Breakwater Bay by Shelley Noble Read Free Book Online

she could stop worrying about it. But she didn’t want to take the chance, not now when her emotions were still so raw. She’d wait.
    “I have some news,” he said.
    She looked up. His expression was hard to read. Excitement? Nervousness?
    Was he going to propose after all? In a restaurant?
    Meri’s heart blipped. She’d been expecting it, sort of, but they had talked about the possibility of law school and all that it would entail. Had he decided not to wait? And tonight of all nights. She couldn’t say yes without explaining her new circumstances. But could she sit there over chocolate ganache cake and explain what had happened, when she wasn’t sure of all the facts herself?
    She swallowed.
    He reached for her hand. “Maybe this isn’t the right place, but . . .”
    Panic rushed up her chest and clenched around her throat.
    “I hope you’ll be okay with this. I was talking to my uncle in L.A., and his firm has an opening for a paid internship. He offered it to me.”
    An internship, not an engagement . She was embarrassed by the relief that washed over her. She wouldn’t have to explain tonight. “That’s wonderful,” she said.
    “It will give me a chance to get some hands-on legal experience before I start school.”
    She nodded.
    He squeezed her hand; now excitement had overtaken his nervousness. “I accepted.”
    “That’s really great. I loved both my internships.”
    “The only thing is . . . it starts next month. I gave my two-week notice today.”
    A utensil clinked against a plate; a laugh, too loud, rose above the other conversations. Every noise seemed amplified, so that she could barely hear Peter say, “I know. It’s all happening really fast. But I felt like I couldn’t wait.”
    He was still holding her hand. She considered pulling away. Decided against it.
    “I know we thought we’d have the summer to decide what to do, but I can’t really turn this down.”
    “No, of course not.”
    “But it means I’ll be gone for the summer. Which really sucks . . . for us. You could go with me, but the pay isn’t that great. It’s an internship.”
    She stopped him. “I know. I understand. It’s a great opportunity.”
    “I can’t support both of us if I’m interning, but you could get work. I don’t want you to think I want to leave you.”
    “I don’t. And that’s sweet. But Peter . . .” She withdrew her hand and patted his. “I have my work here. It’s only for a few months. Don’t feel bad. I understand.”
    The waiter hovered by the table ready to snatch their half-empty plates. “Are you finished?”
    Meri wondered that herself. “Yes, thank you,” she said and leaned back for him to clear.
    He removed their plates and returned with the check. Peter stopped to pull out his credit card, and the two of them looked anywhere but at each other until the waiter returned.
    They walked out into the night. The night was clear, but colder and Peter’s arm around her helped ward off the chill. She’d miss that. She’d miss him.
    “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
    “I’ll miss you, but I’m sure.”
    “We can still see each other. I’ll be back, and you can come visit.”
    She smiled. “Of course we can. It’s all good.”
    “I love you.”
    “I love you, too. Things will work out.”
    They stopped by Peter’s car. “So do you want to stay at your place or mine?”
    “You know, Peter, I’m really tired. I had a long week and a long night last night. I think I better just get a good night’s sleep.”
    “You’re sure? We could get engaged before I leave, I just thought that—”
    “There’s no rush. It’s only three months, and we’ll both be busy. Right now careers have to come first.” And it would give her time to figure out who she really was. “It’ll work out.”
    Peter sighed. “I guess.” He pulled her close. Kissed her, a long kiss, one she fell into wishing, hoping—no, expecting—this to be the one stable thing in her