She moved closer to where he stood, and he touched her arm as he guided her out and toward the kitchen. “Let’s go enjoy our meal before it gets cold.”
They sat down across from each other at the table and began to eat their salad. While they ate, they discussed the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival and reminisced. Soon their salad, garlic bread, and lasagna were finished, and she helped him carry their dishes to the counter.
“I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh?” She rubbed her hands together. “I love surprises! What is it?”
“I’m working on a song, and I’d like to share it with you.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
His hands began to sweat as she followed him toward his office, where he sat down at the piano, and she stood beside him.
Closing his eyes, he began to play the song, which had been inspired when he first reconnected with Kacey. His fingers flew over the piano as the melodious sound filled the room and a vision of her beautiful face filled his mind. When he finished, he opened his eyes and found her watching him, her eyes shining.
“Drew,” she whispered, her voice sounding reverent, “that’s beautiful.”
No, you are. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to write lyrics for it?”
“Eventually.” He swallowed. “The music just came to me the other night. You’re the first person I’ve shared it with.”
“I’m so honored.”
They stared at each other for a moment, and the urge to kiss her nearly overwhelmed him. But he couldn’t give in to that longing just yet. Instead he pushed back from the piano and stood. “How about some dessert?”
“Oh yes. I brought a chocolate cake.”
“Wonderful. I’ll put on some coffee.”
Soon they were sitting at the table sipping coffee and eating slices of the best cake he’d ever eaten.
“Do you remember when we used to sit on your parents’ pier and stargaze?” She rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her palm as her expression became nostalgic. “We would stretch out on the pier and stare up at the sky for hours, talking about everything and pretending to pick out constellations.”
Drew set his fork down. “Let’s go do it.”
“Right now?” Her brow puckered.
He pushed his chair back and stood. “Yes. Right now.”
“Okay.” She laughed as she stood too.
Chapter7
Kacey smiled over at Drew as he drove his Honda down Splendid Lake Loop toward his parents’ lakefront home. She folded her arms over her middle and settled back in the seat as she contemplated how much fun she’d already had this evening. She didn’t want it to end.
“What are you smiling about?” Drew asked.
Heat infused her cheeks as she turned toward him. “I was just thinking about that time we took your dad’s boat out without asking, lost track of time, and then got in trouble when we brought it back.”
Drew snorted. “I remember that clearly.”
“I still don’t understand why you were in trouble though. We didn’t damage the boat.”
“It was because I didn’t ask first.”
“And that was my fault because it was my idea. Again.”
