Page 22 of Always

“Maybe I came here to try to figure you out, too.”

“Is it me you want to figure out, Braden?” She inhales a deep breath. “Or is it yourself?”

Chapter Nine

Again, I don’t answer.

I don’t answer because her words make me think.

I’ve told her she’s a challenge, and she is. But in this moment, she has challenged me more than she ever has before.

I know myself. I’ve been to hell and back, and I know who I am, how far I’m willing to go for what I want, and what my limitations are.

So why does her question perplex me?

“I think I have my answer,” she says.

Still, I say nothing.

“You’ve looked in the mirror, haven’t you?” she continues. “Just as I have. And you’re not exactly sure what you see.”

“To the contrary, Skye, I know exactly what I see.”

“Do you? Or do you only think you know? What are you hiding, Braden?”

Again her words make me think, but instead of answering, I push my hands into my pants pockets. “I could ask you the same question.”

“You could, but I don’t have an answer. I came here to find one.”

“And you can’t believe that maybe I came here for the same reason?”

“You have no history here. That belongs to me. You want to find yourself? Start in South Boston. Start with Addie.”

Addie. Why does it always come back to Addie? I’d prefer toforget that Addie even exists. “Damn it, Skye—”

“Scratch that. Addie came much later. Start with your father, Braden. Start with your mother.”

My jaw tenses again. “Damn you,” I say between clenched teeth.

“Damn you, too,” she counters. “Fucking damn you.”

Then my lips are on hers again, without even a semblance of gentleness. It’s harsh. It’s painful, even.

And it’s magnificent.

We stand in her parents’ front yard, our mouths fused together, and I’m ready. So ready. Ready to demand that she strip for me and make love right here, in front of the house where she grew up. Where she probably played in those cornfields.

She breaks the kiss and pushes me away. “Stop it.”

“No.”

“Yes, you will. Have your forgotten my parents are inside? Easily watching us through the window? My dad is probably loading his shotgun about now.”

Steve has a shotgun?

I’m not sure why I find that surprising. He probably has several.

Damn. I shouldn’t have come here.

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