Nonetheless, I think Luke loves Finley. He just hasn’t admitted it to himself yet. He’s been alone for a long time. He’s afraid.

Finley

I don’t think he loves me but I do think it’s possible that his feelings for me are in the same galaxy as my feelings for him. The difference between us is that I’m willing to discuss my emotions and follow where they lead. He’s not.

Meadow

Case closed. Until a man tells you he likes you and shows you through his actions that he likes you he’s not worth your time.

Music pounded through the house.

What was she doing? What was God doing? Why would He give her these feelings for Luke if He didn’t intend something good to come from them? How had she toppled from her serene single existence into this—this vat of turbulent emotions?

So much unnecessary drama! And for what?

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She couldn’t hear the words over the din, but it didn’t matter. She was talking to Chase, and he could hear.

What she and Chase had shared had been beautiful. No way would she now settle for stolen kisses with a man who didn’t value her. If she opened her heart to a man again, it would be to someone who respected her. Someone she could trust.

Luke had been right when he’d said playing with their physical attraction was playing with fire.

She performed another pillow-scream for good measure.

That’s it! No more. Luke wasn’t open to a real relationship, so it would be damaging to continue kissing.

Padding to the living room, she turned the volume low. Joplin became an undercurrent instead of a storm surge. She continued to the kitchen to make tea.

“Staying committed to Chase is easy,” Luke had said to her. “He’ll always remain perfect in your memory, and he’ll never let you down. The relationship you didn’t have with him can stay on its pedestal.”

Luke, of all people, understood things about her she’d not only never said to another living soul but hadn’t even acknowledged to herself.

She viewed herself as brave. People often complimented her on her bravery. She wore bravery like a medal around her neck.

Yet, when she got brutally honest with herself, she could admit that she wasn’t brave about relationships anymore. If she let herself love someone new, she’d be vulnerable to the exact same devastation—which had lasted years and years—that she’d endured when she’d lost Chase.