She additionally realized she was hungry. She’d shopped for his or her particular, romantic meal and hadn’t purchased a lot in the way in which of groceries. Having no actual meals in the home, she determined to move into city and seize a chunk to eat at one of many diners.

Not having heard from Mike, and assuming he was hanging out together with his household, she didn’t wish to go to the diner on Major Avenue. That was too near his place and if she occurred to finish up on the identical restaurant, it might sound an excessive amount of like she was spying. Or merely determined.

When she pulled into the parking zone of the diner simply south of city a half hour later, she realized it was a superb factor she’d come so early. She had heard tales about how the summer season vacationers crammed each nook of the island from Memorial Day by Labor Day. Now she had proof. The roads have been busy, the parking heaps full. Vacationers streamed into and out of the retailers and several other teams have been awaiting tables within the diner.

Deciding to simply order one thing to go, she walked as much as the counter. However earlier than she even caught a waitress’s consideration, she heard her title.

“Lindsey!”

Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed Mike waving from throughout the crowded eatery. He sat with two extraordinarily handsome, dark-haired males, and two very fairly brunettes.

Mike bought up and came to visit to her, maneuvering his means by the gang. She famous how relaxed and completely satisfied he seemed. Having his household go to had executed him quite a lot of good. If she’d had any household she needed to say, she supposed she would really feel the identical means.

“Hello,” she stated when he reached her.

“Hello. I attempted to name you on the cottage a couple of minutes in the past.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. My cousins and their wives have been harassing me and calling me the worst man on this planet for not inviting you to affix us for dinner. They’re heading again on the seven o’clock ferry and actually needed to fulfill you.” He leaned nearer, reducing his voice. “I couldn’t actually clarify…”

That they have been secret lovers? That this was presupposed to be a short-term fling, and he or she and Mike won’t see one another once more as soon as she left the island in one other week?

Oh, God, the very considered that stabbed her within the coronary heart. She was shocked to seek out moisture in her eyes, and blinked quickly to maintain him from noticing it.

What was taking place to her? If simply the concept of shedding Mike was sufficient to make her tear up—sure, she, Lindsey, who by no means cried—what on earth was going to occur when she truly needed to go away right here? When actuality got here knocking and he or she stopped having the posh of a secret affair with the person of her desires, and as a substitute needed to return to her aggressive job and her high-stress life. How would she probably survive? Most of all, how would she survive with out him?

“Hey, are you okay?” He took her arm, clearly involved. “What’s unsuitable?”

“Nothing,” she insisted, not eager to reveal how fragile she was feeling. “I’m positive.”

Throughout the restaurant, she seen 4 faces watching them avidly. Their heads got here collectively to whisper, they usually all supplied her welcoming smiles and gestures. It appeared they actually did need her to affix them.

And abruptly, she needed to. She was so uninterested in sneaking round, by no means with the ability to threat a smile at him for concern it could be accurately interpreted. By no means in a position to present that she and Mike had greater than a passing acquaintance, although she knew him extra intimately than she’d ever identified anybody in her life. She was sick of all of it.

“Sure, Mike, I’d love to affix you,” she stated, making her resolution. Then, simply as rapidly, she backpedaled a bit. “I imply, so long as it’s okay with you.”

“Are you kidding?” he requested, giving her a disbelieving look. “I’d adore it. And for what it’s price, almost all of the folks on this restaurant are outsiders. Aside from the waitresses, I don’t acknowledge any locals.”

Oh. So he was nonetheless nervous about that.

She sighed inwardly, figuring out it wasn’t truthful to be bothered by it. Mike was simply enjoying by the principles she, herself, had laid down. Maybe as the top of his six-month probationary interval drew nearer, he was changing into extra involved about preserving his job. He wouldn’t need any sort of scandal or gossip to intervene with that, particularly since he’d already made an enemy of Mrs. Franklin over her guide.

“Come on, we have now an additional chair already.”

Together with his hand on the small of her again, he led her by the crowded place. Lindsey’s steps slowed the nearer they bought.

The entire household factor had sounded positive a minute in the past. Now, although, she had begun to really feel like an inmate strolling towards an execution.

This was to this point out of her realm of expertise. She had by no means as soon as been launched to the household of somebody she was courting. And naturally she’d by no means launched hers to anybody.

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