“I’m sorry, Mom, but like I said, I lost signal in the mountains and we felt it best for the car if we found shelter. Everything is fine though. The car looks great. Perfect.”
Her gaze connected with Luke’s, and she winced, knowing the car was, in fact, a muddy mess. Well, it would look perfect once they took it through the car wash a dozen times or so.
“We’re still about seven hours away.” It was going on nine now, and the party didn’t start until five. “We’ll make it before the party starts.”
“Well, we’ll be outside setting up, so pull all the way around to the back. I’ll make sure your grandparents are out there. They’re going to be so surprised! Bill, put that table down! You’re going to hurt your back again!”
Would it be awful to ask Luke to switch places once they pulled into the driveway? Maybe she could coast into the backyard—it was downhill.
She reassured her mother some more, though it seemed unnecessary now that the responsible Luke Fletcher was along for the ride.
Allie’s entire day’s worth of energy now spent, she said goodbye and tapped the button to disconnect. “Oh my gosh. And why is it that you persist in claiming my parents?”
Luke gave her a sideways look. “You invited me along?”
Allie cringed. “I invited you. Sort of.”
From the back seat Walter yawned and set his big head back on his paws. They’d already stopped to let him out twice, and he’d filled the car with his special aroma three times.
She texted Charlotte to check on Mary. Her friend responded that Queen Mary remained on her throne and had called for the head of a robin nesting just out of reach under the porch eaves.
Off with her head! Allie texted. Then, because she loved her feathered friends, she added, No, really, be nice to the birdie. She has babies in the nest.
A whine came from the back seat. Walter was now sitting up, staring out the window. Then those big eyes rolled toward her, pleading.
“There’s a pull-off up ahead,” Luke said.
Allie sighed. “You really should have him checked for a bladder infection.”
The turnoff was in a beautiful valley, nestled in the hills and burgeoning with massive pine trees. Allie walked the needle-strewn path beside Luke. (Might as well stretch her legs.) He hadn’t bothered to put Walter on a leash as they were the only ones there, and Walter traveled, more or less, at the pace of a worm.
Allie drew in a lungful of the pine-scented air, perhaps her favorite smell of all time. Well, there was also that spicy cologne Luke wore. Couldn’t forget that.
But no, they were just friends. Even if friends didn’t necessarily notice the way jeans hugged the derriere or the way biceps bulged as they flexed.
They reached a clearing, completely shaded by the towering pines, a picnic table in the center. Somewhere nearby a squirrel nattered and a robin tweeted from a high perch. Luke settled on the table, his feet resting on the bench.
Walter sniffed the ground and pawed at something. He was really kind of okay in his own way with his sad jowls, put-upon expression, and disinterest in ripping her apart and gnawing her bones.
Allie checked her watch.
“You worried about the time?”
She shrugged. “Not really. We’ll make the party in time. I can’t wait to see my grandparents’ faces when they see the Chevy. They’re going to be so surprised.”
“That’ll be awesome. Really nice of your folks to do this for them.”
Allie joined him on the table. “I’m so glad that hail didn’t leave a mark.”
“She’ll look great once we get her cleaned up. I found a car wash about forty-five minutes from your grandparents’ place.”
“Sounds good.”
The long sideways look he gave her made her aware of how close they were sitting. And just like that it was seven years ago. Her pulse raced and her palms grew damp.
“What’s your life like in Atlanta? I know you live in an apartment. Olivia mentioned you’re a teacher’s assistant.”
Her heart gave a tug. Even her mom couldn’t seem to keep up with her jobs. “Yeah, for a kindergarten class at a public school.”
“You were always good with kids.”
“I’m a child at heart, what can I say? They’re really cute at that age. Learning’s still fun and exciting, and they say the darndest things.”
“You’ve been there awhile, haven’t you?”
“For the whole school year. It’s just enough of same and different to keep things interesting.”
“I can see that.”
“This summer I’m working at my friend’s floral shop—Charlotte’s a super-chill boss and I like arranging flowers, so it’s a good fit.”
“I’ll bet you’re great at that, with your creativity.”
“Well, she hasn’t fired me yet. And your business seems to be doing well.”
“It’s growing. Keeps me busy.”
“And you like it, making cabinets?”
“I do. I like working with my hands and being my own boss. That way when someone asks me along on a road trip, I’m free to go.”
They shared a smile for a lingering moment.
“What do you do in your spare time?” he asked.
She lifted a shoulder. “Hang out with friends, go to the park, go garage-saleing. And as I mentioned before, I volunteer at the zoo. That’s fun.”
“They didn’t teach you angry-raccoon management?”
“Strangely enough, no. The raccoons at the zoo are cute and cuddly.” She slid him a smile, maybe flirting a little. Would that be so terrible?
“What about boyfriends? Seeing anyone special these days?”
She met his eyes, her smile falling, and got stuck there for a hot minute. Like, literally hot. Her skin burned and her face was probably turning twelve shades of pink.
“Um, not at the moment.” Her heart rate was reaching rabid-raccoon-evasion levels. “How about you?”
He leaned forward, elbows on his thighs. “Nope, no boyfriends.”
She nudged him with her shoulder.
“I was dating a girl from Ellijay for a while, but it didn’t work out. We broke up a few months ago.”
“Who broke up?”
“I guess I did, but I think it was pretty mutual.”
Sure it was. Allie gave a wry huff. Men like Luke—capable, mature, responsible, and fun—did not come along every day.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“What was what for?”
“That huff. You huffed.”
“I didn’t huff.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Well, if I did, I’ve forgotten why.”
Walter, having finally found the perfect spot to relieve himself, lifted his leg at the base of a pine tree. But this was just the beginning. He always seemed to have enough reserves to water several trees.
“I don’t have an anniversary gift for your grandparents.”
“They won’t expect you to. I can add your name to mine if you want.”
“That’s okay. What’d you get them?”
“I had their wedding photo made into one of those canvas prints. It turned out really beautiful.” She stared up past the canopy of treetops to the blue skies beyond. “Fifty years . . . can you even imagine?”