Page 66 of Starting Back
“Can we go early, Mommy?Please.I promise I won’t be a problem at breakfast that day.” Her pleading baby-blue gaze, as usual, rendered me and all of us powerless.
“She eats breakfast very slowly and drives her mother and sister a little crazy, which is why we call her a problem.” She giggled at my crinkled nose. I tried to keep it light for my daughter’s sake, even though my insides quivered with panic.
Not only did I have to figure out how to be around Leo, I’d have to do it with my kids watching.
“What time would we have to be there?”
“Probably ten since I think everything opens at noon. I wouldn’t want to get you off the truck the minute you step on, right?”
“Exactly,” Emma agreed with a nod.
“I’ll text you to confirm, if that’s okay.” Leo had the decency to look a little contrite. He may not have meant to use Emma as a means to get me somewhere, but he sure ran with the opportunity.
“That’s fine.”
“Great,” he said before he craned his neck to the back counter. “I think our order is up. Nice to meet all of you. And nice to see you again, Kristina.”
“You too,” I said, clearing my throat when my reply came out breathy and scratchy.
“Nice to meet you, Leo.” Emma kneeled on her chair and waved.
“It was especially nice to meet you, Emma.” He flashed her a megawatt smile before he shifted toward the back.
I rubbed my eyes, letting it sink in just how screwed I was.
“He’s nice,” Emma mused, chomping on her last fry as she plopped back down in her chair. We both glanced over to where Leo was picking up the takeout bags.
“Yes, he is,” Peyton said, waggling her eyebrows.
“Aunt Peyton shouldn’t be noticing if Leo was nice or not.” My brother narrowed his eyes at his wife, only half kidding.
“Oh, relax, babe.” She massaged Jake’s shoulder. “Be happy for your sister. If she would only give the poor dude a break.”
“Happy?” I coughed out a laugh. “I didn’t need to bring my kids into this.”
“So you admit there’s athis.”
“Therewasa this on the beach when I was living a temporary and very different life.”
“He sure thinks there’s still a this. He didn’t take his eyes off you for almost the entire time he was standing here, but you wouldn’t give him an inch.”
“I agreed to meet him early on Saturday so Emma could go on the truck, not that he gave me a choice.”
Peyton fell back in her chair, shaking her head.
“You know,” she said, pushing her empty plate away. “When I picked you up from the airport, you were so sad because you missed him, even though you thought you shouldn’t. There’s obviously something still between you that may be deeper than you thought, or could be if you gave it a chance.”
I had gone to Jake and Peyton’s house after I’d left the hospital on Sunday morning and vented my heart to them both for hours, but I was still left unsettled and without a clue.
“It was better when he was back in Florida. Easier anyway. Attemptingthis”—Peyton laughed when I glared at her—"in real life is all kinds of complicated, and I’m not ready for it.”
Or to get attached to it when he picked up and left.
“Can I give you some advice?” Jake said as he stretched his arm behind Peyton’s chair.
“Order a cocktail since you’re driving?”
“You can.” He nodded as a lopsided grin stretched his lips. “Second chances are gifts that don’t come along very often. And if you want to be with this guy, who cares how long you’ve know him or if it’s complicated? If it feels right, just go along with it.”
