Page 72 of Someone to Remember
He smiles, and I’m done.Finished. “I’ll text you.”
“Okay.” How will I live until I get that text, and when did I transport back to middle school, anyway?
“Let me ask you something…”
“Sure.”
“Has hearing about what happened to Taylor’s husband have you all…” He waves his hand as if searching for the right word.
“Fucked up?”
He laughs. “Yeah. That.”
“Big-time. It’s been rough for all of us.”
“So it’s not just me feeling grief-stricken for someone I don’t even know?”
“Not at all. After what we’ve been through, you can’t help but put yourself in her place and then run from that thought as fast as you have it.”
“There you go, making me feel better again.”
“Oh, well…” I can’t remember the last time I blushed. That’s Brielle’s thing, not mine, but damn if my face doesn’t feel hot.
Roni and Derek come to say good night, forcing me to focus on something other than Luke, which is a relief. He’s overwhelming in the best possible way.
“I’ll walk out with you guys,” he says. “I might make it home for bedtime. Thank you, Iris and Gage, for hosting. Appreciate all the support from this group.”
After he says goodbye to the others, he comes back to me. “Talk soon?”
“Sounds good.”
I watch him walk away, noting the way his faded jeans fit just right.
Iris reappears next to me. “So…”
“We’re having coffee. Soon.”
She lets out an excited squeal that has everyone else looking at us. “Nothing to see here, folks. Just Luke asking Kinsley out for coffee.”
“Iris!”
“Sorry, did I say that out loud? I didn’t mean to.”
“Yes, you did.”
She laughs, and I can’t help but join her because her laughter is so infectious.
“Is Iris minding other people’s business again?” Gage asks as he puts an arm around her.
“You need to do something about her.”
“I’ve tried. She’s incorrigible.”
“I’m sorry, Kins,” Iris says. “I couldn’t help myself. We’re in bad need of good news around here.”
“It’s just coffee.”
“Okay.”
