Page 54 of Moonlight Feels Right
"Maybe it's not a problem."
Before she could respond, the classroom door swung open.
"Emmalyn, the ice cream social—" The woman who'd entered stopped talking as she took in the scene. "Oh! Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just going to ask if you could help with the ice cream."
"I'll be right there," Emmalyn said, stepping away from him.
The other woman disappeared as quickly as she'd come.
"I have to go," she told him.
"I understand, but this isn't over, Em."
"It should be, Hunter. Not just for me, but also for you. You don't need any more complications in your life, do you?"
He didn't know how to answer that, but it didn't matter because she was already out the door. As he stood alone in her classroom, surrounded by children's artwork and alphabet letters, the taste of her still on his lips, he wondered how he was supposed to walk away from someone who was so wrong but felt so right…
After helping to clean up after the ice cream social, Emmalyn finally headed home around seven thirty Friday night. It had been a long day, and she was exhausted. Despite her weariness, her nerves still tingled from her unexpected make-out session with Hunter. She still couldn't quite believe it had happened.
She'd wanted to kiss him for a while, but she'd been trying to make the just friends tag ring true. That had gone out the window with one staggeringly good kiss, and she really wanted to kiss him again, just to make sure she hadn't imagined how great it was. But that would take them further down the wrong path, and she really shouldn't go there. Getting further involved would only make saying goodbye more difficult, and she didn't want to get her heart broken. She didn't want to care about someone who had already told her he was going to choose a different life.
It wasn't anything close to the same thing as what had happened with her mother, but some of the worrying emotions felt familiar. She needed to date people who were going to stay in this town that she loved and be part of her friend group and her life. People like Steven, except she hadn't felt any heat with Steven, and she hadn't even thought about him since she'd texted him the day after their date and gently told him she wasn't interested in dating him.
Maybe if she'd met Steven before Hunter's personality had done a 360, it would have been different. She would have thought Steven was nice and they had a lot in common. But that's not the way it had gone down. She'd been intrigued and captivated by Hunter ever since Olivia had arrived, and the more she got to know him, the more she liked him.
He'd supported her on a difficult day with her mother, and he'd listened to her story about her past without judgment. He'd also turned out to be more fun than she'd ever imagined and a good father figure, too. This man, who had finally returned to the world, had a lot going for him. But the fact that he was better now was also the reason she'd be losing him.
But not yet, she told herself, and as she walked into the courtyard and heard voices, she couldn't help hoping Hunter was part of whatever was happening. Her heart sped up as she saw Hunter, Paige, and Ben sitting at a table while Henry and Olivia were sitting on the ground by the pool playing with Henry's dinosaurs.
Ava and Liam were at another table with Gabe and Madison while Frank Wickham was doing laps in the pool and Maggie and Josie were sitting on loungers, sipping glasses of wine.
"Emmalyn," Paige said, waving her over. "Frank bought pizza." She pointed to the large pizza box on the table. "There are still a few pieces left. Are you hungry?"
"I actually had pizza at the school. One of the PTA moms brought it in as we were doing inventory for the book fair."
"Was it a successful event?" Paige asked.
"It was. Looks like sales exceeded last year, and we ended up with only a few books that weren't bought, so they'll go in the library."
"You must be tired," Hunter commented, his warm gaze on her face.
"I am, but it was a good day for the school and the kids, so worth it."
"At least sit down and have some wine," Paige said, lifting the bottle of wine in front of her. "I'm betting you could use a drink."
"I wouldn't mind a glass," she admitted.
"Have a seat," Hunter said, pushing out the empty chair between him and Ben.
"Thanks." She gave Ben a smile as she sat down, thinking he was a good-looking guy, too, and very single. Maybe she should get to know him instead of Hunter. Ben had recently moved into Ocean Shores, and he loved it. His sister lived in the building, too, so Ben would probably be staying. But despite his attractive features, she didn't feel anything for Ben, but that was probably because Hunter was sitting on her other side. Hunter was now laughing at something Paige had said, and the sound of that laugh instantly made her turn her head.
He gave her a smile, his gaze darkening as he took her in, an intimate look in his eyes that told her he was remembering their earlier kiss. Her breath quickened, and she forced herself to look away. Turning to Ben, she asked him how his day was.
"It was quiet, which is never a bad thing in my line of work," Ben replied.
"Has it been an adjustment, joining a new department?"
"Not bad. Everyone is friendly. It's definitely a more chill environment, which I was ready for."
