Page 58 of You're To Blame 2

The sexiest smile lit his lips. “Three to be exact. But I’m not going. Meet me at the diner. Wear a baseball cap. I’ll wait for you in a back booth under the name Gramm.”

“Tate, we shouldn’t.”

“I haven’t touched you since Monday. If it wasn’t for FaceTime, I’d be climbing the walls of your house.”

I threw my hand over my face and laughed. “Tate, you’re so romantic.”

“No, baby, I’m not. I need to be. When this shit is over you and I will frequent ritzy restaurants. Now get a move on. I’ll see you in forty-five minutes.”

I waved goodbye before tossing my cell on the bed.

My week was spent studying. The mountain of homework was outrageous. Dad emailed all my teachers requesting extra credit assignments. He wanted to ensure my focus was on my studies. I’d like to think my parents believed I wouldn’t cut myself while I was alone. But deep down I think they were still afraid all the pressure I was under would make me crack. Dad worked from home Tuesday and Wednesday. Mom moved her appointments to Friday so she could stay home Thursday. I hadn’t seen my mother much, so it was a real treat. Today was the first day I was home alone.

The gold Bentley screamed follow me, so I drove the Yukon to the diner. Hm, maybe I should drive the truck next week and park in the back lot. Bet I’d walk into school undetected.

I didn’t wait to be seated. There was only one big booth in the very back. I’d eaten at the diner enough to know where Tate was sitting.

I slid into the booth. “Hey,” I whispered.

His big blue eyes smiled from underneath his favorite team’s cap. “So good to see that beautiful face in person.”

My skin heated. I missed him so much. He locked our fingers, and we scanned the menu.

“Matt said you could probably use your connections to try out for football teams.”

“Yeah, Uncle Lake Sr. knows the owner of my favorite team and a few other important coaches in the league. I’ll try out in April.”

I threw my arms around his neck. “I am so proud of you.”

“I want you there.”

Pulling back, my fingers slipped over his cheek. “Of course, I’ll be there.”

We placed our order with the waitress. She returned with our drinks a short time later.

“I’d been meaning to tell you about Kyle.”

He sighed as his head thudded the wall. “Rocco told me a few days ago.”

“I can’t believe he knew Mason was alive too.”

“It makes sense now that I think back. He hated we were together. Stephen didn’t give a shit. But Kyle grilled you that night at his party.”

“Yeah. Did you tell him?”

“Nope. I might be able to use the knowledge to my advantage. He doesn’t sit with us anymore. Mason has his own table.”

“Good.”

“That reminds me. My granddad Harlon said I can use one of his condo’s up the street until the end of the school year.”

I looped my arm around his. “Yes.” I sipped my cola.

“Did your granddad Harlon ever ask you to work at his company?”

“He said I could if I wanted too. He also deposited money into my account. My granddad said he always had a bad feeling about grandfather Douglas. He said he had no idea he’d go to such lengths to force my hand into running the Forresters empire.” Tate shook his head. Besides, I much rather work in real estate.”

The waitress returned and placed our orders before us. We expressed our appreciation, then returned to our conversation.

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