Read Online A Summer Romance by Tracey Smith - Free Book Online Page A

large bowls to the
truck.
    “Do you think it’s too much?” she asked
innocently. “I wanted to make sure I made enough.” To warrant
needing your help to get it to town , she added silently.
    “I think there will definitely be enough.”
He smiled as they climbed in the truck. She loved to see him
smiling. He once again seemed like the carefree Aaron that she’d
first met.
    “I hope everyone likes it.”
    “I’m sure they will. But don’t worry, if
there are any leftovers I’d be happy to help with those.” He looked
over at her and winked playfully. She loved this side of him, even
though it confused her. He was definitely flirting now, but in the
blink of an eye she knew he’d push her away again.
    “Or you could just stick around and make
sure I don’t have any leftovers,” she suggested casually, trying
her luck. She looked over at him from the corner of her eye. His
smile had faded.
    “They don’t want me there, Maggie.” His tone
was quiet and his smile gone. The sad man was back.
    “I want you there.” She’d never felt so
vulnerable. Once again she was putting her feelings on the line.
Would he reject her again?
    “You shouldn’t,” he remarked sadly.
    “Why?” her tone was pleading. She just
wanted to understand.
    He pulled the truck to a stop just outside
the town square. Maggie could see the crowd in the distance. She
made no move to exit the truck. She turned to face Aaron he
continued to stare out the windshield.
    “I like you, Maggie.” Her heart thrilled at
the confirmation “I like you enough to tell you that you’re better
off without me. You should just go and enjoy the barbeque.”
    “I don’t want to. I’d much rather sit here
with you,” she answered honestly. At the moment there was nowhere
else she’d rather be. But would he push her away again? She could
feel her heart racing with anxiety. She waited patiently as she saw
him struggling with his own emotions.
    “You don’t make it easy to stay away from
you,” he said quietly as he shook his head.
    “Then stop trying,” she suggested softly. He
fell silent for a few minutes. She had the feeling that this moment
would be the turning point for them, he would either push her away
for the final time or he’d finally let her in.
    “What about your potato salad?” he finally
said, and she could hear a note of playfulness in his voice. He
turned toward her for the first time and she saw the smile in his
eyes. She took the first deep breath she’d been able to take since
this conversation had started.
    “It will take us quite a while to eat it
all, but I think if we really put our minds to it we can manage
it,” she said with mock seriousness. He cracked a small smile and
she answered it with a huge smile of her own. He shook his head,
laughing softly.
    “You don’t give up easily, do you?” he
asked. Maggie turned away from him, hiding the guilt that was
suddenly weighing down on her. His words reminded her of just how
easily she actually had given up.
    “Come on. Let’s get this spectacle over
with,” he said, stepping out of the truck. She smiled as he came
around and opened her door for her. But something was still a
little off about her smile, something haunted her, and this was the
first time since arriving in Georgia that she’d acknowledged it.
She knew she couldn’t hide from her past forever.
    As they approached the park where the crowd
was gathered Maggie felt her spirits lifting. She could see rows of
tables set up under some large oak trees and headed in that
direction with her offerings. As they placed the bowls of potato
salad on the table Maggie saw an adorable little blonde girl
darting between the tables giggling. She ran out in front of Maggie
and Aaron, nearly colliding with them in her excitement. Close on
her heels was Lacey, carrying a toddler on her hip.
    “Courtney Marie, I said stop right there,
don’t you take another step, young lady!” Lacey called out to the
little girl