“I understood.”
> He cleared his throat. “Well… hopefully, you’ll have fun with what I have planned. Are you up for it?”
“I think so.” She leaned forward to look outside the window. “Albert’s Deli?”
Seth pulled the truck over to park. “I thought we could take a walk down memory lane.”
Leah stared at the neon sign and grinned. “Let’s go.”
Upon entry, the doorbell chimed. The line of customers was short, so she and Seth walked to claim a spot. A few people occupied small tables and chairs, while some gathered at the eating counter with stools along the front window. Leah heard the chatting of friends, crackly wax paper, and the ding of the cash register.
As they approached the counter, her eyes spotted an expansive case filled with cured meats. Her mouth watered at the sight of pepperoni, turkey, and smoked chicken. Sandwich fixings followed such as lettuce, several kinds of cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes, olives, and hot peppers. A fridge and cooler sat behind the counter, along with deli slicers, trays of baguettes, and fresh sandwich bread.
Albert’s eyes shined at the sight of her, with the corners of his eyes crinkling. His thick eyebrows raised at their arrival. The fluorescent light above gave a glow to his bald dark brown head. To be in his early sixties, his bulky build showed he kept in shape. “Well, well, look at you coming to visit me today.”
Leah waved. “I see you around town and at church.”
Albert shook his head. “But I enjoy seeing you here, at least more than once.” His eyes shifted to Seth. “Seeing you two here brings back memories.”
Seth folded his arms as his eyes perused the menu above. “I think the lady still prefers your turkey club sandwich. I’ll have the same.” He nudged Leah’s shoulder. “Am I right?”
“You remembered?”
“Some things I do.” A corner of his mouth quirked up.
Celeste came from the back with her hands full of chips to restock the rack. Her eyes lit when she saw Seth, and Leah tilted her head noticing the woman’s eyes gleam. When Celeste’s eyes met Leah’s, she scanned between her and Seth. Her shoulders drooped, and she returned to the kitchen. Albert used his gloved hands to prepare their orders. Seth shifted from one foot to another as Leah eyed him.
“You’ve changed,” she said.
“How so?”
She gave a half shrug. “Just not the same boy I knew in high school.”
“You look the same. Beautiful as always.”
Her lips parted. “Always the smooth talker.”
Seth let out a deep breath. “I think I used it to impress you.”
She cocked her head toward him.
“I guess when you play sports, the stereotype of that’s all you know can grate on you. No one really took me seriously, thinking all I knew was how to throw a football.” He faced her. “You made me feel like I could do anything.”
She swallowed. Her heart fluttered. “You never told me that.”
“You believed in me, Leah. I’ll never forget that.”
“Pickup 22,” Albert announced.
Leah blinked. What did she say to Seth? “I think that’s our order.” She pivoted to find a table while he retrieved their food. She settled into a chair still taken aback by Seth’s admission.
“Here we go,” he said, placing a plastic food tray on the table.
Leah reached for her sandwich, only to graze Seth’s hand. His eyes stared, but she resumed arranging the food on their small table.
Seth relaxed in his chair across from her. “Something wrong? You look a little…”
Her eyebrows shot up. “What?”