The Way Back Home (Homecoming Novella) Read online

My father was my hero. No joke. I knew it sounded stupid saying shit like that at my age, but I loved my dad.

  When I found out he ditched his “Richie Rich” lifestyle to become his own man, that made me respect him even more. He said he always liked this town; it was filled with memories, but until his family stopped pushing him to be something he was never going to be, he kept running.

  Thank God he ran. My cousin and her parents were pieces of work.

  “Son,” my dad prodded.

  Oh, right. He was talking to me.

  "I have a date." I grinned proudly, just like I did when I was a kid and won an award. Except for this time, this award came with blonde curls, a delectable little body, and dimples.

  “So, you thought about accepting Tim’s offer and taking a job here?”

  “Sorry, old man. This town is nice and all, but you know I’m a man of action.”

  My father stood and eyed me warily. “Does the lady you’re taking on a date know you’re leaving?”

  “It’s just a date, Dad. Just fun.” And if I got lucky tonight, I would always think of this quiet little town with fond memories.

  “Son, it’s a small town. There aren’t many chances to give.”

  I walked past him and patted his shoulder. “Relax, old man. It’s just one date. Besides, I still haven’t gotten the call from Milwaukee.”

  My father laughed at me as I came strolling out of the house with a basket with wine, bread, and cheese. But when I got laid tonight, I would have the last laugh. The thought of having blonde curls all over my face and wrapped tight around my fingers excited me. Driving ten miles an hour over the speed limit, I made my way to the coffee shop. I guess being part Newton had its perks. If I got pulled over, I would just get a warning. I pulled up to the first parking lot; the only other car was a badass restored Chevy. That car was fly. Trucks have never been my thing, but even I could appreciate beauty like this. I watched through the window as Emma chatted up a blonde chick and Rusty the mechanic.

  She smiled at the girl and more shyly at Rusty. Did she like him? When they waved at her, she waved back, and I waited for her to close. The couple gave me an odd look, but ultimately left in their truck.

  When Emma was closing, I got out of my car and walked up to her. “I’m surprised you didn’t try to ditch me today.” I was mostly joking, but when she turned scarlet, I knew she’d thought about it. “Sunshine, I don’t bite—unless you want me to.”

  She turned around and pointed at me with an icy glare. “Do you want to go on a date or not?”

  I smiled. God, she was adorable. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I tried helping her with the bag she carried, but she firmly told me she was a capable woman and didn’t need a boy helping her. She was probably more hung up on my age than I was.

  Dating in a small town had its drawbacks. This place had like five places to eat, and honestly, I didn't feel like putting myself and Emma through the scrutiny. What we did was nobody's business. Driving to the jogging trail and getting lost when the factory was paving, I had the perk of finding this little gem. I parked the car in front of an old water tower that overlooked the back roads of the town.

  “Whoa, yeah, not happening. I’m going home.” Emma clutched the bag to her chest, opened the door, and walked out.

  What the fuck did I do? Not saying I was a Casanova, but the ladies loved me. Yet, for some reason, this little ball of sunshine kept running away.

  I jogged to catch up to her. “For someone with small legs, you walk pretty fast, Sunshine.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she said, but didn’t stop.

  Damn. We were back to no nicknames. I was really batting a thousand with her.

  “Okay. Um, Ems, mind giving me a hint to as what I did wrong?” I scratched behind my head, trying to think of what I did that offended her.

  Emma stopped, looked at me, and pointed at the water tower.

  “You brought me to the water tower,” she said, like that explained everything.

  “I’m not following you, Ems.”

  She looked at me quizzically then at the tower. “You didn’t bring me here for…um…sex?”

  Shit. I’d brought her to the “make-out point” in town without realizing it. Of course, I wasn’t about to admit I wanted to fuck her any way imaginable since the second I met her, and that, yeah, I was hoping to get lucky tonight. Especially since that was clearly out of the question, based on her reaction.

  “Whoa, sunshine.” I put my hands up in the air. “I don’t put out on the first date. I don’t know what kind of guy you take me for.”

