Some Bright Someday (Maple Valley #2) - Melissa Tagg Page 0,44

assumed because he hadn’t left when he usually did, it meant he was staying long-term. But no, he was going to leave and the same pain that she’d felt when her aunt had abandoned her would needle her again.

Except not the same. Whatever his own feelings, he and Jen were friends. Only friends.

She and her aunt—they’d had some kind of special bond. He’d heard it in her wavering voice as she’d talked. Now he understood why she didn’t bring her up more often.

He passed his truck, parked at a careless angle in front of the cottage, and barged through the front door.

Noah was sprawled on the couch, a McDonald’s bag next to him. “Hey.”

Lucas stopped a few feet in front of him. “Hey? Hey? You disappear for the whole day and that’s your greeting now?”

“I got extra fries in case—”

“Did it occur to you that I might need my truck? That I was waiting on those saw blades? That even though I have very little reason to like you at this point, I might’ve been worried?” He combed his fingers through his long hair as Noah simply stared at him. What could he say to get through to the guy?

Noah stuffed a fry in his mouth.

“I don’t know what your deal is, Noah. I don’t know what you’ve been through and I sure as heck don’t know what you need.” He towed off his sweatshirt and held out his arms. “But if you think you’re the only one who’s been through something horrific, take a good look at me.”

If the younger man felt any shock at the sight of Lucas’s mottled arms, he held it in. He spared Lucas’s scars only a momentary glance before meeting his gaze head-on.

“Flagg had to have told you about me, didn’t he? About the desertion and the dishonorable and the prison sentence.” He tossed his sweatshirt onto the kitchenette counter. “Well? Didn’t he?”

Noah still watched him, his gaze steady. “He did.”

“All of that is because I didn’t respond to all of this and what caused it”—he held up his arms again—“with any ounce of dignity or maturity. Take it from me, Noah, it’s worth stopping the downward spiral before it picks up speed. That’s what Flagg’s trying to do for you. That’s what I’d really like to do for you if you’d just give me one measly chance.”

Tense, soundless seconds passed.

Until, finally, Noah rose. Slowly and with the first hint at all that there might be some speck of humility in him. “I won’t disappear on you again.”

Lucas let his glare bore into Noah one moment more. To his credit, the guy didn’t flinch.

“All right. Tomorrow we build a new shed.”

9

Jenessa stopped in the middle of the town square, the boisterous noise of the Maple Valley varsity football team drifting from where they gathered in the band shell. How had she managed to remember her camera bag, her notebook, and even a pair of furry cream-colored gloves but not her wallet?

Maybe if she hadn’t spent nearly all day distractedly checking her phone, she might not have been so frazzled as she’d left the newspaper office. But today was Colie’s first day of school and Jenessa was more nervous about it than the girl herself. Colie had stayed after school for her first volleyball practice.

Sam’s tall form leaning against a tree over by the apple cider stand caught her eye. Ah, he could help. She shifted her bag and tossed one end of her knit, mustard yellow scarf over her shoulder. Her fleece-lined, wine-red jacket wrapped her in warmth as she hurried toward Sam.

The auction—one of Maple Valley’s zanier events—was already under way. It was the football team’s annual fundraiser during which they auctioned off, well, themselves and a Saturday’s worth of work. Always amusing, if nothing else, as the football players showed off for the bidders.

“Sam,” she called as she neared her friend. He was out of uniform today. Was he here alone or . . . ? She glanced around the crowded square. No sign of Sam’s daughter. No Mara or Marshall.

Lucas, of course, was back at the house. She’d seen him for just a minute this morning. He seemed pleased with the progress he and Noah had made in the past few days out back. When she’d mentioned needing to cover the auction this afternoon, he’d offered to watch Violet and Cade.

Jenessa nabbed a cup of cider as she passed the stand manned by Kit and Beckett Walker, offering the pair a