Page 39 of Unforgettable

But as we continue walking side by side, a little voice in the back of my head latches on to Reeve leaving, taking it as the perfect reason to fool around. Because there is an end date. There is a guarantee that there is no time for commitment and complications.

“Yes,” he supplies eventually. “I haven’t figured out the exact date I’m leaving, but I anticipate being back in Connecticut in September.”

“Well, there will be plenty of time to find the perfect Instagram post. Summer is full of so many markets and festivals, and honestly, Vermont as a whole is just beautiful this time of year.”

“You love it here, don’t you?”

“I do,” I answer, nodding. “I can’t compare it to anything abroad, but whenever I travel to another state, I always miss home.”

“I’d love to have that,” he says wistfully. “Somewhere to call home.”

“Connecticut isn’t home?” I ask the question, even though my gut tells me the home Reeve is talking about is a lot more layered and complex than state lines and a roof over your head.

“Not the way I want it to be,” he confirms.

His tone is melancholy, and my heart hurts a little for him, wishing I had a way to ease his sadness. Unable to help myself, I throw an arm over his shoulder and bring him to me, kissing his temple. “You’ll find what you’re looking for soon enough.”

He turns his head, the surprise etched into his features doing nothing to distract me from the proximity of his lips to mine. “You think so?” he asks softly.

I tear my eyes away from him, just so he doesn’t know how much I love this closeness. “I know so.”

Unexpectedly, a thick boulder of emotion forms in my throat, because I know what he’s looking won’t be me.

10

Reeve

This is absolutely insane.

My knee bounces as we pull up to Oz’s parents’ place. There’re a few other cars parked in the driveway, and by the time Oz parks and switches off the car, I’m almost certain I’m about to have a panic attack.

“Hey,” Oz says, placing his hand over my thigh. “It’s going to be okay.”

“I’m a terrible liar,” I blurt out. “I don’t know why I thought I could do this.”

Unclicking his seat belt, Oz shifts in his seat and looks at me. “We don’t have to do this. We can bail and I can just text them with some made up excuse.”

“No.” I shake my head vehemently and cover his hand resting on my thigh with my own. “I just need to get out of my own head. You know how I get.”

He smiles. “I do, but you know nothing changes if we don’t go ahead with this.”

“I know,” I assure him. “I’m just feeling a little bit of pressure. I’m not only your new boyfriend, but I’m yourfirstboyfriend. That’s kind of a big deal.”

“I’m the one who should be nervous,” he says. “You’ve actually been someone’s boyfriend before.”

I think of Micah and our relationship and his relationship with his own mother, and this is nothing like that. We were younger and there weren’t many expectations except the ones I had for myself. Pressure like what Oz’s parents put on him was non-existent for us.

“What’s going to happen when they ask what I do, and I tell them I work at the bookstore?”

Oz frowns, and I instinctively reach over and smooth the crease forming between his brows. He drags my hand down and puts it in his lap.

“Firstly, there is nothing wrong with working at a bookstore. Secondly, you’re not their son, they’re not going to be disappointed in you.”

“They shouldn’t be disappointed in you either,” I murmur.

He raises his hand to my cheek and brushes his knuckles down my jaw, the gesture sweet and telling. “It’s just dinner. You being you, me being me, and then we’ll leave.”

Exhaling a loud breath, I slap my hands on my thighs. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

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