Page 72 of A Heart to Find
Smiling, Keira served herself two pieces of sliced crepe.
An all too familiar voice leaned over her shoulder and said, “I have a feeling you’ll vote for sweet.”
Hands shaking, Keira fought the urge to toss her plate and run. She really wanted to eat everything to fill her emotional void, and she hadn’t had more than a small package of cookies in her room all day.
Besides, she owed the friendly couple her opinion.
She looked behind her to return to her conversation with them.
The friendly couple had deserted her.
She shoved the sour cream and chive crepe into her mouth and chewed defiantly. She didn’t even want the sweet banana cream one anymore.
That was a lie.
She wanted it.
But she didn’t want him to see her wanting it.
Apparently, being around him had her regressing to her young teen obnoxiousness. How petty could she possibly get?
“Well?” He raised an eyebrow and looked from her plate to her face. “Which one wins?”
Licking her finger, she nodded. “You were right. The sweet definitely takes the award. But I wouldn’t kick the savory off my plate, either. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
She walked away, expecting him to call out to her, to grab her arm, or to beg her to stay so he could explain himself.
He didn’t.
The minutes pulled at her like hours. She yearned for her bed, yet she also yearned for something else. Something she wanted to deny.
Him.
It would be so easy to forgive him. To pretend to get over what felt like deception and trickery. To put it behind her and throw herself into a relationship she had only a day ago convinced herself was meant to be.
She had truly, maddeningly believed her grandmother led her to Jared’s arms, knowing he was the one for her.
“Keira!” Megan ran toward Keira, arms outstretched for a hug. “I was afraid you didn’t come down. How are you holding up?”
Keira smiled and shrugged. “More importantly, how are you holding up? Matt looks nervous. Is he about to pop a certain question?”
“Oh my gosh, do you think so? No, I think he’s just afraid I’ll make him dance.” Megan leaned closer to whisper. “I heard a rumor about the fight you had with Jared. Is it true? He has a daughter?”
Keira rolled her eyes and smirked. “News travels around here as efficiently as it does back home in Healing Springs. Yes, he has a daughter.”
“I’m sorry, darling. I know you said you were opposed to dating a single dad, and for good reason considering all you went through before. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you.”
Keira nodded again. What could she say? She didn’t care so much about the public humiliation or the fact that word spread like lice in a kindergarten classroom. She couldn’t begrudge him the loving life of a child—she’d never dream of wishing a kid away.
“I’m happy for him. I really am. He never thought he would be a family man, and he is.”
“He loves you, Keira. I’m sure of it. Are you sure you can’t fix it? Help him realize he should have told you?”
And that was the problem.
She didn’t want to fix anyone.
Or rather, she did. But she knew she shouldn’t. Couldn’t.