  Emma put her hands on her face.

  “I’m such an idiot,” she mumbled.

  “Hey, now. There’s no need for that,” I said as I pried her hands away from her face. I didn’t like the way she put herself down. “Honestly, I had no idea. It just seemed like a good place to have a picnic, watch the sunset, and not worry about people being all up in our business.”

  That seemed to appease her because she let me lead her to the ladder. Since she was too busy climbing with her bag, I made no effort to hide that I was checking out her ass. Once we were both up, I grabbed the blanket I brought and laid it down. Sitting down, she followed my lead. I opened the basket and took out a bottle of wine and the crackers and cheeses I’d stolen from my mom's fridge. When Sunday night shows came around, she was not going to be very happy with me.

  “Wine, cheese, pretty sunset, beautiful girl. I think I got everything.” I turned to look at her, handing her a glass of wine. She took it from my hands and smiled at me, then grimaced.

  "I'm not much of a wine drinker." She put a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Also, not a big fan of cheese."

  Well, if there’d been any chance at all of me still getting laid, I’d just blown it. “You're from Wisconsin and you don't like cheese?"

  "That's very stereotypical," she answered, but there was humor in her voice.

  Instead, she went to her purse and pulled out a gray and yellow thermos with her store decal.

  “I want one of those. That way I can always carry you with me.” I gave her a cheeky grin as I took it from her.

  She gave me a small smile, pried it from my hands, then pulled out two Styrofoam cups and poured us some.

  “Do you prefer a brookie or would you like a slice of apple pie? I know you like it sweet, but honestly, I think they are both equally good, and I’m not saying that because I made them. Although the brookie might go better with your coffee.”

  “Sunshine,” I said, taking the cup she gave me. “I’m sure I’ll love everything you do to me.”

  She narrowed her eyes.

  “For me,” I added.

  She didn’t buy it, but unwrapped the goodies.

  “What the hell is a brookie?” I asked.

  “A brownie and cookie mix.”

  “Shit, I’m sold.”

  Instead of letting her give me the brookie, I grabbed the butter knife I had brought to cut cheese and cut the apple pie and brookie in half. Guess Mom wasn’t going to be mad at me after all.

  "It's peaceful and pretty up here," she sighed, looking at the sunset.

  Yeah, really quiet and pretty.

  “You’ve never been up here?” I asked, hoping to God she said no. I liked the idea of Emma experiencing this first with me.

  “N-n-no.” Her stammering was cute and made me feel a little relieved and also curious as fuck.

  “Sunshine… are you…” I let my mouth run with my thoughts I didn’t have much of a filter sometimes. I blamed my dad; he was the same way.

  “What!” She shrieked, her face turning red. “No…I’m… yes… no…that’s none of your business.”

  Damn, I wanted it to be my business. So. Fucking. Bad. If Emma were any other girl, she would already be on her back, those golden curls tangled between my fingers while I devoured her mouth while my other hand would glide down the barrier of her shorts and meet wet silk between her legs. Her Chuck
-clad legs would be wrapped around my waist while I gave her the first of many orgasms. Too bad for me, she was not like most girls. But I liked that about her. The job I applied for in Milwaukee hadn’t called, so who knew what could happen?

  “How are you related to Abigail anyway?” Emma asked.

  I didn’t bother teasing her for changing the subject. I took a drink from the coffee she brought—the same one from when I went to the store—and damn, it was good.

  “My grandma and Abigail’s grandpa are siblings, so our dads are cousins. You know most of the Newtons live down south. When my dad started acting out in high school, they shipped him here. He dipped into his money slowly until he was set to blow this town… and here we are.”

  Emma sat up quietly, her eyes focusing on the almost-gone sunlight. Slowly, she turned her head my way, those green eyes taking in everything about me, and I felt the need to hide.

  “You don’t see yourself in a small town, do you?” she asked quietly.

