Page 44 of Townshipped
“Not sure yet,” Aiden says.
His face is serious, but his eyes are playful.
“I’ll hunt you down and find you. It’s a small town, MacIntyre,” Duke says lightheartedly. There’s no real threat in his tone. “Nice to meet you, Em. Good to have a pretty face in town, especially a car-lover. Keep an eye on this one.”
Aiden nearly growls. It’s low and quiet, but I think both Duke and I hear it.
“Nice to meet you too, Duke. And we’d love to have you out to the farm. We’ve still got enough food to feed an army from when people came out this past week.”
We. That word made it sound like we’re more than whatever we are. Am I overstepping? Maybe. But Duke is Aiden’s friend. Aiden doesn’t seem to mind me being the one to extend an invite to his place.
“I’ll be seeing you, then,” Duke says amiably.
Aiden nods. Duke chuckles and rolls up his window. Then he revs the engine to his car and takes off. The sound feels so familiar I can almost smell the exhaust. I close my eyes, trying to place it. Nothing comes.
Aiden puts the truck in reverse, and we back out of our parking space.
When we’re pulling out of the lot onto the main street, Aiden asks, “Is there anything you need while we’re in town? I should have asked you sooner.”
“I’m good,” I tell him. I need a lot of things—to remember my past, maybe to get a phone, although I don’t know who I’d call. But I can’t ask Aiden for anything more than what he’s already given me.
“Duke seems nice.”
“He’s dangerous.”
Aiden’s eyes soften even though his face remains composed.
“Your best friend is dangerous?”
“Not to me. He’d take a bullet for me. I’d do the same for him. He’s dangerous when it comes to women. Flirting, playful, not a care in the world even though he manages his family business.”
“So, he’s a heartbreaker?”
“Not intentionally. He’s been seeing one woman for around six months—Beth. She lives about a half hour from here. They get together once a week or less. She never comes here. He goes to her. I call her the bookmark.”
“Nice nickname,” I tease.
“He’s not really interested in her, I can tell. I don’t believe in dating just to have someone to keep me company. Duke’s fine with having a good time even though Beth’s obviously not the one for him. He tells me I’m too young to be acting so old. I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s got a thing for another woman here in town … but it’s complicated.”
“Love is,” I say simply.
“Yeah. I guess I wouldn’t know.”
“Well, I don’t know if I do either, I guess.”
An easy silence settles over us as we travel the roads leading toward the farm. My head feels loud. The corn in the fields stands in neat little rows out the window. Each stalk claiming its place. The people in town know their place too.
I don’t have a flying clue as to where I belong. Yet, when I look across the cab of the truck, studying Aiden’s strong features and his kind eyes, I’m certain I don’t want to belong anywhere else.
16
AIDEN
We’ve probably driven ten minutes when my phone rings. I’m replaying our trip to the Seed-N-Feed and people’s reactions to Em—especially Duke’s. His teasing roused feelings I have no right to have. She’s not mine.
I tuck my lower lip into my mouth and let it slide back out past my teeth. An uninvited memory of our kiss plays through my mind. Her soft lips, our bodies leaned together, the almost sacred atmosphere in my kitchen at that midnight hour.
Em didn’t hold back. But she has ever since, aside from this morning’s flirting and this unnerving way she has of fitting into my life as if she’s the final piece in a puzzle I didn’t know I was trying to solve.
