Worth the Fall(34)

When the rush of water stopped, she lifted her head and their eyes locked. The air around them thickened with tension so tangible she was surprised everyone there didn’t see it. But right then, in that moment, there was no one else. Just the two of them standing in the sun, as close as they had ever been, and would ever likely be.

Charlie wiggled free and slid to the ground, leaving Matt’s other hand free. He reached up to wipe the wet hair stuck to her cheek. His hand stilled and he cupped her face. It was a lovers’ embrace. Chest-to-chest, his arm snug around her, hers around him. His palm against her cheek, the way he was looking at her so intense she struggled to breathe. Her skin burned at every point their bodies touched, and even places they didn’t. She’d never felt anything like it in her life, and she knew she never would again. The muscles in his face tensed. Did he have the same dire thought?

A joyful squeal, a child’s cry, and the bubble burst, jolting them back to reality. Matt slowly dropped his hand, loosened his arm, and by degrees they separated until they weren’t touching at all.

Jack’s call stole Matt’s attention, and Abby made a quick retreat to Angie, lounging in the shade, looking positively gleeful.

“I’m pretty sure this is a G-rated park,” Angie said.

Abby concentrated on drying herself off. She had no words.

“If you could have sex with your eyes, you two just did it.”

Maybe it hadn’t been invisible to the rest of the world. Had Matt felt it?

“Nothing there, huh?”

Abby froze, the towel halfway down her leg.

“You think he holds his sister like that? You two almost started a fire, and that’s not an easy thing to do in the middle of a water park.”

—

Nets full of fake fish hung from the ceiling of the family-style restaurant attached to the water park. Charlie bounced happily on the green plastic booth seat between Abby and Matt. Angie and Joe sat across from them, backing up to another booth holding the rest of the kids.

“Charlie, sit down,” Abby said, trying to pull the two-year-old into submission. Her son, who was usually such a mama’s boy, leaned away from her and into Matt.

“Come here, crazy man. Let your mom eat.” Matt pulled him into his lap and offered him a tiny bite of chicken from his own plate. Charlie squeezed his eyes shut, but opened his mouth like a baby bird.

Joe took a break from shoveling food into his own mouth. “So, what do you do in the navy, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Naval Special Warfare.”

“Huh.” Joe looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but he didn’t.

Abby doubted Matt would say any more, though she wanted him to. She wanted to know everything about where he went and what he did. Anything that had to do with his life. Why hadn’t she asked more questions?

Matt gave Charlie another bite.

“I was army,” Joe said. “GI bill. Never saw any combat, luckily. Never planned to make a career of it.”

There was a message in there. Whether Joe was trying to warn her or Matt, she didn’t know.

“Not everyone does,” Matt said.

And that’s why she hadn’t asked more questions. There was no point.

“Excuse me,” Abby said. “I need to use the restroom.” With Charlie in his arms, Matt moved to let her out, and she scooted across the booth.

—

From her stall, Abby heard the bathroom door squeak open and knew that Angie had followed her.

“Nice to go to the bathroom alone sometimes, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Abby answered.

“I mean not that it happens to me that often, but I guess it never happens to you. You even have to bring the boys in with you. Doubt they like that too much.”

“Do you have a point?”

“Just saying.”

Abby flushed and joined Angie at the sink. “Saying what exactly?”

“You seem to really like him.”

Abby pumped green soap into her hand.

“I do like him. What’s not to like?” She pulled a paper towel and dried her hands, unsure where Angie was going with this.

“So, you’re not planning to see him again?”

“Of course not. He’s leaving. I’m leaving. Where on earth would we see each other?”

Angie leaned against the wall looking thoughtful. “True. Your horse and buggy would never make it over the impassable mountains.”

Ha-ha. But there were mountains between them, even if her friend couldn’t see them. “You don’t have to make me sound like an idiot.”

“You are an idiot.”

Abby made a face. “What good would it do for me to get all tingly? And I’m not saying I am, but I’d still be alone, except then I’d be alone and missing someone.” No, thanks. She’d spent her entire life missing someone. She wasn’t setting herself up for that again.