Page 45 of Come Back To Me
“How about this . . . You go, and I’ll make sure to be somewhere behind you the whole time you’re there. You won’t see me, but you’ll feel me.”
“What if someone recognizes you?”
“I’ll make sure they don’t. You let me worry about that.”
I kneel to where he is, brushing a thumb over his neck. “Yeah, okay. Come be there with me.”
Thirteen
Riley
“What about this one?” Glen crouches down, peering up at Leo with one hand on a large pumpkin.
One of his cheeks lifts, his face in total disagreement. “No. It’s dirty on the back.”
Sighing, Glen straightens his leg and dusts his hands on his pants. “We’ve looked at twenty pumpkins at least, baby. Will you stop being so picky?”
“If he did, then he wouldn’t be Leo,” I say pointedly.
“See.” Leo’s hands point in my direction. “Finally, someone here who gets it.”
I laugh and Glen’s nostrils flare. Sometimes I feel like Leo needs someone with a lot more patience. It’s why he and I work so well. I accepted him for how he is a long time ago and had already planned on being out here for hours. I’m okay withit. It means having longer to look back and wonder where my husband is.
And he’s here. Those eyes have been like prickly ice on my skin, and I tingle like there’s an alarm built inside me that’s only triggered when he’s in my vicinity.
My stomach swirls, and I bite back a smile as I stroll to the perfect-sized pumpkin. I lift it to examine it better, spinning it around on my palm. “I’ve found one of mine.”
“How many you getting?” Glen shoots a quick neutral look my way.
“Two or three.”
“I’m wanting at least six,” Leo says, sounding animated.
Glen blows out a rough breath, rolling his eyes. “And why do you need six?”
“To cover the steps, duh.” His eyes blink rapidly and then he bounces on his feet, looking over Glen’s shoulder. “I think this is going to be it. I can feel it in my bones.”
Laughing, I follow him as he practically skips to a group of squash. In the center rests a pumpkin bigger than mine. It’s clean all the way around, without a single blemish, and pretty much evened out everywhere.
“It’s perfect.” Leo’s eyes shine and he grabs Glen’s wrist, pointing in front of him. “Isn’t it?”
“So, five to go?” Glen side-eyes him and I breathe out a laugh, circling them when I see a white one I like.
“I’m going to go pay for these and look around,” I say behind me.
“Okay. Do you need the keys to put them in the car?” Leo leans down, reaching his arms out, and Glen steps in front of him, grabbing the pumpkin before he can.
“Sure. Would be better than carrying them around everywhere.”
Leo plucks the keys from Glen’s pocket, peppering kisses on his cheek as he does, and slips them in the back of mine.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Glen muses at him, and Leo sticks his tongue out.
Snorting, I roll my eyes and avert them from the lovey-dovey scene happening too close for comfort. I love my friend, but he sure does love public affection, and he gets carried away with it sometimes. My face heats when I spot people looking our way, and I keep walking, shrinking in on myself until I reach the barn. I set my haul on the counter and dig for my wallet, my eyes roaming to the stuffed pumpkins with silly faces. There would have been a time where I turned into Gareth, asking him to get me one.
“This going to be all for you?” The woman in front of me tilts her head, resting her hand on one of the pumpkins.
“Yeah. Just these two.” My voice sounds small.
