Second Chance on the Corner of Main (A Nestled Hollow Romance Book 1)

by Meg Easton

  Whitney laughed, rolled her eyes, and then gave him a pointed look.

  “Oh!” Eli said, feigning innocence. “You wanted me to tell you something you don’t know about me.”

  He raked another section of the leaves into a pile, biting his lip. Then he stood the rake up straight, leaning against it, and he looked so perfect she wished her camera was still around her neck so she could snap a picture. “I’ve got one. So we were best friends for a long time, right?”

  Whitney nodded. “Since a week before junior year.”

  “But we didn’t start dating until four months before the end of our senior year.”

  Whitney nodded again. In truth, she’d been in love with him since the end of her sophomore year— since before they’d even become friends. They’d been in several classes together, and she’d seen the way he interacted with both people he was friends with and the people he was just acquaintances with, watching to see if he acted differently depending on who he was around. He didn’t. He seemed to accept everyone as they were, with no judgement, and always reached out to anyone who was alone. It had been what had drawn her to him the most.

  She’d just been one of his acquaintances back then. It wasn’t until after her dad died, and he came to the lake one day while she was skipping rocks that they became friends. He hadn’t seemed interested in being more than friends, but being friends with Eli Treanor soon became one of the most important things in her life.

  Eli laid down his rake, scooped up an armful of leaves, and dropped them into the box she was filling, crouched down just across the box from her. “I was in love with you from the beginning. From that day at the lake a week before eleventh grade.”

  Whitney’s head whipped up. “You were?”

  Eli grabbed another armful of leaves and dropped them into the box. “I saw the way you drew people in, made them feel a part of something bigger than themselves. You helped them feel like they belonged. People shone around you—they always have. And then that day at the lake, seeing you struggle when you had helped so many others who were struggling and I don’t know. There was something about that moment that made me know I loved you and that I always would.”

  He picked up a few leaves that hadn’t made it into the box. “I could tell that you wanted to keep it at friendship, though. I wanted any kind of relationship with you that you were willing to give, so I never let you know I was in love with you. Then, four months before graduation, things were getting worse with my dad, and for the first time during my parents’ separation, things with my mom got bad. I was pretty bummed, so you took me to the park. Do you remember that?”

  Whitney nodded. “We swung on the swings for what felt like hours, just talking. I had been stressed about end-of-term school projects and preparing for college and graduation coming up— all things that my dad had promised to help me with, and I was feeling the sting of his death all over again. So I unloaded on you.”

  “I think we lifted the weight off each other’s shoulders that night.”

  Whitney let out a quiet laugh. “And then we took those weights and chucked them as far as we could. I hadn’t felt so light and carefree for months. Maybe years.”

  “You said we should watch a make-it-up-as-you-go movie, and you even popped popcorn. You spread a blanket on the grass right in the middle of Snowdrift Springs Park, and we lay on our backs, staring up at the stars, making up our own constellations. And then combining them to tell the story of Petey the one-legged kid who got in a hot air balloon and flew to the land of the bird people, where he dropped fluffy pieces of cotton candy down to them, because he felt bad that they didn’t have any arms when he had two.”

  “And they had to catch the cotton candy in their mouths because they didn’t have any hands to catch it with!” Whitney smiled, remembering the story she hadn’t thought about in so long.

  Eli stood and picked up the rake, raking the last section of leaves into a pile. “And then we threw popcorn up into the air, trying to make it land in the other person’s mouth, like it was cotton candy coming down from the sky.”

  Whitney laughed out loud. “I’m pretty sure I won that challenge.”

  “Only if you consider ‘winning’ as ‘being the person with the most popcorn kernels stuck in their hair by the end.’”

  “Oh, come on. I was the better aim.”

  “As you claimed that night. All I can say is I was still getting popcorn salt out of my eyes for days.”

  Whitney laughed as she scooped up more leaves, and longed for that time when they’d been such great friends.

  “Then there was a moment where you looked at me and I looked at you and I think some actual electricity sparked between us— I know I was practically blinded— and we both went in for a kiss at the same time.”

  “That was a pretty glorious kiss.”

  Eli nodded. “It was. I knew right at that moment that I should probably apologize for the kiss. To say it was a mistake and reaffirm that we were just friends. But when I opened my mouth to say that, ‘Will you go to prom with me?’ came out instead.” He stopped raking and met her eyes. “Do you wish I would’ve just apologized for the kiss instead?”

  She’d thought he wasn’t going to leave for college until the same time she was— at the end of the summer after senior year. In fact, a big part of their plans had them both going to the University of Denver together. She’d been so afraid back then that if they started dating, that it would ruin their friendship. And their friendship was such a huge part of her life that she couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to it. But she’d often wondered if she’d have opened herself to the possibility of dating sooner if she’d have known he’d be gone by the end of graduation night.

  Then of course, if they had started dating sooner, it probably would’ve made everything worse. Coping with him leaving when he’d been both her best friend and her boyfriend of four months was almost too much to bear. Having to deal with him leaving when he’d been her boyfriend for longer might’ve been more than she could handle.

