never the same again.” His tone sent a chill through me.
“What do you mean?”
“The one who’s left behind transforms. The mark of mourning remains for the rest of their lives.”
I was bewildered by his ominous explanation, but I was also starting to get a sense of what was troubling Lad about me. “So… you’re afraid of making the wrong choice. That if you get involved with me, it’ll be a mistake you can never take back?”
“No.” He laughed softly. “Not exactly. It’s… complicated. Besides, it would certainly be a mistake—for you.”
I was hopelessly confused. What he was describing was impossible, wasn’t it? A permanent mark due to… a broken heart? And even more puzzling, Lad seemed to be declaring deep feelings for me, for me , as if that made perfect sense. Sure, why not?
Beautiful Adonis-like male, stunning green eyes, wavy golden hair, flawless teeth. Athletic, outdoors-type, well-read and velvet-voiced, seeks: Average-looking, dating-challenged girl for irrevocable lifetime commitment.
Again, I had to fight the suspicion I’d dreamed up the whole thing. I was struggling to comprehend how being with Lad, the most amazing person I’d ever met, could possibly be a mistake.
“Why don’t you let me decide what is and isn’t a mistake for me. Can’t we just spend time together and see where it goes?” I asked.
He shook his head, sadness filling his pretty green eyes. “Sweet Ryann. It’s not that simple. You don’t know.”
I balled my hands in frustration. “Because you won’t explain anything.”
“Yes. And it’s impossible for you to decide what’s right for yourself without knowing the truth. And yet, I’m not allowed to reveal it. So… I’ve made a decision for us both.”
I didn’t like where this was going.
Lad searched the ground and then the trees around us, talking to the woods instead of looking at me. “I’ve tried keeping my distance from you and failed. As long as we live so near to each other, I’m sure I’ll continue to be unsuccessful at staying away from you. So there’s only one solution.” He set his jaw, finally looking at me, and resumed his pronouncement. “We can see each other, but we can never kiss again, or do anything beyond the realm of friendship.”
Wonderful . I was back to being the just-friends girl. Best Buds with the most appealing male on the planet. Not my idea of a great solution. However, I had thought Lad was going to say we could never see each other again at all. I decided to feign agreement while I regrouped and figured out how to deal with this.
“Okay.”
He seemed surprised at my lack of argument. “Okay?”
“Okay,” I repeated. “We’ll start over—no kissing. Just friends.” I kept my voice light, pleasant, determined to hide my dismay.
“All right… friends then.” Lad’s wary expression gave way to belief and then resignation. He nodded and stood, offering me a hand down from the big rock. He thought his powers of reason had persuaded me.
Now I had to come up with some way to show him how wrong he was.
Chapter Eleven
Smooth Ride
When Mom got home from work that night, I was in the kitchen, brewing tea for my first delivery to The Skillet and stewing over the way my meeting with Lad had ended. Her bright chatter was a pleasant distraction. She told me all about her first day on the job, and I roped her into being my taste-tester.
She took a swallow from one of the glasses lined up before her on the table. “Ryann, this is so good, but my hips and thighs are begging for mercy. I already have ten extra pounds of un-tanned cellulite. I don’t need any more.”
“Please. Don’t give me that.” I shot her a look. “And don’t let any of your friends hear you talk like that, or they’ll want to slap you silly. You look about ten years younger and twenty pounds lighter than any of the other moms.” It was true, though she’d been dying her hair for at least a decade, thanks
“What do you mean?”
“The one who’s left behind transforms. The mark of mourning remains for the rest of their lives.”
I was bewildered by his ominous explanation, but I was also starting to get a sense of what was troubling Lad about me. “So… you’re afraid of making the wrong choice. That if you get involved with me, it’ll be a mistake you can never take back?”
“No.” He laughed softly. “Not exactly. It’s… complicated. Besides, it would certainly be a mistake—for you.”
I was hopelessly confused. What he was describing was impossible, wasn’t it? A permanent mark due to… a broken heart? And even more puzzling, Lad seemed to be declaring deep feelings for me, for me , as if that made perfect sense. Sure, why not?
Beautiful Adonis-like male, stunning green eyes, wavy golden hair, flawless teeth. Athletic, outdoors-type, well-read and velvet-voiced, seeks: Average-looking, dating-challenged girl for irrevocable lifetime commitment.
Again, I had to fight the suspicion I’d dreamed up the whole thing. I was struggling to comprehend how being with Lad, the most amazing person I’d ever met, could possibly be a mistake.
“Why don’t you let me decide what is and isn’t a mistake for me. Can’t we just spend time together and see where it goes?” I asked.
He shook his head, sadness filling his pretty green eyes. “Sweet Ryann. It’s not that simple. You don’t know.”
I balled my hands in frustration. “Because you won’t explain anything.”
“Yes. And it’s impossible for you to decide what’s right for yourself without knowing the truth. And yet, I’m not allowed to reveal it. So… I’ve made a decision for us both.”
I didn’t like where this was going.
Lad searched the ground and then the trees around us, talking to the woods instead of looking at me. “I’ve tried keeping my distance from you and failed. As long as we live so near to each other, I’m sure I’ll continue to be unsuccessful at staying away from you. So there’s only one solution.” He set his jaw, finally looking at me, and resumed his pronouncement. “We can see each other, but we can never kiss again, or do anything beyond the realm of friendship.”
Wonderful . I was back to being the just-friends girl. Best Buds with the most appealing male on the planet. Not my idea of a great solution. However, I had thought Lad was going to say we could never see each other again at all. I decided to feign agreement while I regrouped and figured out how to deal with this.
“Okay.”
He seemed surprised at my lack of argument. “Okay?”
“Okay,” I repeated. “We’ll start over—no kissing. Just friends.” I kept my voice light, pleasant, determined to hide my dismay.
“All right… friends then.” Lad’s wary expression gave way to belief and then resignation. He nodded and stood, offering me a hand down from the big rock. He thought his powers of reason had persuaded me.
Now I had to come up with some way to show him how wrong he was.
Chapter Eleven
Smooth Ride
When Mom got home from work that night, I was in the kitchen, brewing tea for my first delivery to The Skillet and stewing over the way my meeting with Lad had ended. Her bright chatter was a pleasant distraction. She told me all about her first day on the job, and I roped her into being my taste-tester.
She took a swallow from one of the glasses lined up before her on the table. “Ryann, this is so good, but my hips and thighs are begging for mercy. I already have ten extra pounds of un-tanned cellulite. I don’t need any more.”
“Please. Don’t give me that.” I shot her a look. “And don’t let any of your friends hear you talk like that, or they’ll want to slap you silly. You look about ten years younger and twenty pounds lighter than any of the other moms.” It was true, though she’d been dying her hair for at least a decade, thanks
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