Page 42 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

Maybe it was the fact that he always seemed to be touching Mia. Holding her elbow when they stepped off a curb. A hand to her upper back as he held the door for her. Even brushing her shoulder as they laughed at some memory from school.

None of that should bother him. Matt was obviously perfect for Mia. They were interested in the same things, they laughed at the same things, they even shared their love of art.

Maybe it was for the best.

He was happy she was finding someone after the tragedy with Troy.

Really.

But that didn’t mean he had to have supper with the guy.

He tuned back in to the conversation happening next to him, in front of Kelley’s Bar & Grill.

“Cody, you should join us.” Matt extended a hand, gesturing for Cody to proceed them into Kelley’s. “Supper will be my treat.”

Cody shoved his hands deep into his jacket pockets. “Thanks anyway. I’m going to just head home.”

Beside him, Mia shook her head. Her curls bounced, and one escaped its place in her high ponytail. The tip of her nose turned pink from the cold air sweeping in after the sun went down. “Actually, Matt, I have to get home too. Thanks for the dinner offer, but my kids are probably driving my mom crazy right now. They are sticklers for evening routines, and me being there is part of that.”

“Let me walk you back,” Matt said.

Shoot. Cody had been about to offer that same thing.

“Don’t be silly. I live in the opposite direction of Island House,” Mia said. “Go in. Have a nice dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“If you’re sure?” Matt raised an eyebrow. Mia nodded and Matt went into Kelley’s. Music spilled out behind him, cutting off abruptly as the door closed again.

“Goodnight, Cody. Thanks for coming with me today.” Mia gave him a short wave and spun on her heel before throwing her leg over her bike.

“Wait!”

Mia stopped and twisted back to him.

“I’ll go with you.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m perfectly fine getting there on my own.” Her mouth turned up on one side. “It’s not like this island is a hotbed of crime. I can take care of myself.”

He wheeled his bike up next to her. “Okay, but I’m going that direction anyway, and it will look funny for me to bike a half a block behind you all the way through town.” Although, even that would be better than going home to the echo of his shed. Maybe it was time to look into moving in somewhere with a roommate. Or getting a cat.

She rolled her eyes then softened the response with a smile. “Fine.”

They biked in quiet togetherness, the sky purpling into twilight around them. Mia didn’t object when they turned up her street and he was still biking with her, so he took that as a good sign. Soon enough they arrived at her house.

“Do you want to come in for supper?” Mia laid her hand on the top of the fence. “It won’t be anything fancy, probably spaghetti for me and naked noodles for the kids.”

“Naked noodles?” His eyebrows raised.

“Finn calls them that. Noodles with just butter and shaky cheese. Since they aren’t ‘dressed’”—she put air quotes around the word—“without a sauce, they are naked.”

“I’m with Finn. I like butter and shaky cheese. I’m assuming, of course, that you mean parmesan?” He mimed shaking a canister of parmesan cheese.

She nodded. “If you’re lucky, we have the fancy kind from Kraft.”

“Ohhh, gourmet shaky cheese. I’m definitely in.” He followed her up the sidewalk and into the house.

Two steps inside the front door, he caught Finn who was skidding by on stocking feet. The boy’s hair stood on end, and he had a juice mustache. Cody reached out and ruffled his hair even more.

Finn looked up, his eyes shining with mischief. “You have to come and see the cars Grandma brought me.”

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