The Apple Tree (Sunday Morning, #2) (14)

I wasn’t ready to give Kyle that satisfaction, but Gabby took the bait.

“Wow. Were you a quarterback?” Her brown eyes widened.

Kyle sipped his water and nodded.

“Why didn’t you play in the NFL?” she asked.

“Not everyone who plays in college is good enough for the NFL.” Kyle chuckled.

“He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches,” I said.

“Eve, do you need to excuse yourself and spend a little time in your room, thinking about how you should behave around guests?” Dad warned.

“What?” I shrugged. “It’s not my quote.”

“No. It’s not. And if you can tell me who that quote belongs to, I’ll let you finish dinner with us. Otherwise, you can take the rest to your room.” Dad smiled because he knew I didn’t know the answer. “And don’t you dare help her,” he warned Grandma Bonnie.

With a long sigh, I tossed my napkin onto the table and mumbled, “I’m done anyway.”

“We’ll let you come back down for dessert,” Mom said. “Since you made the apple pie and the ice cream.”

“Gee, thanks.”





After more than a half hour in my room, staring at the ceiling, there was a knock at my door.

“What?” I said in my grumpiest tone.

The door creaked open.

“George Bernard Shaw.”

I sat up as Kyle stepped into my bedroom. My father was the only other guy who had ever been there.

He smiled. “You quoted George Bernard Shaw. But for the record, some of the greatest doers were also outstanding teachers: Einstein, Oppenheimer, Robert Frost …”

“I don’t think you can be in my room. My dad doesn’t allow it.”

Kyle picked up a trophy from my desk. “Well, I told him I would talk to you because, as a teacher and someone closer to your age, I might get through to you.”

“Get what through to me?” I hopped off the bed, took the trophy from him, and returned it to my desk.

“Nothing. I just said it.”

I grinned. Kyle wasn’t like any teacher I’d ever had.

“You ran cross country?” He eyed me.

I nodded.

“Wow.”

“Don’t act so surprised.”

Kyle shook his head and held up his hands in surrender. “Don’t be so touchy. I’m pleasantly surprised.”

I sat in my window seat, pulling one knee to my chest. “Why?”

“Because I pictured you drinking by the creek, not running long distances.”

“I’m an excellent multitasker. I did both. Who’s watching Josh?”

“Gabby. She’s really good with him.”

“Don’t be fooled. She’s not reliable. I’m still your best bet. She’s always got her nose in a book, writing in the margins and doodling things. She’d lose him.”

“Ouch. I thought sisters were supposed to be close.”

“We are close. I’m just looking out for Josh.”

And I was looking out for my new part-time job.

“What’s your 5k time?” he asked, resting his shoulder against my wall.

“Sub eighteen.”

His eyebrows jumped up his forehead. “No kidding?”

“No kidding.”

“You should have gotten scholarship offers with that.”

“Maybe, but then what? I don’t think they let you run cross country in college without taking actual college classes. And I don’t want to sit in a classroom. I need a break from school. I don’t know what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

“Some people think college can help you figure out what you want to do. You take different courses and see what piques your interest.”

“Is that what you did?”

Kyle nodded. “I had a football scholarship and no idea what I wanted to do, so I did what everyone who didn’t have a particular interest did.”

“Get a degree in education?”

He smirked. “Exactly.”

“Well, I don’t want to teach. I’m not good at math. Obviously, I’m not good at literature. Maybe I’m the doer who can’t teach. Maybe I’ll plant an orchard and sell apples or pies. Maybe I’ll make apple wine so I can get paid to drink all day. Or maybe I’ll clean motel rooms forever just to piss off my parents.”

“Eve,” he shook his head. “You don’t need to have it all figured out.”

I grunted. “Can you tell my parents that?”

He twisted his lips and nodded. “I can.”

“Really?” I couldn’t gauge his sincerity.

“Really.” He nodded toward the door. “Let’s have some of your apple pie and chat with your grandma. I like her.”

“She’s the best.” I followed him to the door, and he turned before opening it, leaving me within inches of bumping into him.

“Just between us, I love your humor. It’s unexpected,” he said.

“Why is that?” I should have stepped back, but Kyle smelled like a good blend of fresh-cut timber and spice.

He stared at my mouth.

My mouth!

I couldn’t help but wet my lips as if he would kiss me. Even though I knew the chance of that hovered around the zero mark.