disconcerting dating someone who knows me so well.”
She laughed. “You know me just as well.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t use to be such an idiot.”
“Used to be?”
“Hey now...”
“And just in case you forgot, you got to see me being all dopey-eyed for your big brother.”
His expression sobered as something flared in his eyes, possibly hurt. He covered it with a smile. “True enough.”
She hadn’t meant to bring up Ethan. Josh had gone to all this effort to please her and here she was, bringing up her late
husband before they could take their first bites. But Ethan had been his brother. He was there between them whether they wanted
him to be or not.
Maybe it was better to get it out in the open. “I can’t change the past, you know.”
His expression softened. “I wouldn’t want you to, Mags. He was my brother and I loved him too. We’ll always have that in common.”
And yet, something else simmered under the surface of his expression. She wanted to set his mind at ease. “I don’t compare
you with him—if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Yeah?” He gave a wry laugh as he began unpacking the basket. “That’s probably for the best. We were always very different,
Ethan and me.”
Where Ethan had been all intellect and straitlaced, Josh was athletic and carefree. They’d come from a long line of mostly
doctors and teachers. Their parents valued intellect above all else, and while Josh was smart in his own way, it hadn’t been
in the way measured by academic tests. And his Bs and Cs didn’t impress his folks.
Oh, they supported him, attended his games. But it was always clear to Maggie that it was just a game to them, especially
his dad. The love and adoration he received from his peers never seemed to balance out the fact that, to his dad, his performance
on the field didn’t translate to real-life success.
Brad loved all his children. But when it came to his approval, Josh always seemed to come up a little short.
She leaned forward, put her hand on his, and waited until he looked at her. “You don’t fall short, Josh. Not with me. I can
be having the worst day ever and you show up and make me smile. Or you hold me and let me cry it out with no expectations
whatsoever. You have a way of bringing out my best. You just let me be me. And, Josh... that’s just the greatest gift ever.”
His lips lifted in a smile. “That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“It happens to be true.” She slid her hand away and they resumed unpacking the basket.
“Let’s not make Ethan a taboo subject, okay?” he said. “He was a big part of both our lives and he’ll always be a part of
us.”
“Agreed.” There would be no better time to ask what had been on her mind since their first date. “So, while we’re on the subject,
I have to ask... What do you think he’d think of this? Of our going out like this?”
Josh chuckled. “He’d be wondering what in the world you could possibly be thinking.”
She gave a mock scowl. “He would not. He always said I lit up around you.”
Josh’s brow jumped. “He did?”
“And he was right. You bring out a different side of me.”
“Is that good or bad?”
She liked the way she felt with Josh. She liked who she was with him. And she really liked the way he made her feel these
days. The way her stomach fluttered at his nearness. The way tension seemed to crackle between them sometimes. She loved the
gentle way he touched her and the way his eyes softened when he gazed at her.
Like now. “It’s a very good thing.”
“So the other day Dad decided they should take the public bus across Athens to save money, and he and Mom squeezed onto this crowded bus. It’s like a hundred degrees and no air-conditioning. The windows are down, blowing hot air around. It’s standing room only, but Mom got an aisle seat. There’s this guy in a tank top crushed right up against her. He’s holding on to a ceiling strap, so she’s got this sweaty, hairy armpit in her face. And she keeps lean ing away, but the more she leans away, the more he leans into her space.”
Maggie chuckled at the scene he painted. He’d always told a good tale.
“Dad was watching from down the aisle. You should’ve heard him telling the story. He was laughing so hard I could hardly make
out his words. And Mom was just sitting there, her mouth all pinched, saying, “It was the foulest stench I’ve ever smelled!
And he kept encroaching on my space!”
Maggie laughed, her eyes tearing up. “Your parents are a trip. They’re having such a great time.”
“Hairy armpit notwithstanding.”
They were resting on a pier bench overlooking the Cape Fear River, Josh’s arm draped over the back. The sun had dropped low
behind a bank of clouds and now glowed golden, turning the clouds a vibrant shade of orange. A slight breeze drifted across
the water, cool and refreshing.
After the picnic—her favorite foods from Dilly’s Deli—they’d taken a short walk through the woods. The sandy path, strewn
with pine needles and protruding roots, made her glad she’d worn tennis shoes. They chatted easily the whole way and returned
in time to enjoy the stellar sunset.
She’d caught him up on the swim lessons. Word of her coaching had spread throughout Erin’s circle, and she’d added two more
summer clients to her schedule. She’d had breakfast at Erin’s this morning, where Maggie was careful not to mention her upcoming
date with Josh. “So how long do you think we should hide this from your family?”
“Hide? Is that what it feels like to you? I guess I was thinking we were being discreet.”
“Okay, that’s fair. It’s just that I tell Erin pretty much everything, so it feels as if I’m holding something back.”
He cupped her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You should do whatever you’re comfortable with. Just remember my family has
an opinion on everything and is quick to offer it.”
How would Erin feel about Maggie dating Josh? She wasn’t sure. Anyway, there was nothing to tell yet, really. They were only
on their second date.
And what if their relationship was short-lived? Why cause needless tension or concern in the family? Better just to give the
relationship time and space to see if it grew into anything. “You’re right. We should use a little discretion for now.”
He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I’ve never sneaked around with anyone before.”
“We are not sneaking around. We’re using discretion —your word.”
“Sneaking sounds more fun.”
Their gazes met, locking together. It was that beautiful time of evening when everything took on a lovely rosy glow, and the
sight of him stole her breath.
The hint of humor fell from his expression as his eyes grew more serious. “I had a wonderful time tonight.”
“Is it over already?”
“I didn’t want to forget to tell you.” His focus dropped to her mouth.
Her lips tingled with want, even though a week ago she’d cautioned him to take it slow. Nevertheless, she could’ve cheered
when he leaned closer and brushed her lips with his. So soft. So reverent. So delicious.
And already over. He withdrew a bit, his warm breath still a whisper on her lips. “Slow enough?”
Her body clamored for more. More kissing, more touching, more, more, more. But as seconds ticked away, her brain engaged cell by cell. Taking it slow was smarter. There was a lot on the line and they had all the time in the world.
“Perfect.”