Page 64 of The Last Key
“And that’s what you’re doing now?”
“Absolutely. And building a life here, with you, makes me more excited than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Good answer,” he says with a quick kiss, then together, we walk inside.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
DEVON
After a long dayspent at the hospital, crappy sandwiches from the cafeteria, and an ill-fated attempt to get my mother to sleep at home instead of the awful sleeper sofa in Dad’s room, I finally turn onto Apple Lane and head toward my house. My fingers are intertwined with Kennedy’s as our arms rest on the center console.Ourhouse.
I still feel like a jackass for not talking to her, but that’s a lesson learned. It’s weird starting a relationship with someone you’ve known for most of your life. There’s a learning curve to the relationship, but we already know each other so well. In most ways, it’s like we’re jumping into the middle of a serious relationship, but we’re still learning how to communicate and actually be in a relationship. Not that any of that is bad, but it requires a tremendous amount of grace and forgiveness and communication. Thankfully, Kennedy has all that in spades, and I’mremembering how to open up and let someone else in. It meant a lot to have her by my side today. To feel like I had a partner.
In her, I know I do.
As I pull into the driveway and put the car in park, I let out a deep breath. As I shut the car off, I look through the windshield, squinting when I see something in the backyard.
A tent.
“Kend, what’s that?”
“Huh?” She follows my gaze. “Oh! With everything that happened, I forgot. I came straight here from the airport and started setting up a surprise.” She gives me a sheepish smile, and I grab her arm, pulling her to me and kissing her deeply.
“It’s perfect. I can’t wait to camp with you tonight. And maybe… a few other things.”
She laughs as I kiss her again, then we finally get out of the car.
“Oh good, you two finally decided to stop making out. I thought I was going to have to break into the house,” Justin says, leaning against his rental car.
“Sorry, not sorry,” Kennedy says with a grin, strolling past me toward the house and pulling out her keys.
Once inside, we head for the kitchen. It must be almost dinner time, but I’m not particularly hungry. Seeing marshmallows and hot chocolate packets on the counter, though, I smile.
“Saw the tent out back. Does that mean we’re finally having our camp out?” Justin asks.
Kennedy and I both spin to face him.
“I…” I begin, as Kennedy says, “Well…”
Justin stares at us for a beat, then laughs out loud. “Hah. You should see your faces. Don’t worry. I have no intention of joining you. But someday, the three of us are going camping together for real.”
“That would be fun,” Kennedy says. “Maybe for our bachelor and bachelorette parties.” Her cheeks go pink and she stumbles over her words. “You know, whenever we get that far.”
A pleased smile grows on my face as I step over and wrap myarms around her waist, rumbling in her ear, “Whenever we get there.”
Justin laughs dryly. “Yeah, I have no desire to be around the two of you tonight, so have fun. Happy boning.”
Kennedy reaches over and smacks him as he walks out of the room.
“You act like that’s not what we’re going to be doing.” I kiss down her neck, giving her a chill, but she just smiles coyly.
“I have no idea why you’d think we’d be doingthat.”
She tries to step back, but I pull her closer. “Mm, remember how I said I wanted to fuck you on the counter?”
“Youdidfuck me on the counter.”
“Well, yes. But that wasn’t the ultimate fantasy. That was always the two of us alone in the tent, and there would be some moment where we’d attack each other. In fact,” I drag my finger down her chest to the cleavage that’s showing. “I used to imagine I’d lose my virginity to you like that.”
