Page 58 of Only Ever You

By the time we pull into Tauranga, she’s finished the book she was reading and is onto the next one. I’m not sure how she does it without getting carsick.

“Exactly how big is this Christmas at home?” I ask.

Pippa leans against me. “We’ll be staying with Mum and Dad. On Christmas Day, Lucas will be there.” She pats my arm. “Gran and Gramps, Nan and Poppa.”

“That’s quite a crowd.”

She takes a deep breath. “Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Pat probably too. Which means …”

“No.” I pull up at a red light and turn to look at my girlfriend, who’s busy chewing her nails now. “Not Lizzy.”

Pippa lets out a nervous laugh. Her cousin Lizzy spent one summer staying with them with only one goal on her mind—getting into my pants. When I think back, Pippa saw a lot of girls throwing themselves at me. And over the years, I caught more than one in front of her.

I reach for her knee and give it a squeeze. “You know I never hooked up with her, don’t you?”

She nods. “I know.”

“Did you … keep track?”

When she shrugs and looks out the window, avoiding my gaze, I know the answer.

“I’m sorry, Pip.”

She turns her head toward me. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. You weren’t to know what the future would bring.”

The light turns green, and I watch the road, catching glimpses of her out of the corner of my eye. I can’t turn back the clock—she was a child then, but I can make her a promise that she’ll be the only woman I’m with for the rest of my life.

The diamond I bought her sits heavy in my pocket.

Time to turn the conversation to a lighter subject. We’ve still got a few hours left of the drive—we should have just flown, and I don’t want to dwell on this for too much longer.

“That reminds me. I keep getting asked about this high-school reunion next year, and I keep saying no. Did you want to go?” I cross my fingers, hoping my girl feels the same way I do.

“Hell, no.” She laughs.

“Really? I thought you’d be into that kind of thing.”

Pippa laughs harder. “I hated school. It got in the way of my reading time.”

I roll my eyes. “I should have known. You were a nerd.” Nodding toward the book in her hand. “Scratch that. Still are.”

“Hey.” She bats my arm with the book, and I cry out, rubbing my arm as if I’m in pain.

“And I love my little nerd.”

Her eyes light up, and the love she has for me shines. I don’t know how I ever got so lucky as to be reunited with this amazing woman, but I’ll always be thankful for it.

By the time we pull into her parents’ driveway, she’s nodded off to sleep, and I have to give her a gentle nudge.

Her eyes flicker open. “Are we here?” she mumbles.

“We are.”

“Give me a second.” She yawns and shakes her head as if trying to wake herself up.

“Take your time, sleeping beauty. But your mum just opened the front door and she’s waiting.”

Pippa’s whole face lights up.

---