  For the life of me, I wished I could lie to her. “I want more, sunshine. I want to work in a place where I’ll make a difference, a place where I’ll be needed.”

  "You want glory…" she whispered, her eyes scanning her beloved little town.

  From where we were sitting, I could see the lights of the Dunnett factory, all the way to the small lights Main Street emitted. On the other end was the new water tower that had replaced this one. I didn't answer her because we both knew this town didn't have the things I was looking for…except for her. But she wasn't enough of a reason to stay.

  “It’s getting late,” she said, taking us out of the peaceful moment we had found ourselves in.

  Even though I didn’t want us to go anywhere, I agreed. The drive back to the coffee shop, where she’d left her car, was quiet. That didn’t mean we didn’t stare at each other every chance we got.

  "Thank you, for the view," she teased before she got out of the car.

  Yeah, the view was pretty much all I’d provided, since she didn't eat any of my stuff. It was sweet and cute, and I liked it a whole fucking lot. Maybe I should have driven away. After all, after this summer, our paths wouldn't cross.

  "Emma," I said as soon as I got out of my car. I was debating whether to follow her, since she had gotten the door to her shop open.

  “Yes?”

  She was looking at me hesitantly, her eyes big and wide, and I really liked the doe-eyed look on her.

  “Go out with me?” I asked, walking the rest of the way to the door.

  “What? I thought that was a date.”

  “One real date. That's all I’m asking for. Then you can make up your mind if you want to go on another one."

  She looked at me and bit her lip. There was nothing at that moment that I wanted more than to taste it myself.

  "One date, Ems. Then, if you don't like it, you can tell me to fuck off."

  My hands had their own ideas because next thing I knew, my finger was wrapped around one of the curls by her cheek. I wanted to lean and kiss her. Badly.

  “One date.” Her voice was low and hesitant.

  I had the urge to fist-pump the air, but I didn’t want to look stupid in front of her. Also, I didn’t want to move.

  “I’m dying to kiss you, sunshine,” I said; she held her breath. “Don’t worry, I won’t. When I take your sweet mouth, I want to make sure you won’t regret a second of it.”

  I kissed the top of her head. Shit, she smelled like coffee and sweets. Who knew that was aphrodisiac?

  “Tomorrow night, meet me at Franny’s at seven. Don’t be late,” I told her. Then I turned around and left her there.

  5

  Emma

  I had overslept again. I really needed some help, and business was picking up enough that I could afford to hire someone.

  Grabbing my yellow apron from my car, I ran and opened the store. I left everything ready last night, so all I had to do was some preheating this morning and I’d be good to go.

  “Morning, Emma.” My head snapped from where it was cast down, looking at the floor, thinking about him again.

  “Hey…”

  The words died on my mouth when I looked at Maximilian. Okay. Someone had clearly gotten their crap together, hadn’t they? He looked good. He looked more than good; he looked healthy. His hair didn’t look shaggy anymore—he didn’t pull off the long look well—and he was wearing a suit.

  “Would you like your usual?” I asked.

  “Please.” He smiled at me, but something was missing. It held no real vibrancy. It was just a shell.

  I got to work on Max’s order: an espresso. He liked his coffee strong. He used to like his women wild. Okay, none of my business.

  “There’s no quote up today.”

  "What?" I looked up from the espresso machine to look at him.

  Max was pointing at the blackboard. Oh, shoot, there wasn't one. In all honesty, my mojo had been down, and it was hard to pick an excellent positive quote when all I wanted was to write, “Men are stupid. Men suck monkey balls. Men can go to hell. Men can grab a coffee and shove it up—”

  I didn't finish that thought because Max interrupted me.

  “You mind if I write something?”

  “Go for it,” I said, because he probably had something better to add to it than I would.

  I wanted to know you moved and breathed in the same world with me. -F. Scott Fitzgerald

  Max looked at the quote as if he couldn't believe he’d written it. I was transfixed, looking at him, look at the blackboard. He took a deep breath, shook his head, and then he let go. The quote, his look, his attitude. Max was letting go. My stomach sank because I should do the same. One night at the water tower didn't compare to an epic romance like he’d had.