  “I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “It probably would’ve made things easier if you had. Although I do remember a few other knee-buckling kisses we shared. It would’ve been a shame to miss out on those.”

  Eli grinned, and together, they scooped up the last of the leaves and put them into boxes.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Eli couldn’t take his eyes off Whitney as she straightened up, gloved hands on her hips, and looked around. The perfect silhouette against the fall colors, the golden sun making her face radiant, and she just stood there, seemingly oblivious to how beautiful she was. He cursed the eighteen-year-old Eli who had run away from this.

  “We still have four empty boxes. If we don’t fill them all, I doubt we’ll have enough.” She walked over to a maple tree whose branches reached out over the orchard. A breeze came by just then, blowing a sprinkling of leaves onto the ground. She looked up, studying the leaves that clung to the tree in masses. “These all look like they’ll fall by tonight and it’d be more than enough. Where’s a big strong gust of wind when you need it?”

  “Allow me.” Eli backed up to the other end of the clearing, and then took off running as fast as he could in the small area. Just before he reached Whitney, he jumped up and grabbed hold of a branch of the tree. He bounced his weight up and down while hanging from the branch, sending a cascade of leaves sprinkling down on Whitney.

  A laugh burst out of her, echoing off the mountainside as thousands of leaves fluttered all around her. She put her arms out and twirled around in a circle, wonder and excitement coming off her in waves. Eli gave one last bounce on the branch, then let go and dropped to the ground. He joined Whitney, putting his arms around her waist and spinning around with her, leaves falling all around them. As they came to a stop, all the wonder and excitement that she’d been sending out toward the leaves was suddenly focused on him, and heat exploded in his chest.

  Leaving one hand on he
r waist, he reached up and plucked a leaf from her hair, then ran his knuckles lightly down her neck. He looked at the way her deep, richly-colored auburn hair fell in soft curls, barely skimming her shoulders. He’d never seen anyone whose hair color so perfectly complemented her skin color. Especially when she blushed, like she was right now.

  And those eyes! The brilliant green was the perfect contrast to her hair. Those eyes that accepted, that cared about everyone, that showed kindness and grace and a sense of humor. Those eyes studied his, and he felt like no matter what was wrong in his life, gazing into her eyes healed it all.

  Whitney reached out and put a hand on his cheek, resting it there for a moment, before running her fingers down his neck, her hand coming to a rest on his chest, leaving a trail of electricity in its path. Her eyes shifted to his lips for a moment before coming back to his eyes.

  He ran his knuckles along her jaw line, pausing at her chin and reaching out with a single finger to touch her lips. Her lips parted slightly, and he exhaled. He moved his hand to her back, sliding it down to match his other hand on her waist. Just as he was leaning in to her, she closed the distance and their lips met. Her lips were soft against his, moving slowly and carefully. She reached her hand up to his neck, running her fingers through his hair, causing his breath to catch and goose bumps to zing down his spine. He pulled her closer, their bodies touching, and suddenly his hands were cupped on the back of her head, his fingers tangled in her hair, as if he could hold this kiss in his hands. She pulled his head closer, and her kiss became fiercer, like she needed it as much as he did.

  After a moment that seemed timeless yet over too soon, they broke the kiss and stood, foreheads touching, breathing in the same air.

  Why had he been in such a hurry to leave all those years ago? He couldn’t think of a single reason why just then. “I think I know now what’s been missing from my life for the past twelve years.”

  Whitney let out a soft laugh as she ran her fingertips along his neck. “When I said our first kiss was glorious— well, let’s just say that it had nothing on that one.”

  Eli walked into the chapel and glanced around, looking for the deep auburn of Whitney’s hair. They hadn’t planned to meet for church, but she was the type of person who went to church every week, so he figured he’d see her here. After yesterday in the mountains, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. And he definitely couldn’t go all day without seeing her.

  “Eli!”

  He turned when he heard his name, and saw his mother walking toward him, her arms outstretched. As she neared, he reached out and gave her a hug. “What are you doing here, Mom? Is Dad home alone? Is it okay to leave him this soon?”

  “It’s been ten days since the surgery, and your father is doing pretty well. He said he could handle things on his own for a couple of hours so I could come get refueled.” She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, while patting her handbag, “I’ve got my cell phone in here, set to silent. I told him to text me if he has any issues, and I’ll rush home, quick as a fox, to help him.” She glanced around the rows and rows of pews. “Look! There’s a couple of spots open next to Margie. Oh, it’ll be so great to have my son next to me at church once again.”

  Eli spotted Whitney just then— of course, in the middle of a pew, surrounded by people. She turned his direction, meeting his eyes, and her face lit up. He gestured to his mom, who was walking up the aisle ahead of him, and gave an “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t say no” shrug. She brought her hands together and gave an exaggerated “Aww, that’s so cute!” face. Then she winked. He thought she was about to turn back to face the front, but at the last second, hesitated, her eyes still on his, and he could tell that she was thinking of their kiss. “See you after?” he mouthed. She smiled, gave a slight nod, and turned around.

