With a clink, I placed my cup on the dish and pushed it to the waitress.
“Thank you,” I said as she took my coffee cup and then Lane’s.
“It was really sweet of you to send the flowers.”
He smiled. “It was nothing.” Motioning between us, Lane laughed. “But what about this? I can’t believe I ran into you here and on a Friday night. I figured you’d be out on a hot date.”
If he thought I was stupid, he was insane. I knew he was fishing to see if I was dating anyone. “I was out earlier but had to call it an early night.”
He nodded like he accepted my answer, but I knew he didn’t. I could see it in his eyes. “Lucky for me you called it an early night.”
“No hot date with the high school crush who got away?” I asked.
He laughed. “Hardly. All the girls in this town were not worth my time.”
My eyes widened.
“I don’t mean it in a vain way. It’s just most of the girls in my high school pined over the Parker brothers. It would have been hard enough to compete with one, but I had three I had to deal with in high school.”
I lifted a brow. “One of my very dearest and best friends is married to Steed Parker, and I dated Tripp for a while. He’s a good friend, so I’d tread lightly.”
He lifted his hands in defense. “Treading lightly.” Glancing down, he played with the fork on the table. “You dated Tripp, huh?”
I shrugged. “Yeah. We both did it for stupid reasons, though. We make better friends than lovers.”
Lane stared at me. Crap. I had made it sound like I’d had a sexual relationship with Tripp.
Glancing at my Apple watch, I cleared my throat. “Well, I should get going.”
“Yeah, sure. You want me to walk you back to your house?”
“I drove over here. I know it’s only a couple of blocks, but you know, it’s still kind of scary being out this late at night. Small town or not.”
“I’m glad you drove. It is safer. Let me pay for this and I’ll walk you to your car.”
We both stood. “You don’t have to pay for mine.”
Lane gave me a wink and a sexy-as-hell smile. “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”
I returned his smile. “Thank you. I’ll meet you outside. My car is parked out front.”
The second I walked out and looked at my car, I groaned.
“Are you kidding me?” I yelled.
“Corina.”
Mitchell’s voice made all the hairs on my body stand up. Of course, my heart also fluttered and my stupid stomach dropped. I had to take in a deep breath and replace my silly emotions with anger. I glared at him. “What do you want, Mitchell?”
“I went to your house, but you weren’t home. I started driving around town looking for you. Not sure how I missed your car sitting here, I drove by five times.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I let out a gruff laugh. “Some cop you are.” He frowned, and I regretted my harsh words. “I’m sorry, Mitch. I didn’t mean to say that.”
But you did! You’re angry with him. He played with your emotions again! You. Are. Angry!
“Actually, I did mean that. I meant it very much, and I don’t care if it hurt your feelings. You deserve it.”
He flashed me that damn panty-melting smile and winked.
Lord. Help me be strong.
“Please, can we talk?” he asked. “I need to explain what happened at Cord’s Place. I didn’t do a good job of explaining things and…”
I glanced into the café; Lane was almost finished paying.
“Not now. I’m busy.”
“When?” Mitchell asked.
“I don’t really know, Mitch. Honestly, I’m not sure when I want to talk to you again…if I ever do want to talk to you.”
Peeking back into the restaurant, I couldn’t help but notice that Lane was talking with our waitress.
“You’re with Lane?” Mitchell asked.
I wasn’t sure why I lied, but it came out of my mouth before I could stop it.
“Yes.”
Mitchell looked at Lane and then focused on me. Even though it was dark, I could see the sadness in his eyes, illuminated from the café window.
“Right. Goodnight, Corina. I hope you enjoy your evening.”
Wait. That’s it? He’s going to give up just like that?
He walked to the door on the other side of the Lilly’s café window, which led to the apartments above the diner. Panic mixed with my anger. I don’t know why I spoke, but I did. “You live here? At the restaurant?”
Mitchell turned the key and opened the door. “I live on the third floor and part of the fourth. It’s a nice place. The owner had it remodeled and kept all the historical features.”
I smiled as he stepped inside the door. “I bet it’s nice.”
He shrugged. “It’s home…for now.”
My head tilted. I wanted to ask what he meant. Was he planning on moving? Leaving Oak Springs? More panic built in my chest. We stared at each other. A small part of me wished he would ask me up, but I knew he wouldn’t, since I’d so stupidly said I was with Lane.
Mitchell smiled and was about to say something when Lane walked out.
“Let’s get you home, shall we?” Lane asked. “I bought a couple slices of pie. Figured we could eat them on the front porch of your place.”
Forcing a smile, I replied, “Actually Lane, I think—”
When I turned back, Mitchell’s front door was closed. He was gone.
Swallowing hard, I pushed my disappointment in Mitchell deep down and let the anger resurface. “I’m going to call it a night and head home to bed. Can we eat the pie tomorrow, maybe?”
“Tomorrow?” he said with a huge smile. “A second date. I like it.”
I laughed and hit him in the stomach. “Seriously though, my tire is flat.” I looked at my car. “And my spare tire is flat too.”
Lane stared at it for a few seconds. “Looks like we’re walking.”
As we made the walk back to my house, I took a chance at looking behind me and up to the third floor of Lilly’s café.
