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Pippa snorted. “I’m like you. I’m a workaholic who doesn’t seem to care about finding someone to spend the rest of my life with. Maybe we got it from Dad.”
“Hey,” he sputtered, “that’s not fair. I got married.”
“Yeah, and then she died when Molly was born. It’s beennine years.When are you going to find someone new?”
His back straightened and his face flushed. “I don’t need to find someone new.”
“Yeah, you do. If not for yourself, then for Molly. For heaven’s sake, Luke. You can’t live your life alone. Neither one of us should.”
Now he was flustered and confused. “What does any of this have to do with asking for Allie’s address? Maybe I’m just rekindling a friendship we used to have.”
“Friendships don’t just fade away after you get married, Luke.” The disdain in her voice only increased the guilt he was feeling. She moved closer to him, her eyes narrowed. “Think about it, Luke. Think really hard. You can’t tell me you haven’t seen it. We all have.”
“Seen… what.”
She groaned again and her eyes flashed. “Sometimes I really want to slap some sense into you. Allie likes you. She always has.”
He let this information wash over him, numbing him.
“Somewhere in that pea-sized brain of yours, you have to admit you knew. I mean, the signs are all there. The way she spent so much time at our house when we were teenagers. How she tagged along for every activity you wanted to do. Heck, she even followed you to the college of your choice.”
Luke lost the feeling in his legs. His sister was right. All the evidence was there from the very first day and somehow he’d made himself ignorant to it. No wonder Pippa was so upset about him asking for her number so he could talk about Molly.
Just like that he was accosted by memories that once held no meaning. Allie was generous, bright, and bubbly. She always had a smile and she was so willing to help others. She’d probably give the shirt off her back if she thought it would help.
“Yeah. There it is. See? Every single moment you spend with her has got to be torture.”
He huffed. “I doubt that.”
“I mean it, Luke. Someone doesn’t hold onto a crush that long unless it runs deep. So, no. I’m not going to give you her address. You’re just going to have to ask for it yourself. But be aware you’re heading out into treacherous waters. Don’t rekindle the friendship you had if you have no intention of giving her a fair shot.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he muttered, though as he said it he knew in his core that she was right. The strange thing was that the harder he thought about Allie, the more he wanted to see her. He needed to see for himself.
Hadn’t he admitted to himself that Allie was a catch? The side of him that wondered if he should find someone to spend his life with could see himself with her. That was crazy, wasn’t it? Was he just playing into Pippa’s confession?
His mind turned to when they’d been at the coffee shop yesterday and he’d given her a hug. There had been a strange connection then, too. It was like a spark of electricity had bound them together for just a moment and at the time he’d brushed it off.
“I know that look.” Pippa’s voice dragged him to the present again.
“What look?”
“Don’t do it, Luke. Just don’t.”
“I’m not doing anything.” He attempted to bite back a smile but he failed miserably.
“Luke,” she warned, “seriously.”
He shrugged. “It’s like you said. I’ll call her instead.” He headed out of the kitchen through the door, ignoring her calls. If he’d been blind to Allie all this time, what could it hurt for him to just… notice a little more?
His chest tightened and a thrill shot through him—something he hadn’t expected would ever happen after losing Shellie. Luke stopped short of his car as he stared at the phone that was now in his hand.
What was he thinking? What did this say about him that he’d be so willing to give a relationship a chance when he’d avoided one for so long? He couldn’t visit Allie—and forget about calling her. Everything needed to remain status quo. Even if he took the initiative to see where things might go with her, he’d always wonder if he did so for all the wrong reasons.
Disappointment drowned him for no other reason than because he had really wanted to see her tonight. He’d wanted to experience her sunny outlook and her enthusiasm. He wanted to drink it all in and just spend some time with her.
Now, that all felt wrong.
Luke sighed and shoved the phone back in his pocket. He’d get to see her soon enough when she started to help him with his tree stand. That would have to be soon enough.
