The Way Home by Dallas Schulze Read Free Book Online Page B

saying.
    “It’s Saturday,” Meg said, looking surprised.
    “Of course it is.” Ty flushed. “I wasn’t thinking.” At least not about what day of the week it was.
    “There are days I wouldn’t mind forgetting, but Saturday isn’t one of them.”
    “I usually don’t forget it, either. It’s just that, lately, there hasn’t been much difference between one day and the next. It makes it hard to keep track of what week it is, let alone what day.”
    “I guess it would,” she said, though it was obvious she couldn’t imagine forgetting a Saturday, no matter what the circumstances.
    There was a brief pause and then Meg glanced down at the magazine she was holding. Ty sensed that she was about to make some comment about it having been nice to see him and go on about her day. And he suddenly didn’t want her to go.
    “Could I buy you a soda?”
    Her eyes flew to his face, wide, startled blue pools that a man could practically lose himself in. If he didn’t keep in mind that she was a kid, Ty reminded himself sternly.
    “I don’t know. I’ve got to pick up a couple of things for my mother.”
    “Think of how warm it is today. Wouldn’t a nice, cold ice cream soda taste good? Besides, you wouldn’t make me drink mine alone, would you?” He grinned at her, shamelessly coaxing, not sure why he was so determined to have her company but unwilling to let her go.
    “Would that be so terrible?” she asked, but her smile told him she was going to give in.
    “Horrible. You know, they’ve done a study and found that people who eat alone are five times more likely to go bald.”
    “You don’t look in any real danger of that,” she said, her eyes going to his hair.
    “The effects are cumulative,” he said solemnly. “And I’ve eaten a lot of meals alone lately. I don’t know when it’ll reach a critical point.”
    “I guess that makes it practically my civic duty.”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Well, in that case, I’d love an ice cream soda.”
    “I’m indebted to you.” Ty stood aside to let Meg pass him, falling in behind her as she walked to the soda fountain. It took a conscious effort to keep his eyes off the soft length of her spine and the inviting curve of her hips.
    Meg settled herself on one of the red stools in front of the soda fountain, laying her magazine on the counter. She was wearing a dress of some rose-colored fabric with small white flowers scattered across it, and the softly flared skirt settled gracefully around her calves as she sat down, crossing her legs at the ankles.
    “Hiya, Meg.” Eddie set Ty’s coffee soda on the counter in front of him and gave Meg the full benefit of his smile. “Hello, Eddie.”
    “Don’t see you in here very often.”
    “No.” She didn’t offer any explanation and Ty wondered if she didn’t come in often because she couldn’t afford it. Her stepfather’s business, like most businesses, had to have suffered the last few years.
    “What can I get for you?” Eddie asked, leaning a little too close for Ty’s taste.
    “I’ll have a Cherry Chopped Suey Sundae, please.”
    “Cornin‘ right up.” He grinned at her again but Meg didn’t seem to notice the invitation in his eyes.
    Her lack of response gave Ty more pleasure than he had any business feeling.
    “Cherry Chopped Suey Sundae?” The words were a question.
    “Cherries, pineapple, and pistachio ice cream.” She laughed when he pulled his features into a comical grimace. “It’s very good. You should try one.”
    “I’ll stick with coffee, thanks.” He absently stirred his straw through his soda, his attention on the girl beside him.
    “Kind of dull, isn’t it?” she asked, wrinkling her nose teasingly.
    “I get enough excitement flying. I like my ice cream sodas to be nice and safe.”
    “Are you going to miss it very much this summer — flying, I mean?”
    “Yeah. I already do. It’s like being in a cage. You can see daylight through the bars, you just can’t get out