Van let out a lungful of air. “You drink most nights.”
“Yeah, to take off the edge. Maybe if he upped my dose I wouldn’t need to.” Kim shook her head as Van pulled away and drove toward home. “I told him it’s just temporary. To get me over losing Craig. And then he started talking about therapy.” She huffed. “Like I need therapy.”
“Everybody could benefit from therapy,” Van murmured, her knuckles tight as she turned the wheel.
“I’m not crazy. I’ve just been left by my husband.” Kim leaned her chin on her hand, staring out of the passenger window. The air was rushing through the gap at the top. “I don’t know why I bother.”
“Because you want to feel better?” Van suggested.
“Yeah. Well now I feel worse.” Kim slumped down. “I think I’ll go to bed when we get home. I’m exhausted.”
“You do that,” Van said, her teeth clenched as she pulled the car into the driveway and put it in park.
Two steps forward and one back. At least her mom had gotten dressed today. But the way she swung between moods made Van feel distinctly uneasy. In so many ways, it felt like she was eighteen again.
Her mom was drinking and volatile, the same way she’d been before she got pregnant with Zoe.
And then there was Tanner.
He was gorgeous, unforgettable, and made her heart skip way too many beats.
She was almost certain she was going to take the job at the drive-in.
And it felt like Van’s world was tipping on the edge, out of reach no matter how hard she tried to hold onto it. If she’d let herself think about it for too long, she’d be scared to death.
As soon as he saw her his body tensed up. Not in a bad way, just a ‘damn, I’m a goner, and I really don’t want her to know it’ fashion. Van was walking toward him, her golden hair rippling in waves as the afternoon sun hit it, her bare legs tan and lithe from all the running she did. She was wearing a dark blue dress, belted at her slim waist, a few buttons at the top unfastened so he could see the dip between her neck and her chest.
“I got you a latte,” he said, passing her a takeout cup. “I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s perfect.” She smiled at him, her red painted lips curling up. “Thank you.” She lifted it to her mouth, closing her eyes for a moment as she took a sip, then let out a long, deep sigh. “Oh, you don’t know how much I needed this,” she said, looking up at him through her dark lashes.
He swallowed hard, even though his coffee remained untouched. Did she know what she sounded like when she sighed?
Like sex.
Shut up.
Was his mind really arguing with itself right now?
“Bad day?” he asked, as they walked out of the square and crossed the road. One of his aunt’s friends was scrubbing the steps of the First Baptist Church. He lifted a hand in greeting, and she waved back.
“Something like that.” She inhaled deeply. “But I’m feeling better now. Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.” He shrugged. “But I’ll take your gratitude anyway. “ He winked. “If you’ll take my job.”
“Okay.”
He blinked. Her sudden acceptance shocked him. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I need a job if I’m staying around a while.”
“I had this whole speech memorized.” He grinned at her. “I was prepared to beg you. I’m kinda disappointed now.”
She pouted. “So am I. You want to do it anyway?”
He laughed. “Nope. Not when you’re such a pushover.”
“Shut up. And I haven’t told you my terms yet.” Her voice was almost cocky. He loved confident Van.