My breath caught when I saw his lights turn on and a figure walk to the sliding glass door. He stared down at us and then turned away. The sinking feeling in my stomach grew.
I focused on the sidewalk before peeking up at Lane. He was going on and on about how scared to death he was of the first graders. I couldn’t help but laugh and tried to let myself enjoy the moment.
My phone went off and when I read it I could practically feel the steam coming from my ears.
Mitchell: Lane Lewis is a dick. You deserve better.
I tuned out Lane as I typed my response.
Me: You’re one to talk. I’m surprised you didn’t have some girl on your arm tonight. Oh, wait, you probably already screwed her in the back of your truck. Am I right?
I was livid; only Mitchell got me so upset I swore.
Mitchell: If you hadn’t gone home with that asshole, I could have asked you up to my place and explained myself. I wasn’t leaving you back in Cord’s office. I wanted you to come home with me.
I practically laughed out loud. Peeking up, Lane was still talking. Something about the class pet.
Me: So, instead of doing me against your brother’s office door, you wanted to do me at your place. Nice. Classy move. I’d rather let Lane take me against any door than have you touch me ever again!
I stared at my phone for a minute, but it was clear he wasn’t texting back. Fine by me.
I’d almost let my emotions take control again earlier. From this moment on, I was putting a wall around my heart, and Mitchell Parker was not going to break through.
Mission move-on-from-Mitchell-Parker begins tonight.
“Hey, you okay?” Lane asked as he stopped walking.
I forced a smile. “Yes, sorry I was being rude.”
He glanced down at my phone. “I didn’t even notice. Guess I was talking too much!”
We both let out a chuckle.
“If you need to text them, go ahead.”
“No, it doesn't matter anymore.”
Lane flashed me a huge smile. “People who don’t make you happy don’t belong in your life, Corina.”
His words hit me hard. I dragged in a shaky breath. “I know, but sometimes it’s hard to let them go.”
He nodded like he knew what I meant. “When you do let them go, you’ll find you can breathe easier.”
I looked at the ground. The idea of letting Mitchell go didn’t cause me to breathe easier; it was the exact opposite. My chest pulled with an ache so strong it felt like it kept the air from moving in and out of my body. I needed to let him go. It was clear he didn’t want the same things I wanted. Which was us. Me and him, exclusively. The future that I longed for was not the same future Mitchell wanted.
Pulling in a breath, I glanced back up at Lane. “You know what?” I asked with a wide grin. “I think I do want to eat those pies on my front porch.”
I don’t think I’d ever seen a guy’s eyes light up like Lane’s did. At some point I was going to have to inform him that we needed to keep things on a friendship level only. I wasn’t going to risk my job by dating another teacher.
Lane laced his fingers with mine as we started walking again. Peeking down, I looked at our hands. I knew I needed to say something, but a part of me wanted to pretend things were different—that I hadn’t just had one of the worst nights of my life by being rejected by Mitchell yet again. Mitchell’s words hit me newly. He had wanted me to go back to his place. And he seemed so pained when I left him at Cord’s. The way he called out. Had I jumped to conclusions?
Sirens lit up in the distance as we kept walking. A truck raced by, and I had to do a double-take because I swore it was Mitchell’s truck.
“Was that Mitchell?”
“Is that smoke?” Lane asked.
My heart dropped as I followed his gaze. “Yes! It’s coming from the direction of the street I live on. I hope no one’s house is on fire.”
Lane picked up his pace as I joined him. We rounded the corner, and I let out a gasp.
“No,” I whispered. I stared at my house; the second floor was in flames.
“Milo!” I screamed as I started running toward the front door.
“Corina! Wait, where are you going?”
Running as fast as I could, I screamed out my cat’s name. Onlookers turned to see me running like a bat out of hell. The fire department was there and so was…Mitchell?
It had been Mitchell’s truck.
I didn’t stop. I focused on getting to Milo. Strong arms grabbed me, and I knew in an instant who had me. “Mitchell, let me go! Milo is in the house! Milo’s in there.”
He cupped my face and forced me to look at him. “Corina, I need you to calm down.”
Tears streamed down my face for the second time tonight as I looked at him.
“But…Milo.”
He glanced at the house and then back to me. “Wait here.”
Mitchell ran up to the front porch. The firefighters ran after him, calling out for him to stop.
“Mitchell!” I screamed as he kicked in the door and disappeared. Two firefighters went in after him.
“Holy shit, did Mitchell just go into the house?” Lane asked.
“He did what?”
Spinning around, I saw Tripp. “Oh my God, Tripp, he went in after Milo!”
Tripp placed his arms around me as I buried my face against his chest. “I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to him,” I cried out.
“There he is!” Lane called out.
I pulled away from Tripp to see Mitchell coming out along with a firefighter. He had something in his arms, and I struggled to see what it was.
“Milo,” I whispered.
“What a damn idiot! He could have gotten killed for a cat!” Lane said.
“Shut up, Lane,” Tripped said in an angry voice.
I ran to Mitchell, and he handed Milo over, but I threw myself into Mitchell’s body. I was so relieved he was okay.
He wrapped his arm around me. “He’s okay. A little scared, but he’s okay.”
Stepping back, I took the cat and wrapped him in my arms. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I turned around and watched my house going up in flames.