Page 33 of Here With Me

Bring someone with you. Not only did he need to drop everything for a friendly dinner with Lance and Marco next weekend, but they wanted him to bring someone with him?

They’d said they were going to check up on him, be in touch. Lance had even mentioned coming in person, but a dinner? With a plus-one? That’s not what David had pictured. They knew he wasn’t dating, so why ask for a plus-one? If they wanted Nate to be there, they would have just invited him.

“Vangie, you’re it.” Lottie’s familiar voice rang out as she ran around the yard.

David immediately searched the group and found Sadie talking to Leah. She must have arrived while he’d been in the house, and he hadn’t heard her car pull up.

His heart squeezed. More than anything, he wanted to go greet her. Simply stand next to her, feel her soft hand brush his arm as they talked—about their day, the store. Find out how Lottie’s history project was going. Anything to be near her and enjoy the calm that surrounded her.

But he couldn’t. He didn’t have the right.

“You found it. Good.” Nate took the fire poker from David’s hand—the reason he’d been in the house. He’d completely ignored everything around him as he stood and watched Sadie. “You know, you could go talk to her.”

But he couldn’t. She was right. Their lives were different. Their futures didn’t line up. It was easier, healthier, to keep his distance.

David grabbed the poker back and walked toward the fire. “Lance called while I was in the barn. He and Marco are coming into town next weekend. Want me to meet them for dinner. Are you free?”

“No. Mr. Washburn passed away earlier this week. His funeral will be next weekend. Besides, if they wanted me there, they would have asked me.”

David ran his hand through his hair. It had been worth a shot.

“You could ask Sadie.”

David stumbled and slowed his pace. He didn’t want anyone to hear this conversation. “What? No. Why would I ask Sadie?”

Nate slowed next to him. “I could think of a few reasons. I mean, look at you. Are you blushing? What are you, sixteen?”

Great. He’d spent the week trying to keep his growing feelings under wraps, but he’d obviously failed. Maybe he’d been a fool to agree to being just friends with how he felt, but she was right. With him returning to Costa Rica, there wasn’t a future for them now any more than there had been before. And the last thing he wanted was to scare her away.

David used his shoulder and shoved Nate, trying to play the suggestion off as a joke. Thankfully, the guys were already talking, and Caroline and Leah had stepped over toward the fairy house to visit with Sadie. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll ask Leah.”

“Hate to break it to you, but we’ll all be at the funeral.” Nate took the poker and moved the logs in the fire pit around.

Austin turned toward them. “Mr. Washburn always liked our roses. One of our first customers.”

“Leah and Caroline signed up to help with the meal for the family after the service.” Jon confirmed what Nate had said. Too bad he wouldn’t be able to bring one of them.

The flames of the fire lapped up the fresh log Grant added.

Who else could he ask? He’d met Seth at the gym but didn’t know him well enough to ask him to come along. Mrs. Allen? He’d started painting her kitchen. She probably would come if he asked, but that would be unusual at best.

The guys laughed, and he looked up to see them all studying him. “What?”

Austin crossed his arms over his chest. “Seriously, man. Don’t let your pride rob you of a good time. Libby and I almost didn’t happen because of mine.”

Grant lifted the can of root beer in his hand. “Pride almost kept Caroline and me apart.”

Nate slapped David on the shoulder. “Ask Sadie.”

David shook his head. It wasn’t that simple. “She’ll probably be at the funeral.”

Nate scrubbed his face and shook his head.“She hasn’t been back in town that long. And she was gone for a lot of years. I bet she’s not going.”

Sadie’s head fell back as she laughed at something Leah said. Her shoulders relaxed. Her movements carefree. Something in David’s gut twisted—he’d always loved when Sadie had laughed. The sound airy and whimsical. “Then she’d have Lottie.”

Austin took a long swig of his Coke. “Guess you’re going alone.”

Could he though? It seemed everything was a test. A measurement of whether or not he was ready to return to Costa Rica. Lance wanted David to bring a plus-one. He had to figure something out.

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