Page 7 of Good Directions

I am a numbers person. A data person. I like science and all the things it tells us. Soil and crops and weather. That’s my thing.

That was the whole reason I left Hurricane Shoals. After spending my childhood helping raise my two younger brothers, because our parents were too busy running the family business—Hull of a Good Time Cruises, in our beach resort town—I wanted away from people. I wanted to study science and live a life that didn’t include being around the public all day long.

Hence why I’ve spent most—okay, all—of my career in the lab. Away from people.

“That’s not stalkerish or anything,” I comment. I can see it now—walking into the library and completely freaking out the woman behind the desk because I know all about who she’s married to.

Sure, it’s a small town, but I’m not from said small town. So that makes it weird.

“It’s a public library!”

“We’ll see.”

Rounding a corner, I take my foot off the gas as a set of old brick buildings comes into view. Sure enough, Hickory Hills is impossible to miss. Eliza’s voice fades into the background as I take it all in, the scene feeling like something out of Southern Living magazine, the small-town charm dripping from every inch of it. I smile, unable to hold it back, falling in love more and more with each tire rotation.

And sure enough, just like Mr. Too good-looking for his own good fruit-stand guy said, A Noble Mechanic is right there.

“Eliza, I gotta go. I’m here and I need to have my AC checked so I do not melt.”

“Fine, but I expect a text every day with an update.”

I pull into the lot, putting my car in park and killing the engine. “You care that much about soil regeneration and peach tree rotation?”

I don’t hold back on the sarcasm, waiting to be hit with the perfect response.

“Sure, you can update me on that too,” she answers, not skipping a beat.

There it is.

We say our goodbyes, with me promising at least twice more that I will do everything I can to try and get her the autographs she needs. And I will. But right now, my focus is on getting this AC fixed.

Pronto.