Page 78 of Old Acquaintances

“Never.” His lips parted against the crown of my head. “But, why are you hugging me now?”

Tears edged out. “Because you feel like home.”

Tucker was quiet a moment. “Is that because I remind you of your family or…is it because…” I swayed when he rubbed his jaw. “Never mind, forget I said anything.”

I didn’t know what he was asking, but I knew what I wanted to say. “Sometimes, it feels like you and I have this connection. It makes me feel like more of myself. I don’t know how to explain it.” I brushed back a tear. “It must be a birthday thing.”

“Yeah. I feel it, too.” He pulled me tighter to him. I noticed his head turn down, toward his phone. “What time does your roommate get here?”

“She texted that it would be after one.”

Then, Tucker said, “I have to go.”

“No, you don’t.” I lifted my chin to him.

He frowned. “Johnny covered for me last night, but he won’t do it again.”

“Does he know you’re here?”

“Um, no.” Tucker’s fingertips dragged along my forearm, the one pressed against his chest. “My mom told me to be back by dinner. I’ve only got a few more nights at home, and she wants to keep me hostage.”

I said, “Your mom won’t care if you’re here with me.”

He snorted, watching how he touched me. “Actually, that’sprobably the one thing she would care about.”

His eyes met mine. My stomach clenched.

“I have to go, Ella,” he whispered. “I can’t stay with you.”

“Okay.”

I walked him outside to his car and he instructed, “Call me if you need anything, okay? I’m only a short drive away.”

“Yeah, a short four-hour drive.” I smiled.

He shrugged.

I swung my arms around his shoulders, rising to my tiptoes, and squeezed his neck. Tucker’s arms crossed my back, pulling him to me. My feet lifted. His face rested on my shoulder. He breathed, shaky, into my skin and I pulled him tighter, imprinting this gesture into my body.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“I love you,” he murmured.

I almost forgot it was a joke. When his arms relaxed, I planted my face on his, kissing him. He kissed me back, his lips moving for another catch when I leaned away and dropped to my feet.

“I’m sorry,” I groaned, covering my face. “I don’t know why I did that.”

I couldn’t see his expression, but I heard his exasperation and the shuffle of his feet. He said, “It’s okay.” He tapped his hands on his car door. “Okay.Okay, I’m going to go.”

I held my burnt cheeks between my hands, watching him start the truck and give me one last somber look.

“Wait!” I unclipped my hair, letting it fall around my face and ran up to his window. I tossed the clip onto the passenger seat. “I’ll see you soon.”

Tucker blinked, biting back a smile. “I’ll see you soon.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Today

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