Page 11

It made sense. Kyle was a work machine and likely didn’t have the capacity for much else. “Maybe it helps to remind yourself that everything is temporary. There’ll come a time for you to leap into all the other wonderful things life has to offer.”

“Yeah.” Her eyes danced, almost as if she was imagining that time now. “I really look forward to it.” She looked over at me. “Spending time with people like you. Just not this year.”

My heart sank. I was a realistic person and understood that the likelihood of Kyle showing up in my life beyond tonight was slim. Yet I hadn’t stopped myself from wonderingwhat if?in the recesses of my mind. This conversation had put the period at the end of our short sentence. Kyle wasn’t looking for a girlfriend. And that was okay.

“Totally understandable.”

She took a deep breath and looked around. If I had to guess, I’d say she was trying to distract herself away from the entire topic. “What prompted you to the Airbnb world?”

Yep, a big leap in subject matter. I could certainly help distract. “Well, my aunt died not too long ago. She left the house to me, and though I don’t want to move into it, I can’t stand the thought of selling it. Too many memories there.”

“I’m sorry. It sounds like she was an important person in your life.”

“She raised me after I lost my parents. Did I mention I was an orphan?” I nodded along. “I often lead with that bit of trivia. So, my aunt and me? We’re very much a duo.” My heart hung heavy when I realized the tense I’d just applied. “Well, wewere.”

Her eyes went wide. “That’s a lot of loss. How old were you when you lost your parents?”

“Almost twelve. Car accident.”

She placed a palm on her cheek and winced.

The quick shake of my head in response to her expression was meant to convey ano, don’t be sadvibe, strangely enough. It seemed whenever I talked to new people about my unfortunate past, I wound up trying to make them feel better about it. Not an easy habit to undo.

I placed my hand on her knee in reassurance. “Hey, I’m okay. Promise. I definitely wonder what life would have been like with myparents around to sign my report cards, but my aunt was honestly a godsend. Warm, wonderful, everything you’d want in a substitute parent.”

“And now you’ve lost her, too.” Kyle’s voice was a gentle caress. I opened my mouth and closed it, startled by the emotion that swarmed beneath her stare. My ice cream was melting, so I took a swipe. The words had disappeared as a slash of grief hit. I’d become astute at blocking those waves, so this one caught me off guard.

“I think, um…I’m still processing it all.” I swallowed the uncomfortable lump and ordered the incoming tears to stand down.

“Give yourself time and all the grace you need. I’m serious.”

Her incredibly blue eyes were soft, a cushion to my fall. I nodded and hauled in air, lots of it. “I did not mean to infuse our evening with any of that.”

“Why not?” She tilted her head to the side and waited. The question suddenly made perfect sense. It was my story, and there was no good reason to bury it.

“I don’t know. You’re right, though. Nothing to apologize for.” The conversation was an unexpected salve. “Why am I able to be myself around you? We just met.” My voice was quiet and reflective.

“I don’t know,” she said, mirroring my tone, “but I’m experiencing something eerily similar. Who are you, Savanna Potter?” I enjoyed my ice cream and considered the question. “Rhetorical,” she informed me and turned to her right as if checking out something in the distance. “You want to walk over to the suspension bridge? It extends over a beautiful pond.”

“Ducks?”

“It’s possible. Do they have a curfew?”

“I don’t think so.”

She nodded. “Then probably ducks.”

“Sold.”

She took a last lick of her ice cream. “You’re quick-witted.”

“Aww, you noticed. It’s from hanging out with my gay judgmental friend, Jonathan.” After a beat, I slid into sincerity. “Sometimes I think I overdo it. Reaching for the clever answer also helps mask my anxious side.”

Kyle passed me a look as we walked toward the sliver of bridge that had slid into view. “I can relate in many ways.”

“No way I’m buying that. You don’t strike me as the type to get rattled even when humans are stuck in doors.”

“You should have seen me the first time I had to cut into a dead body.”