Page 48 of Middle Ground

He holds up his hands in surrender. “I take it back. I said nothing.” Then he glances over his shoulder before leaning in closer. “You know, I am getting majorly burnt right now.”

This causes me to laugh. “What are you talking about? You’re inside.”

“Not from the sun, Meyer.” He hooks a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of the table Jackson is sitting at. “Fromhim. I can feel his eyes burning holes in my back.”

I scoff. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not!” He arches a brow. “I saw the way he was looking at you the other week.”

“He wasn’t looking at me like anything,” I say. “And you know what, just because we were each other’s firsts doesn’t mean you should be privy to my sex life forever.”

Not that Jackson and I are having sex. Because we most definitely are not. Pigs would fly and hell would freeze over beforethathappened. Even then, I’d have to be seriously hard up to even think about it.

“I’m afraid that is a bond that can never be broken,” Rudy replies, hand placed on his chest.

I roll my eyes. “You’re a worse gossip than the old ladies at the seniors’ centre. Nothing is going on between me and Jackson. Now can we please talk about something else?”

“I did want to say that I was sorry to hear about thevandalism.” His expression has shifted from playful to serious in the blink of an eye.

I grimace. I’ve been getting condolences all over town lately. The news, as it often does in Fraisier Creek, travelled quickly. And while I want nothing more than to run and hide from all my problems—from the probing questions and sympathetic gazes—the well-meaning residents of this town don’t deserve that.

“Thank you,” I reply. “It was a shock, but I’m just trying to put it past me now.”

“Let me know if you need any help getting it all fixed up.”

This time, my smile is genuine. “I really appreciate that. I think we have it covered, but it means a lot that you would offer.”

He slings an arm over my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug. “Hey, we take care of our own here, Meyer.” He squeezes me once and then lets go. “I should probably get going before Lover Boy over there has an aneurism.”

“You are severely overestimating how much he cares about me. I’m pretty sure I make his life a hundred times more difficult.”

Rudy laughs. “Whatever you say. I’ll see you later.”

“Goodbye, Nosy Nellie.”

As he heads for the exit, I turn back to the counter and finally place our order. Then I step to the side and wait while the employees get started on our lemonades and sandwiches. It takes them a few minutes, but soon, everything is set on the counter for me.

I bite my lip as I contemplate how I’m going to carry everything, then I feel someone come up beside me.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

Jackson picks up a plate. “I’m helping.”

“What if I don’t want your help?”

“Then I’d say you’re too stubborn for your own good, and that’s too bad because you’re getting my help anyway.”

I huff, but I don’t argue. While Jackson takes care of our food, I grab our drinks. Turning away from the counter, tray in hand, I nearly collide with someone.

“I’m so sorry!” I say to the man. He’s the same one we saw at the park a few weeks ago. He must be new to town, or maybe he’s a tourist spending the summer here. “I wasn’t looking.”

The man looks down at Jackson’s hand, which now rests on the small of my back, steadying me. Then his gaze meets mine and he lets a smile spread across his mouth.

“It’s fine,” he says. “You have a good day.”

He walks away, but I stay rooted to my spot. The interaction was normal enough, but a weird feeling has washed over me. I can’t explain why.

“You okay?” Jackson asks, brows knitted together in concern.