Meant To Be (Coming Home To The Grove 2)

“Elaine?”

“Yeah, the woman that cut my hair. I was telling you about her.”

I don’t remember, but I still nod my head. “Do you want to eat? Or go dance a little bit?” I try my best to distract her from her mission of setting me up, but she’s determined.

The only moment I get to enjoy being with Carrie is when her mom comes over to check on us. But I think it’s so her and Carrie’s dad can get to know me better.

“You should come to dinner tomorrow night,” Suzy says.

“No, Mom. I’m sure he’s busy,” Carrie says.

But I cut in, “Actually, I’d love to join you for dinner tomorrow night. What time should I be there?”

“Six o’clock,” she says instantly, and then Donald is pulling his wife up to leave. “C’mon, Suzy. They don’t want to hang out with us all night. Let’s give them some space.”

Suzy is happy as she walks away, but Carrie doesn’t seem to be.

She’s looking at me with a frown on her face. “You don’t have to come to dinner tomorrow night. You may be a cop, but you haven’t seen harsh interrogation tactics until you’ve spent a meal with my mother,” she says.

“I think I can handle it. Plus, I’d like to have dinner with you. Is that okay?” I ask her because it feels like she doesn’t want me to come.

My defenses are on high alert. I should have just come clean with her and told her I thought this was a real date and not made up the fake date idea. That way if she didn’t want to go out with me, I wouldn’t be getting strung along. Man, I’m getting too old for this.

“Let’s dance.”

And this time, I don’t wait for her to respond. We go to the dance floor, and they’re playing some of the same songs from the other night. They’re all fast paced, but Carrie and I have no trouble keeping up, and it isn’t long before we have people surrounding us, cheering us on.

When the song ends, people cheer, but when the DJ starts playing a slow song, I don’t waste any time in wrapping my arms around Carrie and holding her close.

I’m enjoying having her in my arms when she pulls away. “There’s Beverly. Let’s go over so I can introduce you.”

My head falls in frustration. This again?

I grab her by the hand and start walking toward the exit. “No, you know what? Do you care if we go?” I ask her.

She’s surprised but nods her head, and I waste no time getting her out the door and into my car.16CarrieHe’s mad. That much is clear, but I can’t put a finger on why he’s so upset.

He opened the car door for me and helped me in, but he hasn’t said a word. He keeps starting to say something and then doesn’t finish and tries again.

I’m trying to figure out when I first noticed he was mad so I know what’s bothering him, but I’m really not sure. Finally, I just ask him, “Did I do something to make you mad?”

He takes a deep breath which seems pretty loud in the quiet car. “Carrie, I’m not mad at you. I’m angry with myself. It’s just… I’m too old for this. I like you a lot, and I’m not here for games.”

I notice he’s not driving toward my house, and I’m happy about that. Even with him seeming mad, I still don’t want the night to end. “I like you too, but I already knew we were friends. Why did you think I didn’t?”

Scott pulls off the road into the driveway of a small white house. He turns off the engine and turns in the seat so he’s facing me. “I don’t mean that I like you just as a friend. When you came to me and said I didn’t have to go to the charity ball with you, I should have told you right then that I wanted to go with you. I didn’t say you were coming with me to save you from the blind date. I wanted you to go with me. Saving you from the blind date was just a bonus.”

I lick my lips and swallow hard. I’m nervous. I’ve never been in this situation before. “You don’t have to say this to spare my feelings,” I tell him, letting my fear of rejection steer my words.

Scott gets out of the car and walks around to the passenger side. I can’t take my eyes off him he’s so handsome. He opens the door and turns my legs so I’m sliding out of the seat. He pulls me into an embrace, his arms around me, and he stares at me just for a second before dipping his head and capturing my lips with his.