“Thank you,” I say, before passing her a plate. “Did you want to eat here? On the table? Outside?” I rattle off the options in nervous succession because I want to make her comfortable.
I want her to enjoy the company and the time here.
I just don’t know how to act around her.
“Outside?” She raises a brow with her suggestion.
I nod, grabbing the plates, and try to juggle everything to bring it outside.
Her hand reaches for my forearm, and I freeze, snapping my head in her direction. Our eyes lock and I feel like time stands still.
“Let me help,” she says in a calming tone.
I hope she isn’t picking up on my nerves here. I’m probably ruining this entire thing.
She grabs the plates from my hand before picking up napkins and utensils, and I grab the dish of chicken parmesan with pasta.
Once she steps on the porch, I remember I don’t actually have a table back here on the covered porch. It’s just me, and I never have guests here unless they are uninvited ones like Nan or my sisters.
“Do the rocking chairs work?” I choke out, my voice thick with nerves.
“Oh my god, yes.” She beams with a giggle. She places the plates down on the oversized side table I have sitting between the two chairs. “Something about rocking chairs…they are so therapeutic.”
She takes a seat as I place the trivet down and the dish from the oven on top. Her head falls back as she rocks back and forth on the chair.
Her comfort eases my nerves.
She has her eyes closed and rocks back and forth slowly as if she’s taking in the moment the same way I am staring at her.
She’s truly so captivating.
She might have gotten on my nerves when she first arrived, but this right here is a nice reminder why I shouldn’t judge people before I get to know them. While my nervous system is still in overdrive because the last thing I want is to fall for her when I don’t know what her plans for the future are, I can’t help butwantto enjoy this time with her.
Would it be so bad if I let someone in?
Let someone see the parts of me I keep hidden from the world?
She breaks herself out of her trance when a loud rumblecomes from her stomach. She clutches it with wide eyes and her head snaps in my direction.
“Guess I’m hungrier than I thought.” She laughs.
I’m a goner if she keeps laughing like that.
“Dig in,” I tell her, gesturing to dinner as I take a seat in the other rocking chair.
She makes herself a plate before I do and we both sit in silence, with nothing but the sound of utensils hitting the plate, eating dinner, and enjoying each other’s company.
I want to ask her about her life in the city and learn everything about her.
What city did she even come from?
Is she divorced or still married?
“So, you own a bar in town, you ride horses into the sunset, you built this house with your bare hands,andyou can cook a mean chicken parmesan.” Blair chuckles. “Any more surprises for me?”
Tilting my head in her direction, I smile. A full-on smile at her, and the way her face morphs tells me even she’s shocked, but she masks her features quickly.
“Ride horses into the sunset, huh?”