  Eli sat on the bench next to his mom, who had a smile spread from ear to ear. She re-introduced him to Margie, an older woman who looked exactly how Eli had remembered her— a face filled with the wrinkles you can only get from smiling at everyone you see, patting them on the cheek, and telling them how grown up they’re looking. Margie smiled and reached across his mom and patted his knee. “It’s so great to see you again, Eli. My, you’ve grown into a handsome man.”

  He smiled back. It was nice to know that some things stayed exactly the same.

  When the gray-haired pastor from Eli’s youth got up to deliver his sermon, Eli’s mind had still been on Whitney. But the more the pastor spoke, the more he tuned in. The sermon was on forgiveness, and he was telling the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He told of how the son took his inheritance and went away, spending it all, until a famine came into the land, and he had nothing. Then he returned home. “And in verse twenty, we read ‘And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.’”

  Suddenly, Eli felt awkward sitting next to his mother. Is that how they saw him, as the prodigal son returned? He had left with nothing at all from his parents. It had been his choice to leave, true, but he’d always felt he was pushed away. That his parents especially had been the ones doing the pushing, and a part of him had been angry at them for it. That they should be seeking his forgiveness, since he was the one who was wronged. But now, hearing the pastor speak, he wondered what things had been like from their point of view.

  “How much of our energy is consumed by holding grudges, not letting go of feelings of anger, nursing old wounds, or remaining bitter? Forgiving others is not only vital to healthy relationships with others, but it’s also vital to our own peace and growth as an individual.”

  How much had Eli been doing just that? How much had his not forgiving held him back over the years? Maybe he could get all this figured out, and things would really work out between Whitney and him. When he walked out onto the lawn for the luncheon after church was over, and saw Whitney, talking to a group of people, her face lit up in happiness, he was sure that maybe things really could work out.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Whitney went from one group to another on the lawn of the church, saying hello to everyone. When someone hugged her from behind, wrapping her shoulders in a hug so enthusiastic it could only be one person, Whitney spun around and said to her friend Brooke, “You’re back! How was L.A.?”

  “Look at that,” Brooke said. “You actually remember where your best friend went if you text her while she’s gone. How is your hot man, anyway?”

  Whitney looked around the crowd, searching for him. He stood next to his mom and a few other ladies in town. He met her gaze and smiled.

  Brooke whirled around to face Whitney and gasped. “You kissed!”

  Whitney shushed her friend. “We don’t need to announce it to the entire congregation. And how can you always guess these things?”

  Brooke lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s a gift. It also comes in handy when talking to a legendary designer at a swanky party in L.A.”

  “Did he agree to look at your portfolio?”

  “He did.”

  “This is huge! I can’t believe you didn’t lead with that!”

  “Honey, it’s not nearly as huge as you actually dating again. And to top it off, kissing him.” Brooke turned back in Eli’s direction. Her words sounded normal for Brooke, but something about her was off.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” Whitney asked. “Did he agree to recommend you to some of his connections?”

  Brooke lifted one shoulder in a shrug, and then shook her head. “Showing him my portfolio didn’t actually go so well. There was a mix-up with his assistant, and then a miscommunication that turned out rather embarrassing for both of us, and,” she winced, “a slight case of food poisoning that turned out pretty unfortunate.”

  “Oh, Brooke, I’m so sorry.”

  “So the only thing he was likely to pass along to his connections is a message blacklisting me.”

  Whitney hugged her frien
d tightly and said the words Brooke had said to her whenever she was feeling down. “It’ll work out.”

  Brooke sniffed a few times, and then gave Whitney a tighter squeeze. “Things always do.” She wiped away a tear, and then smiled.

  “Do you want to go somewhere and talk?”

  Brooke shook her head. “I’ve always said your hugs have magical healing powers—I’m feeling better already.”

  Whitney studied her for a moment, trying to see if Brooke was really okay, wishing she had Brooke’s ability to know exactly how someone was feeling. And her ability to bounce back from disappointments.

  “I’m fine,” Brooke said. “Or at least I will be soon. Life has ups and downs and I just got to check one of the downs off my list. I’m fairly certain that means something good is in my near future.” She nodded toward where Eli stood. “And speaking of goodness, Eli sure looks mighty fine in a suit. Didn’t I say he would look mighty fine in a suit?”

  Whitney kept her eyes on her friend for a few more moments, and then decided that either she was actually okay, or she didn’t want to dwell on it. She would have to stop by the bakery and then take some late night cookies over to her apartment later to see how she was really doing.

  Her gaze joined Brooke’s, back to Eli, who was definitely looking mighty fine. His gray suit must’ve been tailored, because it fit his athletic body perfectly, showing off his strong shoulders and lean build. His curls were perfectly tamed for church, and his blue tie made his eyes stand out, even from this distance. He was talking with a group of his mother’s friends, and just like when he was younger, everyone’s attention was riveted to him, laughing, and having a good time. He didn’t even seem to realize how adorable he was, and how much people were naturally drawn to him.