“Thanks, Liam.” Kira smiles at the boys, and my gut tightens. Everything about her screams white picket fence and kids—even though she voiced something different—but it’s everything I can’t give her but suddenly want to.
Don’t go there, dude. You have no staying power, and she’s the last girl you ever want to hurt.
I fight off the heaviness in my chest, finish off my drink, and say, “I’ll check the ice, but I don’t think it will be frozen through. Maybe another week or so.”
“There’s a game on tonight, Kira,” Brett says. “After we finish painting, maybe we can watch, and I can explain the plays.”
“I would love that,” she says, and looks off into the distance like she’s done a million times. What could be going through her head right now? We all finish our drinks, drop our cups into the recycle bin, and hit the hill again. We spent the next hour racing each other down the hill, and I’ve never seen Kira laugh so hard, or her light shine so bright.
It’s close to one when I realize it’s time to call it quits. Kira has plans, and while I don’t know what they are, I don’t want her to be late. The boys grumble good-naturedly as we all pile back into my truck and head home. I see them home, and Kira is making us sandwiches when I head back to the B&B.
I grab us each a glass of juice and put them on the table. “Thanks,” I say when she slides the sandwich to me. She has a small grin on her face.
“Something funny?”
“I called Amber when you took the boys back. She and a few friends are coming by tonight to watch the game. I thought we’d make a night out of it. Maybe bake some cookies. I did promise them we’d put the eggs to better use, and I’m sure Amber and her friends would love some of Gram’s cookies, too.”
I grin at her. “Yeah, I’m sure they would.” I take a bite of my sandwich. “You know, I think you’re more like Gram than you realize.”
She swallows her bite of sandwich and raises a brow. “Really? How?”
“The guys told me she was always trying to set them up.”
She laughs. “You think that’s what I’m doing?” She feigns innocence and adds, “I just want to spend time with my new friends before the place sells, and I move back.”
The sandwich turns to lead in my stomach as I think about our hookup and the expiry date that comes with it. She checks her watch.
“Almost time to go?” I ask, and she nods. “These plans involve you going out?” She nods again, and I reach for my keys. “I’m driving. You’re not going anywhere in Gram’s car until you have winter tires.”
She sighs. “Here I thought I wouldn’t even be around long enough to need a winter coat.”
“Are you disappointed that you’ve had to stay so long?”
“Actually, no.” Water instantly pools in her eyes. “I…I love being here, surrounded by Gram’s things. I can feel her love and warmth in this house. And you guys.” Her throat makes a noise as she swallows. “You’ve all been like the family I always wanted.” I stand, pull her from her chair, and wrap my arms around her.
I clear my throat. “I’ve been thinking, what if I—”
The back door opens and in walks Izzy. Kira makes a move to go, but I hold her to me.
“Kira, you okay?” Izzy asks, real concern in her voice.
Kira wipes her face and inches away from me, and I instantly miss her warmth. “Just emotional today, I think. I have to take some of Gram’s paintings to a gallery, and I’m finding it harder than I thought I would have.”
“I’m sorry,” Izzy says. “I’m free today. I can help.”
“Thank you,” Kira says. “But I think I just need some alone time.”
Izzy opens the fridge. “I’ll be hanging out here today, so give me a shout if you need anything.”