Page 118 of Come Back to Me

When we make it to his truck, he helps me inside because it’s too tall for someone my height. As I situate myself in my seat, I look at him. “Thank you.”

“What have I told you about thanking me for the bare minimum?” He delicately scolds me.

“I know, but I like thanking you. I think it’s a nice thing to do, even if you’re doingthe bare minimum.”

He shakes his head, rolling his eyes and letting out a silent laugh. After he hops into the truck and fastens his seatbelt, he starts the engine.

Ugh, I hope thisall goes well.

The drive from my apartment complex to Sunset Cove took approximately a half an hour. We have picture-perfect views of the ocean as we pass by Lighthouse Estates, the neighborhood I grew up in. There are scattered palm trees that line the sides of the road.

I try my best to avoid driving around this area to get to work because it reminds me of one of the most painful and traumatic experiences I’ve ever had to go through. I don’t need to reopen those wounds that took forever to heal.

“Are you okay?” he asks, bringing me back to reality.

I could lie and tell him I’m fine, but he knows me too well. I’m simply going to tell him the truth.

“It’s hard being back in this part of town. I try to avoid it whenever I come here for work.”

His Adam’s apple slightly bounces up and goes back down to its original spot. “I do the same thing, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.”

“Yeah,” I say.

“Where do you see yourself living post-grad?”

The sudden subject change gives me metaphorical whiplash. “Uh…I thought I’d come back here, but now, I’m not so sure. How about you?”

“I have the same thought process as you, but after everything that happened here, I don’t want to come back. I need a change of scenery, but who knows? Maybe I might not move at all.”

“A change of scenery would be nice.”

“If you moved out of Sunset Cove, would you still work at Sweet & Salty?”

“I would commute an hour back and forth if I had to. That place is a second home to me.”

“Why asecondhome?”

Because you’re myfirst home.

Looking out the windshield, I see a sign for the shelter. “We’re here!”

I could never tell him all of these thoughts that have been spreading like wildfire inside my head because I don’t want to ruin what we have currently going on between us.

After we both get cleared by security and find a parking spot, we both get out of the truck. I follow Grayson into one of the buildings straight ahead of us. He opens the door, letting me go inside first.

The plot of land is surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowers. The buildings are coated in a shade similar to the color of sand with flat roofs.

He walks straight up to the woman with brunette hair sitting at the front desk. “Hi, Jen.”

“Hi, Grayson.” Her hazel eyes land on me. “Who’s this?”

“This is my friend, Violet.”

Hearing the love of my life call me his friend is like a punch to the gut, but I’m the one who said we should only be friends and nothing more. I should be blaming myself for that heart-wrenching blow.

“Nice to meet you, Violet. Can I see your ID please?”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Taking out my wallet from my purse, I remove my driver’s license from the slot with the clear piece of plastic protecting it.