Page 37 of Here With Me

He had a life someplace exotic.

Breathing in a deep breath, Sadie counted to four and slowly let it out. She pressed the button for the hand dryer and worked on her skirt. Thankfully she’d had the foresight to wear black. Small mercies. Too bad she’d left her purse at the table, because it would be a good time to check on Lottie.

“You poor thing!” Charlotte, her Southern accent thick, barged into the restroom. She pulled out several more paper towels and handed them to Sadie.

“That poor young man. He’s been through so much already this year, and then to come to dinner for Marco and Lance to quiz him like that. And for me to try and pair you two up. Don’t you worry, darlin’. I scolded them something fierce after you left.”

Sadie stepped over to the sink and washed her hands, letting the warm water thaw her fingers. “No reason to scold. It was an honest misunderstanding.”

“You’re entirely too gracious, Sadie darling. This dinner was supposed to be a friendly chat, not an inquisition. Poor David’s hands were shaking so bad, it’s no wonder he knocked over that glass. And all over you. David has never brought a date to anything. Ever. Lance figured he’d come alone. Or talk Nate into coming since he’s been so instrumental in counseling David these past few months.”

Sadie gestured for the door, but Charlotte took Sadie’s hands into her own. The woman sure liked to touch people when she talked to them.

Charlotte squeezed Sadie’s hands. “Well, as much as Nate can. David’s shut himself off from everything. But it must not be all that bad if David has you. And you two look so relaxed together. The way he turned to you and patted your back. The way he looks at you—it’s the same way my Lance used to look at me. And the way you two steal glances at each other. Mmmm. So cute. I know Lance’s hopes soared when he realized that David brought you.”

Sadie gently tugged her hands free. Could his conversation be over yet? She’d been caught with her secret glances at David? Of course Charlotte would pick up on all her mixed emotions.

Sadie opened the door and motioned for Charlotte to exit.

Charlotte slowly made her way through the door. “But don’t you worry. Those men will be on their best behavior when we go back. Now, are you all dried off?”

Dried off? Hardly. The info dump Charlotte had given was as chilling as her soaked dress. Obviously, tonight was more than just dinner—no matter what David had said.

Charlotte walked next to Sadie as they sidestepped tables and other patrons. “Your David is a good man. After he almost drowned saving Remy, one of his students, we’ve all been extra worried about him.”

David almost drowned? Sadie missed a step and just about tripped. Charlotte’s hand squeezed her arm, steadying her.

“But he’s pulled through physically, and we want to make sure he’s ready emotionally to return to Costa Rica. We can provide more options if he’s led to go a different direction.”

Obviously, he’d left out some huge details about his life in Costa Rica. Like almost drowning. Saving a boy’s life. That he might not go back. Perhaps she just hadn’t asked him the right questions to hear the story brewing under the surface.

No matter what happened in Costa Rica, or before, when they broke up, Sadie wanted to help David. He had stepped in at the store. And with Lottie. He’d made big sales, encouraged her, and helped out wherever he could. The least she could do was help him get through this dinner.

He loved the students, enough to almost die saving them. Like he cared for Lottie. She could see his enjoyment as they studied, as he talked with her. David had a gift.

Sadie’s throat tightened, and she blinked back the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

David stood and pulled her chair out for her, his breath warm on her cheek as he whispered in her ear. “I’m so sorry, Sadie.”

Emotions warred in the depths of his gaze. She couldn’t hold this against him. His fingers brushed her back as she sat down, and heat raced down her spine. She wouldn’t mind feeling that warmth the rest of the night. “Don’t think another moment about it.” Because she wasn’t furious—it had been an accident—but she was curious.

David needed to go back to Costa Rica, and she’d do whatever she could to support, to encourage, and to help him achieve his dreams.

But when tonight was over, she had some questions. He’d be her captive in the car, and he’d better be ready to answer.

Like…how he almost drowned, and why he needed to report his activities to his mission board.

One thing was crystal clear, though. David had been totally accurate when he asked her for a solid favor. There were no romantic notions in his head.

If only David could be back at his grandparents’ farm, pretending tonight had never happened. That he hadn’t soaked Sadie because of his shaking hands. That he’d had satisfactory answers to Marco’s and Lance’s questions. That Charlotte hadn’t assumed he and Sadie werea couple.

Instead, he sat in Olivia’s van. Because even she had thought tonight should be more—a date—and his grandpa’s Subaru wasn’t as comfortable for a passenger. What did it say about him, that as a grown man in his thirties he didn’t even own a car? It had never bothered him before.

“Want to talk about it?” Sadie looked up from her hands. The weight of her stare burned into him.

Not really, no.

The line of red lights ahead blurred and merged together—how could traffic leaving Grand Rapids possibly be this bad on a Saturday night? He blinked and refocused, but the brake lights still glowed in the darkness. They wouldn’t be moving for a while. He pushed the button to turn on the CD player. Kid songs would be better than conversation. Anything to fill the void that threatened to swallow the rest of his pride.

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