Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter

Author:Denise Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2016-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

Paige rewound the conversation she’d just walked in on, trying to make it work any other way than the way it sounded.

Ready to move on . . . need a change . . . see what Georgia has to offer.

The terrible dread that had begun blooming inside her spread like a toxic gas. An awful and familiar feeling washed over her, making her sway a little.

“Hey.” Riley turned back to the dishes. “Thought you were going to the store.”

And that he’d sneak in his phone call while she was gone? His casual tone wasn’t fooling her for one minute.

“I forgot my list.” She snatched it off the table. “What was that about, Riley?”

He finished wiping the dish, ran it under the faucet, then turned the water off. Just when she thought he was going to ignore her, he dried his hands and turned around, meeting her eyes.

He gave her a strained smile. “I was meaning to talk to you.”

“Were you?” She crossed her arms. Her mind charged back to the day she found out he’d enlisted. After the fact, and not even from him.

“Look, Paige. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. This has been a big adjustment, and you’ve been there for me every step of the way. I’m grateful.”

His words, his tone, were heavy with the weight of good-bye.

“I don’t want your gratitude.” She wanted his love. But she couldn’t say that. Hadn’t she done enough? It was probably the kiss that was driving him away. Had to be. The thought sent warmth flooding into her cheeks.

“I just feel like . . . I need a fresh start, you know? Everything has changed so much. It’s too hard to be here in Summer Harbor with all the memories when I can’t do what I love.”

“I don’t see why you can’t. You’re getting around really well.”

“Walking and lobstering are two different things. It’s hard work—tough enough for an able-bodied person.”

“So you’re just leaving. Again.” Leaving his family. Leaving her. She should be used to it by now. But she supposed being abandoned never became old hat. Her eyes burned.

“Don’t take it personally.”

“How can I not take it personally? You’re leaving me again, just like before.”

“Paige—”

“You didn’t even talk to me about enlisting! You just did it. And you know how I found out, Riley? Beau told me. You didn’t even have the decency to tell me yourself.”

He blinked. “You’re mad at me for enlisting?”

“You left me! And you’re leaving again. Everybody leaves me, so why should you be any different?”

“Come on, Paige . . .”

“You come on! You already left once, and by some miracle of God you survived that awful explosion. Do you have any idea what we went through, waiting to hear?”

“I’m sorry. It’s not like I got wounded on purpose.”

“No, but you’re choosing to leave again. Now, when you need us more than ever.” When she needed him more than ever. “Maybe your body’s healing, but you can’t tell me your mind is keeping pace. I hear you at night.

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