“I’ll be waiting.”
Darius escorted Peyton to her car. He held her door as she settled behind the steering wheel. “Drive safely.”
Her soft gaze lingered on him. “Good night.”
He watched her drive from the parking lot. His heart had been missing for so long. Now Peyton was making him come to life.
CHAPTER 18
“I’m sorry your team didn’t win the championship.” Darius sat at a table with his half brother, Noah, at Books & Bakery late Saturday morning.
The Sequoia Soldiers had made it to the state championship play-offs but had lost their divisional competition the night before. Darius knew how much Noah had wanted that title—as much as Darius had wanted it when he’d been in high school.
“I appreciate your being there even though I didn’t get the job done.” Disappointment clouded Noah’s midnight eyes, which were identical to Darius’s and Simon’s eyes.
“You played a great game.” Darius cradled his cup of coffee. “I was really proud of you.”
“I don’t know what bothers me more, that I blew my last chance at a championship or that I don’t have any titles and you have two.” Noah frowned at his glass of water and plate of Trinity Falls Fudge Walnut Brownie.
“Football is a team sport.” Darius defended Noah to Noah. “I didn’t win those titles by myself. As long as you can look yourself in the mirror and say you left everything on the field, you can’t blame yourself.”
Noah didn’t seem convinced, but Darius knew the younger man would eventually get the message. “I’d still rather have the title.”
“I know the feeling.” Darius sliced into his brownie.
“Hi, Darius.” Michelle Mosley stopped by their table. Her voice was breathless with obvious nerves. Her wide, tawny eyes flashed from Darius to Noah . . . and stayed there. “I just wanted to check on you to make sure you have everything you need.”
Darius struggled against a smile. Michelle was a sweet girl on the cusp of womanhood. At one point, she’d had an obvious crush on him. It appeared she’d now transferred her interest to his more age-appropriate younger brother. But Noah was looking at Michelle with only a vague expression of polite interest. His mind was probably still on the state play-off loss. The dummy.
Darius smiled at the high school junior who had eyes only for Noah. “We’re fine, Michelle. Thank you.”
Michelle had dyed her hair evergreen for the holiday season. It had been Valentine’s Day red in February, magenta for Easter, and royal blue to celebrate Independence Day in July.
She pulled her attention from Noah’s enjoyment of the brownie and focused on Darius. “OK. Well, let me know if you need anything. I’ll just be right over there at the counter.” She jerked her right thumb over her shoulder toward the front of the bakery.
Darius looked around the café. Doreen was at the cash register. The line of customers was long but moved at a brisk pace. A few diners enjoyed drinks and pastries at the counter. A few more enjoyed each other’s company at the circular, blond-wood tables.
“Thanks, Michelle.” Darius sipped his coffee.
Noah still hadn’t responded. His lights were on, but no one was home. Michelle gave the younger man one last lingering look before returning to the bakery counter. Noah didn’t notice.
Darius considered his clueless younger brother. “So what’s on your mind? You didn’t drive here from Sequoia just to tell me how disappointed you are by your team’s loss.”
“I need some advice.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I’m trying to choose a college.” Noah traced the condensation on his water glass. “I want to go away like you did, be on my own and experience life in a big city. But at the same time, I don’t want to leave Sequoia. I don’t want Mom to be alone.”
Darius swallowed a forkful of his brownie. “Don’t worry about June. She’ll be fine. This decision is about your future.”
“But who’ll look out for her while I’m away?” Noah’s thin, sepia features were stark with concern. “Her whole life has been work and me. She doesn’t have many friends. She’ll be lonely.”
“She has me, Noah. I’m one of her friends.” Darius caught and held his brother’s troubled gaze. “I’ll check on her while you’re at college. You just need to worry about yourself so that later you can take care of your mother.”
“I know you care about Mom. But you have your own life.” Noah stabbed another chunk of brownie. “That history professor is hot. God knows what she sees in you, but you’d be an idiot not to spend some time with her.”
“Um, hi again.” A high-pitched voice interrupted their conversation. Michelle was back. This time she was wielding a carafe of coffee. “Would you like more coffee, Darius?”