“Don’t worry. Lance will do all the work. It will be fun. Just don’t ask him any questions about it, or you’ll never hear the end of the lectures on how to sail.”
CARTER WAS RIGHT. RUTH had an amazing time on the lake. It was a brisk, sunny day—still fairly warm for late November. She wore a sweater, and there were blankets on board, so she was perfectly comfortable.
Lance’s sailboat was bigger than she’d expected. She had no idea how he made the thing go, and she forgot Carter had warned her about asking Lance questions about it. He seemed so pleased about her interest and so patient in showing her how the lines and sails worked that she didn’t even mind the long explanation.
She’d always liked when people were enthusiastic about the things they loved.
Savannah was funny and cheerful, and Carter obviously enjoyed hanging out with his friends. They felt like Ruth’s friends too. She reveled in the community.
Every once in a while a little thought would pierce through her enjoyment, reminding her that this wasn’t real and wouldn’t last, but she managed to push the thoughts back into a dark corner of her mind.
They were for another day. Not today. Today she was allowed to have fun.
They drank beer and ate snacks. After a while, Carter came to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her and letting her recline against him. They stayed like that for a long time, chatting with Lance and Savannah, enjoying the sun, air, and water.
Ruth wouldn’t have minded if they stayed until nightfall, but it was just after four when Lance took them back to the marina at the country club.
She thanked Lance and Savannah, and they said their goodbyes before Ruth walked with Carter back to his car. “That was fun,” she said, smiling up at him as they stood next to the passenger-side door.
“Yeah. It was.” He reached out and smoothed some of her windblown hair behind her ear.
The simple, intimate gesture made her pulse throb. “Don’t you have a boat? It seems like all the rich folks in Green Valley do.”
“We had a couple of them. My dad did. But we never went out. They were just status symbols or something. It was stupid to have them when we didn’t use them. So I convinced Mom to sell the boats after Dad died. I did learn to sail when I was younger, but I never got into it the way Lance has. I’m not sure why.” He paused before adding, “Why? Did you like it that much? Did you want to learn—?”
“Oh no! I didn’t mean that. I’d never have pressured you into getting a boat and taking me out. I was just wondering, since it’s a big Green Valley thing to do, and you’re like the prince of Green Valley.”
“I’m not a prince.”
“I said you were like a prince.” She gave him a little poke. “Don’t get huffy.”
“I’m not huffy.” He was frowning at her now, but there was a smile in his eyes.
“You’re a little bit huffy. For some reason you don’t like me to call you a prince. Most guys would like that.”
“Would they? I don’t know why. Who wants to be a flimsy fantasy that doesn’t hold up instead of a real person that... that...?”
“That what?” She was so caught up in what he was saying that she leaned into his words.
He glanced away. “That someone might really love.”
“People love you, Carter. So many people love you. You know that, right?”
“Yeah. I know that.” He must have read her impatient expression because he added, “I’m serious. I know a lot of people love me. I’m really lucky in that regard. I’m not complaining. Just trying to explain why I don’t much want to be a prince.”
“I get it. I’d probably be the same way. Although no one has ever mistaken me for a princess.”
“I don’t know. You’d be a pretty good princess, although you might need to learn to not say everything that comes into your head quite so much since diplomacy is part of a princess’s duty.”
Her mouth dropped open when she realized he was teasing her, and she gave him a playful little shove.
He laughed and swung her into a brief hug. “So it’s just as well you’re not a princess. It wouldn’t be much fun if you held your tongue.”
She hugged him back, pulling away after a few seconds instead of extending the embrace the way she wanted. “I think so too.” She was about to say something else when her phone buzzed. She glanced down at the text.
“Is it important?” Carter asked.
“Kayla. Just sending me a funny selfie.”
“What’s she doing today?”
“Not much, I don’t think. Reading and trying to hide from football on the TV.”
“We can take her out for dinner if you want. If you think her father would be okay with it.”
“He wouldn’t care, but you don’t have to...” Ruth was so startled she hugged her arms to her stomach. “I mean, you wouldn’t really want to get dragged along to dinner with me and Kayla.”
Carter was frowning again. This time in confusion. “Why not?”
“Why not?”
“Yeah. Why would I mind having dinner with the two of you? I liked Kayla. She seemed sweet and smart and like she could use some fun in her life.” He sounded almost bewildered. “I had a good time with the two of you last night.”
She searched his face. She really did. And she couldn’t see anything other than earnest sincerity. “Are you...?” For some reason her voice was cracking. Her eyes were burning just a little. “Are you being serious?”
He reached out to cup her face, peering at it urgently. “Ruth, what’s the matter? Why would you think I’d be lying to you?”
“I don’t. At least if you did, it would just be because you’re so nice. But it’s really okay. You don’t have to be that nice.”
“I’m not being nice. I’m telling you the truth. Can’t you see it?”
She could see it. There was nothing in his expression she didn’t believe. She wasn’t even sure why it had overwhelmed her so much, him saying that he liked Kayla and wanted to hang out with her.
“Ruth?” Carter prompted when she didn’t answer. “You look like you’re about to cry.”
“I’m not.” She wasn’t a crier. And she definitely wasn’t going to cry about something so silly.
“Do you not want me to hang out? Would you rather it just be you and her? Because I’ll understand if—”
“No, no. That’s not it. I’d love if we could take her out to dinner. Thank you for volunteering. I just didn’t think it would be very fun for you.”
“Well, it is.” He opened the car door for her, and she got in. When he’d walked around and slid behind the steering wheel, he added, “You know I’ve been working pretty much constantly for most of this year, right? So any meal that isn’t eaten at my computer is fun for me.”
She laughed at that. Then she texted Kayla, who replied immediately that she’d LOVE to go out for dinner and could they come as soon as possible if it wasn’t too much trouble.
So Ruth’s really good day wasn’t over yet.