Page 27

The evening air is warm as I cross the short distance between our apartments. There are no lights on inside yet. Good.
I set the basket carefully by the door, adjusting the note so it’s impossible to miss. For a moment, I stand there, my hands hovering over the handle as I debate whether just to take it back and pretend none of this ever happened. But then I hear it—the low rumble of an engine coming up the driveway.
My pulse kicks into overdrive as I glance toward the Jeep pulling in. It’s Luke.
I’m caught in the moment, unsure whether to run or stay, when the headlights cut off, plunging the yard into near darkness. A second later, the driver’s door swings open, and Luke steps out, his silhouette backlit by the faint glow of the vehicle’s interior light, and my heart pounds in my chest.
“Lila?” His voice is low, rough with surprise.
“Hey,” I manage, my voice higher than I’d like. “I, uh, was just dropping this off. I was testing a recipe, and… well, I thought you might be hungry.”
He glances at the basket by the door, then back at me, his expression softening. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know,” I say, shifting on my feet. “But I figured... well, you’ve been traveling, and since I made enough for two…” I let my voice trail off, knowing I just gave myself away.
“Lila,” he says, his voice gentle. “Thank you.”
The way he says it—like he’s thanking me for more than just the food—makes my chest tighten. I shrug, trying to play it cool. “It’s no bigdeal.”
“It is to me,” he says, stepping closer. The light catches his face now, and I can see the exhaustion etched into his features. But there’s something else, too, something warmer in his eyes as they hold mine.
“You look tired,” I say softly, trying to break the tension.
He chuckles, running a hand through his hair. “It’s been a long couple of days. But it’s good to be back.”
“Well, now you can eat and get some rest,” I say, gesturing toward the basket. “Enjoy.”
I start to step back, but he stops me, his hand brushing my arm. “Lila.”
I freeze, my breath catching as I meet his gaze. There’s something in his expression, something that makes my heart pound in my chest.
“Yeah?” I whisper.
He hesitates, his hand dropping reluctantly back to his side. “Nothing. Just thanks again. For this.”
I nod, feeling the moment slipping away before I can figure out what it was supposed to be. “Anytime.”
With that, I turn and make my way back across the yard, the sound of his voice still echoing in my head. As I step inside and close the door behind me, I can’t help but wonder what he would’ve said if he hadn’t stopped himself.
Ten
Luke
‘That was the best welcome-back gift ever. The gravy is incredible.’
Without giving Lila a chance to reply, I quickly tap out another text.‘Did you really ‘test’ this recipe, or did you remember me saying this was my mom’s version of comfort food?
I finally received a reply, ‘Busted,’with an embarrassed emoji.
I throw back my head and let out a bark of laughter. My mind’s eye already seeing the blush covering her face.
I quickly tap out the message I’ve been waiting to send.‘I missed you, Lila. Not just your cooking.’
This is dangerous territory, and I shouldn’t have gone there. I should maintain the boundaries she set. But she cooked for me, doesn’t that mean something?
‘How was New York?’
‘Would have been better if you were there.’