We catch the last ferry back to Misty Harbor. The sun is setting as Kyle drives his truck off the dock. I’m hungry and I’d like to suggest we go grab dinner, but I’m hesitant to do so. I don’t want him thinking this is me pining for another date—which makes me look pathetic—and I have a feeling he’s probably had about as much friendship frolicking fun as he can handle for one day. He’s slipped back into his quiet mode, not having said much on the ferry ride.
So I remain quiet as we drive down Front Street, staring out the passenger window at the point where Misty Bay meets the Atlantic. The sky still has some pale pink up high, but the horizon is already purplish-gray, signifying dusk has arrived on the East Coast. The lighthouse comes into view, its revolving strobe winking at me on each half-turn. The lighthouse has always made me feel a little sad as it stands tall and alone, removed from the rest of the town because its duty is first and foremost to protect the incoming water vessels. It reminds me a little of Kyle, actually.
When Kyle turns onto Gray Birch Street, which borders the south side of my house and intersects with Cranberry, I reach to the floorboard and grab my purse, preparing to exit the vehicle after a quick and friendly goodbye. While in my very own romance novel, Kyle would pull me back and kiss the hell out of me, I know that’s not going to happen because he’s drawn a line in the sand, and it’s not likely he’ll cross it. He seems like a determined man in all things, and wishy-washy doesn’t describe him at all.
Kyle pulls into my driveway. Before he comes to a complete stop, I grip the door handle, prepared to make flight. I’m totally shocked to inaction though when he shoves the truck into park and turns off the ignition.
What the hell does that mean?
“I’ll walk you up,” he says as his gaze rests on my front porch. “You didn’t leave your light on.”
Oh, okay. Safety. He’s being a gentleman. A good friend, so to speak.
I don’t respond, just open the door and hop out of his truck. My hands go into my purse for my keys. By the time I have them, I’ve rounded the front of his truck and we head to the porch steps in silence.
Kyle follows behind me, and even though I know he’s merely being polite, my skin starts to tingle over the memories of our first kiss that occurred right here five days ago.
I don’t have a screen porch door the way Kyle does, so I’m able to quickly unlock it and push the door open a few inches. With my hand still on the knob, I turn to Kyle with a hammering heart because if he’s going to do something, now is the time.
“Well, hope you had some fun today,” I say with a cheerful smile, but I’m sure with undisguised hope in my eyes.
Kyle’s own gaze is soft, and I know he sees what I feel. He nods and gentles his voice for my benefit. “Yeah, I did. Thanks for inviting me.”
I wait, because if he’s going to kiss me, it should be now. But he only stares at me a moment more before tipping his head. “Good night, Jane.”
My heart sinks in disappointment, because those words ring with finality. Still, I put on my bravest smile. “Good night, Kyle. See you around.”
I get a long, thoughtful look before he gives me a small return smile. “Yeah, see you around.”
Kyle turns and jogs down my porch steps. I step inside, close the door, and lean my back against it. Shutting my eyes, I let out a long-suffering sigh. I am all kinds of stupid to let myself get caught up with him. I reason to myself that it’s only because he’s intriguing, incredibly hot, and he’d be a great summer diversion, knowing those are all legitimate reasons to crush on someone. But if I’m honest with myself, I know it’s because there’s something about him that speaks to me on a deeper level. While he’s still as much a mystery as he was the day I met him, I realized something about him today as I tried to unobtrusively observe him.
As I watched him loosen up, start to unwind, laugh a little more easily, I realized that Kyle was like a sponge, soaking up the goodness of a simple, yet ordinary day. We didn’t do anything more than visit a few shops, eat some food, and drive around to look at scenery. It was low pressure and spontaneous, but it was just ordinary living. And as I watched Kyle soak it up… no, savor it… I realized that he’s not had this in a very long time. Hell, maybe he never had it.
But I could see it written all over him.
He wanted it and he wanted it badly.
I open my eyes. With another sigh, I start to push away from the door.
Only to be really “pushed” away from the door as it opens up on me, some unknown force propelling me gently into my living room.
I spin around and see Kyle standing in my doorway, his hand on the knob. “You didn’t lock your door,” he says while staring at me with veiled eyes.
“I was just getting ready to—”
“You didn’t invite me in,” he says gruffly, and then steps inside my house.
My jaw drops open, because he knows damn well why I didn’t invite him in. Because we’re friends only, that’s why.
Kyle shuts the door behind him, and then completely confuses me when he says, “Didn’t even give me a chance to kiss you goodnight.”