neck and burrowed as deep as I could. It would suck being on that float today, having all that wind whip at me, but I could do this for Eric. I needed the distraction.
If I closed my eyes, I could still imagine Robert walking up behind me and wrapping his arms around me. Sighing, I took a sip of my latte as we approached the float. It looked good, professional. I wasn’t sure what Eric needed from me, so I walked around the float, checking everything out. I still had a good half hour before the parade started.
Carter and Jack were out doing traffic control in preparation for the parade and I waved as Carter grinned at me. Behind him, a sports car zoomed around a corner and my heart almost stopped. It was Robert’s car.
I stood, stuck in place as I watched the car pull into a parking spot. I waited with bated breath for the door to open and for him to step out. What would I say? Should I run over to him? Should I kiss him right away? I was so nervous, I was practically shaking. Without thinking, I started running down the sidewalk, tossing my coffee in a trash can so I didn’t risk spilling it on myself. All I could think about was getting to Robert before he disappeared. I raced out into the street, ignoring Carter yelling at me to stop. Horns blared and tires squealed. I spun just in time to see a car stop just inches from my legs. My heart hammered in my chest as I quickly realized how close I came to being hit by a car.
Carter came running over to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
I nodded shakily. “Yeah, I just…” I glanced over at the car and saw a man I didn’t recognize step out. It wasn’t him. I let out a deep breath and laughed at myself. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Come on, let’s get you off the street.”
“I’m really sorry. I thought I saw…”
“You thought you saw what?”
“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
He waited for me to continue, but when I didn’t, he just nodded. “If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ve got to get back to my spot.”
“Of course. I’m fine. I promise.”
“Just do me a favor. Stick to sidewalks.”
I let out a laugh. “I promise.”
“Good. I’ll see you after the parade.”
I nodded as he took off and went back to the float where Eric was watching me with Eagle eyes. God, I was such a fool, seeing Robert everywhere I went. He was gone and I needed to accept that. I was the one that had pushed him away. I gave Eric a tight smile. He nodded and turned back to the coordinator of the parade and finished going over the details.
“Okay, I’m going to have you on the float with me. Just remember to smile and wave, and when we stop, you’ll be handing out fliers and talking up the business.”
“Alright,” I nodded, taking his hand to step up on the float. Within minutes, the float was headed down the road and I was doing my best to smile and wave at the crowd. I was so uncomfortable being up here, but Eric was a natural, waving at all his former customers. We turned down another road and made it about a half mile before the float suddenly came to a stop.
“What’s going on?” I asked Eric. “Why did the float stop?”
He shrugged and glanced around. “I don’t know. Stay here,” he said, hopping off the float.
“Wait,” I hissed. “Don’t leave me!”
“I’m just going to check on something.”
“Eric,” I hissed again as he walked off, leaving me standing on the float with a ton of spectators just staring at me. I laughed uncomfortably and waved at the onlookers. A squeal of a microphone had everyone wincing, and then a voice I recognized all too well came over a loudspeaker.
“Most of you already know me. My name is Robert Cortell.”
My eyes widened and I jumped off the float, rushing to the float behind me where his voice was coming from. He was standing there, in just jeans and a heavy jacket, and a pair of boots. But his eyes were on the crowd.
“I’ve recently set up a law practice in this town, so I look forward to helping you out and taking your money,” he grinned.
The crowd laughed, some of them clapping. Robert stepped forward, moving the microphone cord out