Page 23 of Keep My Heart (The Haydon Falls #1)

Dad never went to college, but he didn’t need to.

He grew a successful business out of nothing and made it more profitable every year by adding the stuff people wanted, like tractor rides to the fields and pumpkin painting for kids.

And he’s helped the town. Not only does this place draw in tourists, but he also gives part of what he makes back to the community.

And on his two busiest weekends of the fall, he hosts a vendor fair, where locals can sell their craft items.

‘What are you doing out here?’ I hear Matt say.

Turning around, I see him coming toward me.

‘Just checking out the orchard. The trees are looking good this year.’

He stands beside me and gazes out at the fields. ‘Remember that time we were cutting branches and you made me laugh so hard I fell out of the tree?’

‘I don’t even remember what I said.’

‘I don’t either, but I couldn’t walk for a week thanks to you.’ He laughs. ‘Lot of memories out here.’ He turns to me. ‘The party turned out well.’

‘Yeah, Dad did a good job. I’ve never seen Mom this happy.’

‘Speaking of happy, you and Lyndsay seemed pretty happy at my house last night. You two couldn’t stop talking.’

That was last night? God, it seemed like a week ago, probably because I’ve spent all my time with her since I got into town. How is it possible I’m feeling this much for her after only a day? Is it just old feelings from the past coming back?

‘I saw her again this morning. I took her to breakfast, then she went to the brewery with me and we hung out with the family.’

‘No shit?’ His brows rise. ‘What’s going on with you two? Is it serious? ’

‘We just like spending time together. I was going to see her tonight, but she decided to stay home.’

I’m still bothered by that. I understand her reasoning, but I really want to see her. I miss her. It’s only been a few hours since I dropped her off and I miss her. Why would I miss her? I’m not even dating her.

‘But you’re taking her out tomorrow, right? After the beer tasting?’

‘I don’t know. Probably not. I think she’s done with the fake dating thing.’

‘Why is that?’

‘I don’t want to get into it.’

‘She’s not getting back with Chris, is she?’

‘Hell no. She just divorced him. Why would you even say that?’

He shrugs. ‘No reason.’ He glances back at the barn. ‘I should get in there. Tessa’s probably looking for me.’

‘Matt, hold on,’ I say, stopping him on his way back to the barn. ‘What are you not telling me?’

‘It’s nothing. Just forget it.’

‘I know you’re lying. Now tell me what it is.’

‘Why? You’re not dating her.’ He eyes me. ‘Are you?’

‘Lyndsay? No, but what does that have to do with anything?’

‘Just forget it. I shouldn’t have brought it up.’

‘Brought what up? Chris?’

‘Let it go. Just forget I said anything.’ He continues to the barn.

‘Matt, wait!’ I get in front of him. ‘Tell me what’s going on.’

He sighs. ‘There’s a rumor going around that Chris is coming to the reunion.’

‘Yeah? So?’

‘Think about it. He’s there with Lyndsay, reliving memories from high school, the place they fell in love. Shit like that gets people back together. I’m not saying it’ll happen, but it’s possible.’

‘Lyndsay’s not even going to the reunion.’

‘She bought a ticket like an hour ago.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I’m on the planning committee. I get a notification every time someone buys a ticket online.’

Lyndsay said she wanted to go to the reunion, but only if she didn’t have to go alone. There’s no way she’d go with Chris. She doesn’t want to get back together with him. She doesn’t even want to see him. That’s why she’s here while he moves out of their apartment.

‘There’s no way she’d get back with him. She’s the one who filed for divorce.’

‘And we both know how much Chris hates to lose. If the divorce was his idea, he’d leave her alone. But if Lyndsay wanted it and he didn’t? He might try to get her back, especially if he heard she was seeing someone else.’

‘But she’s not.’

‘That’s not what people around town are saying.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You and her getting all close at the country bar? People saw you guys together and now that shit’s all over town.’

‘And made its way to Chris?’

‘He still has friends here. You know one of those shitheads told him they saw her with you.’

Part of me is glad Chris knows I was out with Lyndsay.

The asshole never acknowledged me in high school.

He acted like I was invisible. Now he thinks I’m dating his ex, which will piss him off more than if she were dating someone he didn’t know.

But I don’t want him going after Lyndsay because of it.

‘Did he buy a ticket?’ I ask .

‘Not yet, but I’ll let you know if he does. I don’t think he’ll actually show up, especially if he finds out you left town and went back to New York. But you never know. If he really wants Lyndsay back, returning to the good old days is the way to do it.’

‘She’d never go back to him,’ I say, shaking my head.

‘Yeah, you’re probably right. I’m gonna head back in.’

I follow him into the barn and go back to my seat.

Nash is on the dance floor with Callie. Bryce is there too, dancing with Jen.

Matt’s with Tessa and Mom’s with Dad. They all look ridiculously happy and in love, which I have to admit makes me kind of jealous.

I’d like to settle down, get married, have the kind of love they have, but I just can’t find the right girl.

Getting out my phone, I check for any messages from Lyndsay, thinking she might’ve changed her mind about tonight.

But I don’t see any texts and no missed calls.

Damn, I really screwed this up. I shouldn’t have suggested the fake dating thing.

