Page 71 of One Sweet Day I Found You

She walked over and sat down next to him on the sofa.

He gazed at her intently, waiting.

She reached out and put her arms around him and buried her head in the space between his neck and shoulder.

He smelled good. He felt warm. Those old feelings. “I accept your apology. It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m okay.”

Austin pulled her in close.

Courtney held him tight. It was still surreal that she could be holding Austin in her arms again, even if it was only a hug.

Austin. The guy who had once made her feel so right, so beautiful, so special.

Her first love.

She’d have given anything to have him back—up until only a few months ago.

Austin pulled back and she sat up from his shoulder. He gazed into her eyes, played with the back of her hair. “Courtney.” He leaned in and placed his lips softly upon her mouth and kissed her.

For a second, she was too surprised to react.

And then she couldn’t stop herself. She kissed him back, gently, just for a moment.

Just out of the force of habit.

For old time’s sake.

Because it felt good to be desired again by the one person whom she’d never imagined would desire her again. It was a self-centered emotion. She didn’t wanthim—at all. She wanted—a remedy for the rejection she felt for so long.

She wanted—validation.

The sickening feeling came quickly.

It was wrong.

It was all wrong.

She pushed him away and stood up from the couch. “I can’t, Austin. I can’t.” She hurried to her room and slammed the door.

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