Page 28 of Two Minutes for Holding

“Thirteen,” she said.

The doors closed, and we both stood there looking forward. It was almost as if we were afraid to look at one another. I could feel the tension building in the small elevator as I looked up to see we’d only moved about three floors. I shifted my stance when I felt her hand slip into mine.

I looked over at her—first at her lips, then at her eyes. Want and desire screamed inside of me. Each second that passed I could feel myself growing weaker until, in one quick motion, I pulled her into my arms, kissing her hard.

The moment her lips touched mine, the ache that had been running through me quieted and everything that had been building inside of me felt at peace. When the elevator stopped at my floor, I didn’t think twice. I pulled her with me, leading her to my room.

Chapter 9

Peyton

Over the pastcouple of days, I’d not only got to spend a couple nights with Clay, but I finally explained everything that had happened to my brother. For the first time that I could remember, Knox sat and listened to everything I had to tell him without saying a word, and when I say everything, I held nothing back regarding the situation with Tor. I wanted him to trust me; I needed him to trust me, because I didn’t want bad blood between us any longer.

“I’m proud of you, Peyton,” Knox said, shoveling food into his mouth at lunch.

“Thanks.”

“Seriously, it took a lot for you to do that, and I’m glad you did it.”

“It did, but, Knox, it felt so good to get rid of him.”

“It’s only going to go up from here,” he said, nodding at the dessert menu. “Pick something, whatever you want.”

I opened the menu and immediately decided on the apple crumble. It wasn’t something I ever ate—hated it actually—but one look at the picture and I could almost smell and taste the apples and cinnamon.

“What are you going to have?” he asked.

“Apple crumble.”

Knox gave me a questioning glance. “Peyton, you hate apple crumble.”

It was true; I hated apple crumble. It was something that my mother had made on a weekly basis when I grew up, and yet I’d only ever tried it one time, immediately hating it. However, looking at the picture on the menu, it looked so good it caused my stomach to grumble.

“It’s like it’s calling to me.” I giggled.

“Okay, well, we will make it two, and if you don’t want yours after all, I’ll just eat it.” Knox chuckled. “Then you can choose something you’ll actually like.”

The two of us grew quiet while Knox checked his phone. Then I cleared my throat.

“Knox, I’ve given moving some thought as well,” I said, closing the menu.

“And?” he asked, placing his phone on the table.

“And if Mom moves to Vancouver, then I’m on board. I think the change of city, of pace, might do me good.”

“Great, I’ll have to let Mom know. She’ll be so excited to hear this.”

“No, please don’t tell her. I’d like to be the one to let her know.”

Knox nodded. “Sure thing. I promise I won’t say a word.”

When the server approached, Knox ordered our desert and then turned his attention back to me. “Oh, by the way, where were you last night?” he questioned.

“What do you mean? I was in my room,” I said, swallowing hard.

Knox shook his head. “No, I stopped by, knocked, and waited. There was no answer.”

“What time? I could have been in the shower,” I answered.

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