  “Benediction,” I murmured, handing him his cup.

  Max ignored my comment and left me a twenty in the tip jar. Well, how generous of him. Without another word, he walked away. If Max could move on from an epic love, I could move on from the date from hell. I laughed bitterly. To be a date from hell, there had to be an actual date.

  A few weeks ago, I woke up happy on the day after the water tower.

  -

  I laid on my bed with a silly grin on my face.

  “Honey, if you don’t get up, you’re not going to make any money.” My mother barged into my room.

  I groaned, threw the cover over my head, and rolled my eyes when she couldn’t see me. What was the point of living above the garage if they still came in?

  “Don’t worry, Mom. If there’s a loss, it will be mine,” I replied.

  God, even though they were supportive, they still had snippy things to say. Today I didn’t care because I had a date. I got up and put on my new quote on my board because I was too shy to put it in my shop.

  She’s a dreamer, and he’s her dream.

  Yeah, no way in hell I'd share that at work. I got up went about my day. I couldn't wait for my date. Secretly, I hoped Dex kissed me. Yesterday, he was so, so, so close. My mind was telling me no, but inner Emma? She was shouting, “YES!” I think inner me is a low-key hoochie. There are a million and one things I've imagined doing with Dex, even though none will happen.

  -

  “Emma.”

  The irritable way my name was being called snapped me out of my thoughts. Nothing good would have come thinking about it anyway.

  "Jake," I said, smiling cheerily. Maybe a little too cheerily based by Jake's put-off look.

  "Why the sappy quote?” he asked. “Where's all the vaginas rock, the sun always shines, be who you are, rah-rah-sis-boom-bah stuff you always write?”

  “I do not write ‘vaginas rock.’”

  Jake gave me a grin, his baby blues sparkling. “Girl, you’re all about positivity. It’s like you’re made of rainbows and sunshine.”

  The cup I had in my hand fumbled and landed on the floor with that word. Sunshine. If I didn’t hear it until the next century, it would still be too soon.


  “You okay there?”

  “Dandy,” I snapped without meaning to.

  Jake arched an eyebrow at me.

  “I didn’t write that. Max did,” I told him.

  I didn’t need anyone to think I wrote sappiness for anyone. Not me. Nope. Never going to happen. Men could take their sunshine and shove it where said sun didn’t shine.

  Okay, I needed tea and not caffeine. I was too feisty this morning.

  “Hmmm,” Jake hummed.

  I was nodding like it made perfect sense. Whatever. Men were weird. And stupid. Jake took a drink of my new concoction. He made a face since it wasn’t as sweet as he was used to.

  “What’s this called?” he asked.

  “Bitter sunshine,” I replied automatically.

  “The sweetness kicks in at the end, just a bit. Not one of my favorites.”

  “Noted.”

  Jake took the cup and stopped, leaning against the counter. “Got to go.”

  I gave him a small smile and a wave.

  Before he left the store, he looked me in the eye and almost shouted. “I’m sure you could ask his dad where he’s at.”

  And I was pathetic because Jake had put one and one together and made two.

  “Do you like getting free coffee?” I snapped.

  He gave me a duh look.

  “We are never talking about this again.” I pointed my finger at him.

  Jake just raised his hand in surrender, then walked out.

  Yeah, the men in my life tended to do that. I chuckled to myself. The men in my life? What men?

  It was almost closing time before I was finally alone again. It was then that I resumed replaying that damn afternoon in my head, trying to figure out what I’d done wrong.

  -

  I closed the store two hours early so I could go meet Dex at Franny’s. I had brought a pale blue flowery dress to work with my newest pair of white Chucks. I drove because I didn’t want my white shoes to look dirty. I briefly smiled when I pictured Dex wearing Vans.

  When I made it to the restaurant, Dex wasn’t there yet.

  Frankie smiled as soon as he saw me. “There you are. Don’t you look gorgeous?”