Page 136 of Choosing Forever
“We always knew she would be the one to leave. Her dreams were too big for this place. There aren’t enough possibilities here.”
“I know. It’s been hard, though.”
Nerves swirling, I transfer the reins to one of my hands and use the other to reach across the gap between us. He chuckles and does the same, taking my hand.
“How is the house designing going? You have to be close now, right?”
“We’re working on finalizing the plans next week. For a guy who claimed he didn’t care much about what the house looked like, Garrison’s been the one with all the changes,” he says.
“This is their forever house, isn’t it?”
“For all this effort, it better be.”
I release a light laugh. “A forever house needs to be perfect. Let them be picky.”
“Have you thought much about your forever house?”
His thumb draws circles on the back of my hand as our arms sway between the horses. I dart my eyes across the space to find his already there, watching me with a soft certainty that electrifies me.
“It would be here. Plenty of bedrooms so everyone had a place to stay if they drank too much during game nights and a fireplace in the master bedroom. I’d want a mountain view too.”
He hums. “What about a yard? How big?”
“A chunk of land would be nice, Somewhere I’d be able to have a garden and a pool in the summertime.”
“With plenty of trees,” Darren adds, keeping my eyes hostage.
“It would be a beautiful house.”
“Come over this weekend and have dinner with my parents,” he says, voice soft and low.
My hand almost slips free, but he clutches it. “What?”
“Mom extended the invitation when I picked Abbie up Monday morning. She really wants to see you.”
“I don’t know. Isn’t that too soon?”
“I don’t think that exists with us,” he argues gently.
My initial response is yes. Spending time with Darren’s mother was always a no-brainer for me. At the time our friends were nervous to spend time with the “in-laws,” I was excited. They were always like family to me.
But things aren’t the same as they once were. Sure, it’s not like I’m meeting them again, but so much time has passed.
“Don’t talk yourself out of saying yes, Elle. We both know what this is now. We’re not dating. This isn’t something fleeting.”
I can’t admit that to myself yet.
“Will your sister be there?”
“No. I wouldn’t overstimulate you like that already.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. “Okay. I’ll have dinner.”
He answers with a squeeze of my hand and a grin that makes my nipples tighten beneath my sweatshirt. It’s a tilt of his lips and a promise all in one.
One that tries like hell to convince me that this time will be different. All I have to do is believe it.
43
