Page 51 of The Apple Tree

“Can you take this to your room while I say goodbye to Eve and thank her for playing with you?” Kyle handed Josh the game.

“Bye,” I said to Josh, giving him a little wave.

“Bye,” he mumbled, skating his socked feet along the wood floor toward the stairs.

“Did my dad talk you into cutting down most of the trees by the creek? He’s tired of them falling and making a dam that causes flooding.”

“Not all of them. But I said I’d help him take down three dead ones when I get time this week.”

“You’re a good man. I’m sure my dad will be thrilled to have you around. He doesn’t trust me or Gabby with a chainsaw.”

Kyle chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

“Well, enjoy the rest of your Sunday.” I opened the back door, and he followed me onto the deck.

“Eve?”

I stopped.

“If I didn’t have the responsibility of being a father, I wouldn’t think twice about being a little reckless with you,” he said.

I was afraid to turn around because I was trying so hard to be his adopted family and not the girl next door with an incurable crush. What if my idea of recklessness meant the kind of intimacy that would land my soul in Hell, and he meant letting me use a chainsaw? I no longer trusted myself to read him.

“But,” he continued, “very few things in my life have gone as planned, so I can’t promise I’ll remain steadfast in my resolve to do the right thing. This is my preemptive apology for if or when I fuck it all up.” The wood beneath his feet creaked as he took a step closer.

My lips parted to accommodate my labored breathing. I liked his vulnerability. And I liked that he was unapologetic about saying “fuck” around me.

“Eve—”

“Is this a warning or a promise?” I couldn’t look at himandact confident, so I continued down the four stairs to the yard. “Because I’m terrible at heeding warnings but relentless at making people keep their promises.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

GEORGE MICHAEL, “I WANT YOUR SEX”

Eve

“You said what?”Erin gasped as I stared at the ceiling from my bed with the phone cradled between my ear and shoulder.

“What was I supposed to say? I just spewed the first thing that came to mind. That’s totally not true. My initial reaction was to scream and beg him to be reckless with me.”

She laughed. “I would have frozen. Choked and tripped over my tongue or said something stupid and embarrassing. I’m so jealous that you had the perfect line. What did he do after you said that?”

I curled the phone cord around my finger and grinned. “I don’t know. I didn’t look back. I would have died. My confidence had a ten-second lifespan. So I got the heck out of there, trying so hard to walk and not run. But my heart was pounding, and I couldn’t hear anything around me.”

“What’s next? When do you see him again? What are you going to do or say when you do? How can you not be thinking abouthimthinking about being reckless with you? Gah! Andwhat does that mean? Like … kissing you? Or more? Eve! Would you do more with him? Would you have sex with him?”

Erin’s endless string of questions fed my nerves to the point of panic. What was I going to say and do? “Okay. We both need to get a grip. He didn’t say anything was going to happen. I think he felt bad for what he said on Saturday. Maybe that’s it. He said it out of pity. Maybe he rolled his eyes at my gullibility when I walked away.”

“No. Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll admit, I thought he was leading you on, but I’ve changed my mind. Have you looked in the mirror? You’re gorgeous. And youarean adult now. He’s older, but not like old enough to be your dad. And he’s not married. Josh likes you. Think about it. There’s no reason for him not to be attracted to you except for all the reasons he already told you. So stop thinking that he’s not really into you. I’m a terrible friend for making you think that. Just forget it. Okay?”

I nibbled on my thumbnail and mumbled, “Yeah, maybe. But I can’t do anything. I can’t make a move on him because if, by some chance, heisjust appeasing me, I can’t risk looking like a fool. I’d never be able to look at him again, and that would be difficult since he’s my neighbor and goes to church every Sunday,andmy parents have basically adopted him and Josh.”

“You’re right.” Erin blew out a slow breath.

I loved that she was physically feeling these emotions with me.

“So play it cool. Be charming and sexy, but not desperate and awkward.”

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