I shouldn’t have kissed her. And I definitely shouldn’t have done what I did to her in her mom’s kitchen earlier today.

What the hell was I thinking? I wasn’t. I was so wrapped up in how it felt to kiss her and touch her that I couldn’t stop myself. If we hadn’t gotten out of there, things might’ve gone even farther.

Now she doesn’t trust me, or maybe she doesn’t trust herself. We agreed this wouldn’t turn into anything and it has, or it was starting to. Maybe I should just leave her alone. Go back to my life in New York and try to forget about her. It’s not what I want, but I don’t know what else to do.

What if we truly were just friends? Would it work? Could we be friends without it becoming more?

Before I can talk myself out of it, I text her, Can we be friends?

Several minutes pass before I get a text back. Isn’t that what we are ?

It’s a loaded question and not one I can answer over text. It needs to be in person.

I need to talk to you. Can I see you tonight?

When?

Now.

I’d planned to stay at the party longer, but I don’t need to. The dinner is done, the cake’s been served, and Mom opened all her gifts. If I stay here, I’ll just be sitting at this table alone, watching couples in love on the dance floor. I really don’t need to see that.

My mom’s here , Lyndsay texts.

I’ll pick you up. We can go somewhere.

Okay.

I get up and go over to Matt and Tessa on the dance floor. ‘Hey, sorry to interrupt, but I’m heading out. I’m gonna take my dad’s truck so you guys can have your car back.’ I hand Matt the key.

‘Where are you going?’ he asks.

‘I need to go talk to someone.’

He nods, smiling, because he knows that someone is Lyndsay. ‘Good luck.’

I might need it. I’m worried Lyndsay’s going to tell me she doesn’t even want us being friends, which I totally get, but I hate the idea of never talking to her again.

I walk up to my parents. ‘I’m gonna head out, if that’s okay.’

‘Of course.’ Mom lets go of Dad and gives me a hug. ‘It’s so good having you home. It’s the only gift I needed.’

Dad smiles at me. ‘Where are you off to? You got a date?’

‘How could I have a date?’ I say, laughing. ‘I just got here.’

‘Word around town is you’ve been spending time with the Davis girl.’ He winks at me. ‘You had quite a crush on her back in the day.’

‘Dad, I’m not— ’

‘She’s such a sweet girl,’ Mom says. ‘I’m glad she finally got rid of that husband of hers. The things I’ve heard .?.?.’ She sighs. ‘You go off and have a nice time. Tell her we said hello.’

Why are they assuming I’m going to see Lyndsay? I didn’t tell them I’ve been hanging out with her. Maybe my brothers told them.

‘Is it okay if I take the new truck?’ I ask Dad, feeling like I’m 16 again, asking to borrow the car.

‘Go ahead. Keys are by the door.’

‘Thanks. See you tomorrow.’

I go back to the house, where I’ll be staying tonight. I kind of wish I was staying with Sawyer again instead of my parents. If I’m out late, they’ll question me about it and I don’t want to answer their questions.

When I get to Lyndsay’s house, she’s sitting outside on the porch swing, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. My pulse rises the moment I see her. The girl takes my breath away, always has, always will.

She sees me and heads to the truck. I’m about to get out to open her door, but she’s already there, opening the door for herself.

‘Hi, Nick,’ she says in a tone that’s friendly but not at all flirtatious. She’s made her decision. She just wants to be friends, nothing more, or maybe she doesn’t even want to be friends.

‘Are you hungry?’ I ask. ‘We could get something to eat.’

‘I already had dinner. Maybe we could just go somewhere and talk.’

I drive to a coffee shop that also serves food, just in case she changes her mind and decides she wants to eat.

‘Let’s just stay here,’ she says as I open my door.

‘In the truck? ’

‘Yeah.’ She turns to me. ‘I’m guessing this won’t take long, whatever it is you wanted to say.’

‘Um, I guess not. Are you in a hurry?’

‘No.’ She looks down. She seems sad. I hope it’s not because of me. The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt her, which is why I’m not letting myself get more involved with her.

‘Lyndsay, I know things were moving fast with us, but I promise you, that wasn’t my intention.’

She looks up at me. ‘I know.’

‘It’s just that seeing you again brought up old feelings. And spending time with you has made those feelings even stronger. Knowing that, I shouldn’t have taken things as far as I did.’

‘We both played a part in that. I liked what we were doing. I just wanted it to be real.’

‘I get that, and I never should’ve suggested the fake dating thing.’ I take her hand. ‘Being with you has never felt fake. I tried to keep my feelings out of it, but I couldn’t. There’s just something about you .?.?. about us.’

‘I agree.’ She smiles. ‘So what are you saying?’

‘I’m saying you need to be with someone who can give you what you want. Someone you can have a future with. I don’t want to get in the way of that. When I get back to New York, I want us to remain friends, but if you decide that won’t work, I’ll understand.’

Saying this to her is killing me. I want to tell her I want this, that I want her more than anything, but why would I tell her that if it can’t happen?

Nash’s advice that I need to put in the effort if I really want to be with her is true if we lived in the same town, but we don’t.

I can’t date a girl who lives thousands of miles away. It just won’t work.