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Gina relaxed. We spent the rest of the meal comparing Porter to Linc. They were both evasive at times. Gina said that Porter would make up excuses not to change Seth, or convenientlyforget to pick up diapers on his way home from work. I explained how Linc was attentive but seemed to be allergic to offering compliments. Gina laughed. It felt good to compare notes, as if I had suddenly gained entrance into some secret society that had been out of reach for so long.
Even with my ex-boyfriend, I hadn’t felt this kind of belonging. I guess I had known all along that our relationship wasn’t meant to last. With Linc, it felt different. Sure, he was hard to read sometimes, but when he felt strongly about something, he wasn’t shy. He didn’t get caught up in gossip or mixed messages. He seemed to understand what I was thinking even before I did. It felt good. It felt right. And talking to Gina, I was able to express all that.
I finished up my salad and stayed for coffee. Driving home that night, I wondered if I should chance meeting up with my new beau. I couldn’t call him a boyfriend yet, but he had made his interest clear. Maybe “friend” was the most accurate description of our relationship. No doubt a midnight stroll through the park would lead to another wonderful experience. Linc had made it clear through his actions that he was waiting for me to take the lead.
I rolled up in my driveway and glanced at the clock. It was only nine, still plenty of time to go. I took my shoes off and put on my pajamas. If I was going to wait, why not be comfortable? I didn’t even make it to my perch out back. Instead, eyeing my mattress as I was changing clothes, I decided to lie down. The bed was comfortable, my belly was full, and my mind focused on happy thoughts. Before I knew it, sleep had claimed me, and I slept right through our regularly scheduled insomnia walk.
19
LINCOLN
Iwasn’t sitting around waiting for Aly to call, but when midnight rolled around and I didn’t get a text, I had to admit I was a bit disappointed. There was no use getting upset about it though. People had their own lives.
I decided to go for a walk anyway. Even without Aly, the cool night air and the peaceful surroundings made me feel better. I wandered in the other direction this time, down to the lake. It was a longer walk and a more secluded destination. I passed a couple parked in a truck making out and gave them a wide berth. Cutting through the trees, I managed to find a picnic spot right on the water and stood looking out at the mirror-like surface.
The next day, I wandered up to the office as soon as I had a chance. Aly was there and looked sheepish as soon as I walked in the door. I ignored it. I wasn’t angry. I didn’t think there was anything Aly could do to make me angry. Just seeing her smile was enough to warm my heart.
“I fell asleep,” she said.
“Good. I went down to the lake last night.”
She grinned. “Nice.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “How was your talk with Gina?”
“She didn’t ask me to go slow or anything,” Aly said. “She mostly talked about how much she misses you.”
“Crap.” I ran a hand across my forehead.
“Why don’t you come for dinner on Thursday?” she asked.
“Okay. I forgot my lunch again.”
“Linc,” she said, exasperated. “We can’t keep eating out.”
“Do you want to go to my place?” I offered. “I have eggs and bologna.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I brought my lunch.”
“Would you like to eat it down at the lake?” I asked.
She brightened. “Sure.”
“I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
I spent an hour cleaning out the company truck, organizing paperwork, and making sure I had everything I needed for the afternoon’s deliveries. Henry was out on a run and Danny wasn’t in that day. I swept the breakroom, finally removing what must have been decades of dust and wood chips.
After I was done, I washed my hands and went back up the hill to fetch Allison. We walked hand in hand back to her car. She carried her purse, and I carried her lunch. “What have you got in here?” I teased, opening the brown paper sack.
“Peanut butter,” she said, reaching for it.
“Can I have half?” I asked.
“You can have whatever you want.” She blushed.
We reached her car and settled inside. I directed her to the lake but told her to drive past the usual picnic spots. There was a turnoff farther back in the woods, one that wasn’t likely to be discovered. She pulled off the gravel road and parked where we could see the water. She reached over for the lunch bag, but I preempted her, bringing her hand to my lips.
