Alesha laughed quietly and dropped her eyes to the phone. “I just hope he’ll be there to see her or him.”
“Me too, honey.” I quirked my lips, unable to add anything else to comfort her. It was hard to admit—but it was one situation I had absolutely no control over.
All I could do was be there for my baby sister and her new little one.
When I turned onto our street, I spotted Nick’s truck parked in front of my house. Alesha saw it too. “Nick’s here?”
“I guess…”
I pulled into the drive and when the headlights hit the front of the house, I saw him sitting in one of the wooden chairs on the front porch.
“Good luck with that,” Alesha said before hopping out of the car. She went up the steps, said hello to Nick in passing, and went inside.
“Hey,” I said, taking the steps slowly. Nick stood from the chair. “I called but no answer.”
I patted my pockets, searching for the familiar lump that was usually there twenty-four-seven. “Sorry, Alesha and I went out. I must have left it here.”
Nick tipped his chin to acknowledge me. “You two okay?”
I gave him a small smile as I nodded. “Yeah, really good actually. We just went out to get some ice cream.”
“That’s great, Carly. I’m happy you guys pulled it together before she left. I know that was important to you.”
Carly. I’d become so used to his flirtatious nicknames that for him to call me by my proper name felt odd. Stilted.
What the hell was wrong with me? Nick was everything I could want in a man. And yet, I insisted on pushing him away as soon as he tried to get close.
I sucked.
Big time.
Nick stood a few feet away and I wanted to go to him, to run my hands up the soft fabric of his faded t-shirt and let my fingers explore the ridges of the muscles I knew so well. To feel his heart beating against my palm. To tease him and make him smile at me.
I couldn’t do it, though. I was frozen by the sad, faraway look in his eyes.
Instead, I pocketed my hands and bobbed my head. “How about you? How’s the plane?”
“Running like it’s better than brand new,” he replied, giving me a half grin.
A rush of relief spread through me at the slight change in his expression. “That’s amazing! Congratulations.”
Nick nodded. “Thanks. Just under the wire but it’s done and it feels pretty damn good.”
“I’ll bet.” I went stiff as the weight of his news sank in. If the F-4 was finished that meant that the job was finished too. He was here to tell me he was leaving Holiday Cove.
My stomach flip-flopped at the thought.
“So, does that mean I need to order an extra-large apron?” I teased, recalling the joke that he could come work in The Siren if Aaron kicked him to the curb. I knew he’d never take me up on it and truthfully, I couldn’t afford to keep him on staff. I didn’t know how much money he made, it wasn’t my place to ask, but I figured it was easily double what I could afford to pay him.
“Tempting.” Nick gave a half-grin. “But actually, it looks like I’ll be sticking around at the museum for a while. After we finished the last test flight, Aaron took me out for a couple of beers and offered me a full time, permanent position. He’s going to be expanding into a second location. He won’t have time to do any more of the mechanic work himself. He’ll be too busy filling up the new place and launching the sister museum.”
“Oh? Wow. I had no idea.” It surprised me that Aaron hadn’t mentioned it to me in any of his recent visits to the shop. Then again, we’d never really talked business all that much beyond the occasional “how’s it going,” and I hadn’t even seen Gemma for a couple of weeks. “Double congratulations then!”
Nick’s smile widened but faded all too quickly. “Thank you.”
“It’s good news, isn’t it? I mean, that’s what you want? Is to stay?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I held my breath, waiting for the answer. The dark look in Nick’s eyes had me unsettled and unsure of the answer that I would have bet money on a week ago. A day ago.
Before I’d fucked everything up.
“I want to stay here, Carly. I love my job, the museum, this town.” His eyes searched mine. “Being with you.”
I nodded, a prick of tears stinging my eyes. “I want you to stay, too.”
“You do? Cause this morning, it felt like you couldn’t wait to get away from me.”
My gaze plummeted to the wooden planks of the deck, illuminated by the soft yellow glow of the porch light off to the side of the front door. “I’m sorry, Nick.”