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But her use of my title reminded me of something. I arched a brow. “Being here in Marathon reminds me… have you made your appointment with your new gynecologist yet?”
She wrinkled her nose in that adorable way. “Yes, though you are rather familiar with my lady bits now. I don’t see what the problem is.”
Smiling, I refused to rise to her bait. “The problem is that it’s a conflict of interest. A doctor needs to maintain impartiality as much as possible to make the best treatment decisions. And, darling”—my voice turned to a low drawl—“I’m anything but impartial where you’re concerned.”
“Glad to hear it. And you’re off the hook, though I couldn’t get an appointment for a while yet. No more horrifying meetings in your exam room.”
Laughing, I covered her hand with mine. “I still feel awful about that.”
“It wasn’t the best way to see each other after nearly two decades, was it?”
“No, but it led us here. So at least some good came from it.”
Lunch stretched on, punctuated by laughter and the clink of silverware. As Stella talked animatedly about flavor profiles and cooking techniques, I realized that these moments—the easy conversations, the shared smiles over a meal—were what I’d been missing in my life. Why I was back.
I watched her across the table, the sunlight filtering through the window and casting a golden glow on her skin, and I wondered how long I could keep my heart’s truth silent. Would she ever be ready to hear just how deeply I’d fallen for her? I pushed the thought aside, determined to savor the present, uncertain as the future might be.
The clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation filled the little diner, a quaint sanctuary from the bustling heat outside. I leaned back in the booth, feeling the stickiness of the vinyl against my skin, and watched as Stella took another bite of her key lime pie, her eyes closing in what I could only describe as pure culinary bliss.
“It’s kind of nice not to work all the time, huh?” I teased, taking a swig of my ice-cold beer.
Stella’s eyelids fluttered open, and she set her fork down with a gentle clink. “You know,” she began, dabbing her mouth with a napkin, “I’ve been so wrapped up in the restaurant lately that I forgot how good it feels to just… breathe.”
“Sounds like you needed this break more than you realized.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, intrigued by the softness that had overtaken her usually fiery demeanor.
She nodded, a strand of hair falling across her face. “I need to remember that there’s still room for fun and adventure,” she said, tucking the errant lock behind her ear. “Especially now.” Her gaze held mine, and the corner of her mouth lifted in a smile.
“Then here’s to rediscovering each other.” I raised my bottle. “And to remembering that the best parts of life aren’t on any menu.”
“Cheers to that,” Stella agreed, her glass chiming against mine.
“How are you feeling about the pool party next weekend?” I’d been pleased she wanted me to attend such a big family event. She might not be quite as into this relationship as I was, but inviting me was a step in the right direction.
“A little nervous, of course. The last time those two were around the pool, it didn’t go so well. But I’ll keep trying. Both of them need to move past what happened, but I think they’re too stuck to reach out on their own.”
“And here you are, ready to step in and help. They’re lucky to have you.”
She smiled and blushed a delicate shade of pink but didn’t reply to the compliment. Once again, that deep, clenching wave of emotion swept through me. A trio of pelicans swooped by outside, inches above the water’s surface. I picked at the label on my beer as I tried to sort out the tight warmth in my chest.
“Hey, you’ve gone quiet on me.” Stella nudged me gently, her voice pulling me back. “What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing,” I lied, forcing a smile. The truth was, my heart was so full it felt like it could burst through my chest. The words I love you perched on the tip of my tongue. But I swallowed them down, along with another mouthful of beer.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but she let it go. Maybe it was the way I looked at her just then, the intensity and vulnerability making her uncomfortable. She picked up her beer and took a swallow, her throat moving in a way that made me want to kiss it. To kiss everything. I wanted to savor this simplicity, this easiness between us. It was a rare treasure—one I knew all too well could be fleeting.
The pelicans rose in a graceful arc and then one slammed into the ocean, coming up with a wriggling pouch under its bill a moment later. Stella’s eyes widened and her mouth stretched into a broad smile. Her delighted look nearly did me in right then and there.
But just as I opened my mouth to spill my heart out, I thought twice. Of the times I’d glimpsed that flicker of hesitation in her eyes. It was enough to give me pause. Because despite spending the perfect day together, she wasn’t ready to hear my declaration. And even as I forced a smile on my own face, I had to wonder.
Would she ever want to hear those words? And would she ever return them?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Stella
The low hum of conversation and splashing underscored a warm, gentle afternoon as I sat at a patio table. Across from me, April pushed her lower lip out, her eyes faintly tinged with disappointment. “Well, at least you’re here.”
“Aiden’s sorry he couldn’t make it.” I handed her a glass of iced tea, beads of condensation trickling down its side. “An emergency came up at the clinic.”
