Page 12 of Love Like Ours

“They’re lucky you decided to come back.” His eyebrows rose slightly. “Rumors, however, are going around that you won’t be here long.”

She shrugged, wiped her face dry, and took another sip of her beer. “I’m here. For now. I’m waiting until my niece or nephew is born to make any decisions.”

He tapped her bottle with his own beer. “Something tells me you’re going to be the best aunt around.”

She smiled. “Thanks for this.” She motioned to the food. “It’s the first time I’ve gotten out and done something personal since returning.”

“Seriously?” He frowned. “You’ve been back, what? A month?”

She nodded. “I haven’t felt much like socializing. Besides, working fills that void.” She took another bite of her taco.

“What about your movies? Are you still filming?”

She shook her head. “No, I just haven’t felt like it. Besides, since Luna and Rusty passed, I don’t have my stars.”

“You’re always welcome to use Loki,” he joked.

She glanced down at the little black dog sitting at Palmer’s feet, begging for scraps.

“I don’t know. Has Loki done any acting before?” she asked with a smirk.

For the rest of the meal, Palmer made a point to keep the conversation light. She laughed for the first time since her mother’s passing.

She had forgotten what it was like to have friends. To be appreciated. To be known.

Palmer asked her about her projects, about school, about her life. She talked more about herself in the next hour than she had in years.

She asked him as many questions as he asked her. At one point, when they were both done eating, they moved out onto the front porch. He started the fire in the fire pit again, and Loki snuggled up with her as she sat in one of the chairs tucked under a thick blanket.

The snow was falling much faster now, and she knew before the sun rose the next morning, they’d have close to a foot on the ground.

It seemed like spring was never going to get here, which flared her depression up even more. However, being right here, with Palmer and Loki, it didn’t matter to her. She liked the snow.

She’d always loved walking in it to and from work. And that way she didn’t have to worry about driving into a ditch. Walking was not only easier, it was also less expensive.

Lucas was working on getting the bank to release her mother’s bank accounts and move what money was in there over to her own accounts.

She had initially pushed back, wanting whatever their mother had left to be split equally. Then Lucas said that the restaurant was doing so well that he and Avery wanted everything to go to her instead.

Since she was unsure about her future, she didn’t put up much of a fight. Besides, she doubted there was much left over after their mother had paid off the mortgage a year ago.

“And I just lost you,” Palmer said, breaking into her thoughts.

“Sorry.” She shook her head.

“No, it’s my fault.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve kept you way too late.” He stood up suddenly. “How about Loki and I walk you back to your place? He could use the exercise.” He walked over and opened the door to retrieve her coat.

“Thanks,” she said, as he slipped it over her shoulders and helped her slide her arms into the sleeves.

They walked down the dark beach in silence at first, with Loki happily leading the way. Not that the dog knew where they were going. He often stopped to pee on a piece of driftwood or a patch of grass.

“We’re less than a mile from one another,” Palmer pointed out when the lights from her neighborhood appeared as they rounded the bend.

“If you walk on the beach. I think it’s almost two if you drive.” She sighed. “Everything in Pride is close. One of its many charms. The small, close-knit beach town.” She glanced over at him, his cotton hat now covered in snow. “It has everything anyone could ever want.”

“Is that one of the reasons you’re sticking around?” he asked, stopping and turning towards her. She ran her eyes over his face, which was lit dimly from the lights of her neighborhood

After that night, she realized that the main reason she wanted to stay was the possibility of more moments like this.

Could she take a chance? Change her future? Chance happiness?