Page 33 of Save the Last Dance
“The cider smells amazing. Thank you.” She took her time sipping it, not sure how to delve into the things she needed to say to Mack tonight.
“I saw Ally at the farm stand while I was there. She was buying a ticket to walk through the corn maze with Ethan Brady.”
“The day after she was rushed to the hospital? How is she feeling?” Nina tracked the progress of one line of flag twirlers, amazed at how smoothly they worked in unison. In comparison, she had always moved through life just a little out of step. “I’ll bet it wasn’t easy for her to talk Bethany into letting her out of the house.”
Mack shrugged. “I didn’t say much to Ally because she was giving me the sign to keep quiet, so I just took the cider and got out of there.”
“I hope Ethan Brady is good to her.” Nina remembered seeing him with another girl on Friday night. “She deservessome happiness after what she’s going through with her parents.”
“Scott and Bethany will work things out.” Mack’s chin jutted as if daring her to argue.
“I hope so.” Nina had no intention of getting involved in that particular mess. She had enough to wade through on her own now that she’d decided to stay in Heartache for her grandmother.
“Really?” There was an edge in Mack’s voice. “Because Scott told me you suggested that Bethany start a business of her own.”
Nina’s defenses went up. “Is that a problem?”
“They’re fighting for their marriage, Nina. Why encourage her to do things that take her away from her husband?”
“Because she’s miserable running the store when she sees it as his dream, not hers. And until she finds her own happiness, she’s not going to figure out how to heal the marriage.” Damn it, she didn’t want to argue about this. She hadn’t given that much thought to her conversation with Bethany given all the drama that came afterward. She’d only mentioned the business idea in passing.
Why couldn’t they just watch the twirling batons and drink cider under the stars?
“I came to town to do whatever I could to help Scott save his marriage. I would appreciate it if you didn’t work against me.” His jaw flexed with restrained emotions.
“I didn’t realize you already had an agenda worked out for their marriage.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm that leaked into her words. She’d never been as good at restraint as Mack. “But if you want to fill me in on what that agenda is, I can certainly be a mouthpiece for the Finley family propaganda.”
She tightened the blanket around her lap.
“I didn’t come here to argue with you.” Mack tapped her cup. “You should drink your cider before it gets cold.”
“I didn’t invite you here to argue with you, either.” Her words still sounded testy, but she was grateful to set aside the argument for now.
She had the feeling they weren’t really arguing about Scott and Bethany anyhow. Was it any surprise she was lobbying for Bethany to express her individuality and Mack thought the couple should focus on family at all costs? The argument sounded way too familiar. Only the names had changed.
For now, however, she inhaled the steam rising off the cider before taking a drink.
“This tastes so good.” She savored the mulling spices, trying to identify them all. “I’ll have to find a cupcake flavor to go with it.”
The breeze picked up and a gust blew under her blanket, sending a corner flapping over onto Mack.
“Whoa.” Catching it, he reached across her to tuck it back into place. Or at least, that’s what he started to do. His hand stilled before he touched her, the moment suspended.
It was hard to believe they’d been arguing a minute ago when just being close to him still had the power to turn her inside out.
Hand hovering just above her leg, he was close enough to kiss. His shoulders blocked the wind and her view of the field. Her heartbeat sped up. And she waited. She could practically taste his lips on hers, the memory of that kiss on the swings still vivid in her mind. She’d gone to sleep thinking about it every night since.
“I’d better let you fix it.” Mack let theblanket drop before he leaned away. “Too tempting.”
She fumbled with the blanket and re-tucked it just as the band leader turned off the PA system. Practice seemed to be ending for both groups, some of the kids walking toward the locker rooms and some toward the parking lot and waiting parents.
Down on the grass, a few girls squealed and laughed. Some horns honked.
“Nina, the suspense is eating me alive.” He set aside his cup. Then took hers from her hands and set it aside too. “You wanted me to meet you here, of all places. You must have had a reason when it has to be as tough for you as it is for me.”
The bleachers were full of memories for them.
“I’m trying to make peace. I hadn’t been back here since that night.” She couldn’t move to Heartache permanently if she couldn’t drive past the school without memories of their graduation week, her fight with Vince and the accident. “I really thought I had my head on straight by the time I finished college, but it’s different being back here. And then, when you told me about Jenny’s miscarriage?—”
