Page 85 of An Unexpected Turn
“You can always talk to me, you should know that. I told you, the ice cream guy is welcome here if you want to bring him.”
I stifled a laugh. He had been, but I doubted he would be for a long time after what I was about to say.
“I never meant to keep this from you,” I began, my stomach coiling tight as his smile faded. “But for the past few months, I’ve been—”
He looked away when his cell phone went off in his pocket.
“Shit, it’s the station. One second, P.” He lifted the phone to his ear, his mouth flattening into a line as he nodded at whatever was said on the other end. “Okay, I’ll be right there.”
He shook his head as he stuffed his phone into his pocket.
“I’m sorry, I have to run in.”
“Everything okay?” I asked, relief and rage flooding through me. Just when I found the guts to come clean, my uncle had to leave.
“This small town is seeing more activity than I would like lately. Since we go away for the weekend tomorrow morning, I need to take care of this before I go. Is everything okay? You looked like you had a bomb to drop just now.” He snickered and squeezed my shoulder.
“No, it can wait. Go be chief.”
He grinned as he pulled on his jacket.
“I’d tell you to hang around, but I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“I have that parent workshop tonight anyway. I wanted to stop by to see you while I had the chance.”
He kissed my temple. “I’m glad you did. We miss having you here. Let me go tell your aunt I was called in, so she can yell and get it over with. You’re sure you’re okay, though? You have me a little worried.”
“I’m fine. It can wait.”
Like it had been for months.
When he left, I fell back on their couch, propping my elbows on my knees as I dropped my head into my hands. I was already keyed up from preparing for the workshop tonight and anticipating how to be professional with Jake in the same space. The rise and fall of adrenaline all day had me breathless.
What would it be like not to have a perpetual knot in my stomach about what people were saying or what they knew? The memory was too distant to recall.
“Peyton, are you okay?”
I lifted my head to Aunt Maya’s voice.
“I’m fine. A little stressed, but nothing I can’t manage.” I smiled and attempted a cheerful shrug.
“You shouldn’t be stressed. Being in love is supposed to be a happy time, right?”
My eyes bugged out for a moment. I’d known she had a feeling, not that she was sure.
“We’ll be home on Sunday evening. You’ll both come here, we’ll get it out, and move on.” She cupped my cheek.
“It’s a shame you don’t have daughters. You’re spot-on with advice on men.” I leaned into her palm for a minute.
“I have one, or she always felt like one to me.” She smiled and came closer. “Which is why I want you to revel in the joy instead of making yourself suffer over it.”
“Revel in joy, what’s that like?” I chuckled, giving my aunt a watery smile.
“I think you know.” She gave me a slow nod.
It was Friday night to Sunday morning and every stolen hour and moment before. It was pancakes and ice cream and pure love that would confuse everyone else but made perfect sense to us.
“Tell Jason I said hi,” I said before I stood.
