Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Eli

I'm showered and out the door in less than twenty minutes, throwing a ball cap over my still-wet hair and saying goodbye to my parents and sister. Hopping in my truck, I turn up the radio, thumbing along to the beat as I head on the freeway toward Mason Creek.

I decide to send her a text, letting her know I'm almost there as I pull off the freeway since I've taken a little longer than a half hour. When I pull up, I'm surprised to see her out front on a porch swing. I put the truck in park, leaving it running as I exit, walking around to where she is.

As I get around the truck, I stop in my tracks, taking in the absolute beauty that stands before me. Earlier today, I thought she was pretty with her hair pulled back and her workout clothes on, but now, seeing her all dolled up like this, I realize just how absolutely gorgeous she truly is.

Her slight giggle snaps me out of my stupor, making me afraid she's doing so because she caught me dumbfounded, just staring at her in awe.

"You clean up well." I try to play it off like I wasn't just caught off guard.

"So do you, handsome," she responds, making my heart do a little dance that I've never felt before.

I take a deep breath, glad that I can turn away to compose myself as I walk to the passenger side of the truck and open it for her, motioning for her to hop in.

"Thank you." She gives me another smile, and I swear it hits me the same as the last one.

I close the door and head to my side, taking another deep breath as I open it up and slide in.

As I reach for my seat belt, I ask, "So, what sounds good to you?"

She shrugs. "I barely know this town, so you'll have to decide."

"Wren's it is!" I respond a little too happily, making her chuckle under her breath.

"I take it, you like that place?"

"Love it. Been going since I was a little kid. There's nothing special about it, just simple, good food."

"Sounds good to me."

I put the truck in drive and make my way out of where she lives and onto the main road through town. Mason Creek is similar to Leighton River in some ways with its small-town vibe. The only difference is they have stayed this way.

With TimeLand moving to Leighton River, things are slowly getting replaced and built bigger while Mason Creek still holds its same charm from the 1950s.

We park on the street, and both exit the truck at the same time, then head toward the diner entrance.

I open the door for her. "After you."

She grins my way, and, yes, I shamelessly check out her ass as she walks by. I cannot help myself.

I enter after her and approach the woman standing at the counter.

"Two?" she asks, and I nod. "Go ahead and sit right there, and I'll be right over."

She motions with her head toward a booth along the front window, so I guide us both there, placing my hand on the small of Liza's back, purposefully not looking around so I don't catch eyes with anyone I know. Odds are, someone is here from Leighton River, and I'm not in the mood to talk to someone my parents know more than me.

She takes a seat, and I sit opposite of her in the booth, making sure my long legs don't hit hers or I don't accidentally step on her feet as I do so. Being tall definitely has its advantages, but don't think for a second there aren't disadvantages too. Sitting in a booth is a disadvantage, for sure.

No matter how careful I am trying to be, I still end up stepping on her toes. "I'm sorry," I say.

She laughs slightly. "It's okay, I can imagine it's hard to get your legs in here. How tall are you?"

"Six-five," I respond.

Her eyes open wide, and then she looks under the table to see my knees pressed against the top of the table. "Wow, yeah, here." She slides to the side just enough so I can put my legs more in front of me.

I do so and instantly feel her leg brush against mine. Even though I have jeans on and she does, too, this little touch feels oddly comforting. I don't bother moving it, and thankfully, neither does she.

"Thanks." I smile just as Lucy, the waitress, approaches us.

"Hey, Eli. What can I get you tonight?" the waitress asks.

Liza instantly laughs. "You do come here often, don't you?"

Lucy places her hand on my back. "I've watched this not-so-little guy grow up." She leans in to say in a softer tone to Liza. "And I swear it's all the cheeseburgers he's eaten here over the years that made him this big."

I let out a loud laugh, thinking she's not wrong in her thoughts, and I introduce her to Liza. "Lucy, this is Liza. She just moved here, and this is her first time at Wren's, so she'll need a menu."

"Oh, well, hello and welcome to Mason Creek. Let me get that for you." Lucy walks away, then comes back and hands Liza a menu. "I'll get you both some water, and then I'll come back to take your order."

I nod to Lucy as Liza looks over the menu.

"So, I take it, the cheeseburgers are good, but anything else you'd recommend?"

"My mom gets their salads, but that's not really my thing, so I can't vouch for how good they are. Their French dip sandwich is good. The grown-up grilled cheese is too."

"Grown-up grilled cheese?" she asks with a laugh.

"Yep. It's got bacon and gouda cheese with a garlic aioli."

She raises her eyebrows in surprise. "Fancy …"

I chuckle. "Yeah, but that's about as fancy as they get here, so don't get your hopes up."

She puts down the menu with a sense of finality. "I'll just do the same as you and get a cheeseburger. You can never go wrong on those."

I grin at her choice. "Especially here. You'll like it."

Lucy comes back and takes our order, then leaves us to get to know one another.

"So, you said your aunt and uncle live here? Who are they?"

"Fred and Heidi Samson. Do you know them?"

I shake my head. "Nah, I don't know a ton of people from Mason Creek though."

"I'm sure you've heard of my cousin, Justine's husband … Tucker Simms?"

I squint my eyes. "That's the musician, right? Had a big hit on the radio and now writes songs?"

"That's him."

I nod my head in recognition. "Yeah, I train at his son's hitting facility sometimes."

"Yes, Matthew. I've heard of him, but I haven't met him yet."

I smirk in her direction. "See, everyone is tied some way or another in these parts. Be careful because everyone knows your business, sometimes even before you do."

"Good to know." She laughs, then tilts her head playfully. "So, what kind of dirt could I find on you if I asked around?"

A few seconds go by, and she raises her eyebrows in question since I've been sitting here, contemplating in my head if I should tell her who my dad is, but not saying anything out loud.

She purses her lips. "Your silence is either very telling, proving that you do have something to tell me, or your life is so boring that you have no secrets."

"Why would having no secrets be boring?" I chuckle.

She raises her shoulders slightly with a smirk of her own. "Everyone has secrets. Just some are juicier than others."

I place my hands on the table and lean closer to her to playfully ask, "Should I be asking you this question? No one knows you here, so your secrets might be harder to fish out of you."

She laughs out loud. "Exactly. Why do you think I'm here? A fresh start was definitely overdue."

I lean back in the booth, raising my arm to rest on the back of it, nodding my head very slowly. "Interesting. How about you don't tell me your secret—yet," I say matter-of-factly, hoping there is a future for us and maybe we'll spill each other's secrets eventually, "and you don't make me tell you mine?"

She leans back and follows my mannerisms, which makes me hold back a laugh at how over the top she tries. It's absolutely adorable.

"I think you've got yourself a deal," she says in a deeper voice.

I can't help the loud laugh that escapes my lips just as our food arrives.

"Nothing better than the sound of a heartfelt laugh," Lucy says as she sets down our plates.

"I couldn't agree more," I respond, smiling at her, then at Liza.

"You two enjoy." Lucy pats my back, then turns to leave us.

She's right too. Not many people can make me laugh like that. I felt that Liza would be different when I first met her, but now, I'm feeling like she really is.

"Looks good, doesn't it?" I nod my head toward her plate.

She smiles big at me, not noticing her food yet. "Yeah, it really does."

I feel my face flush, knowing she's talking about me rather than the plate in front of her. I've never had a girl make me blush. This is definitely a first and one I'm hoping turns into a second and a third.