Page 13 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“No hiding from the truth, remember?”
She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper as partygoers began gathering around the fire. “I’m nothiding, but I’m not going to air our dirty laundry around all these gossip mongers.”
He put a hand on her lower back, guiding her away from the bonfire. “Then let’s do it in private.”
Unsure if she wanted to lay her heart on the line after all, she glanced up the hill toward the parking area and considered leaving, but how could she? She’d ridden over with Sable, and her sister would need her truck to get herself and all her gear home.
“Come on,” he said, urging her toward the hill with his hand on her back again. “I’ve got a jacket in my truck you can use to keep warm, and we’ll find someplace private to talk.”
Her pulse quickened at the idea of being alone with him, even though she knew once they started talking, her hurt wouldn’t allow for any line crossing. “You’re soaked. Maybe we should do this another time.”
“I’m fine, and we’re doing this now,” he said sternly.
“When did you get so pushy?”
His eyes narrowed. “Since kissing the woman who still sets my world on fire after a freaking decade.”
There was no mistaking the authority in his tone, and heaven help her, because all her loneliest parts were waving surrender flags. “I have to tell Sable I’m getting a ride home.”
She headed for Sable, and he moved with her. “Reed. I can do this alone.”
“Right. Sorry.” He shook his head as if he hadn’t realized he’d been following her and crossed his arms, watching as she slipped her feet into her sandals and headed for Sable.
She felt the heat of his gaze blazing a trail behind her and Sable’s hawklike focus on her up ahead. By the time she reached Sable, she was annoyed about being caught in a web of inspection.
Sable stopped playing her guitar and called out, “You leaving with Reed?” so loud that everyone around her looked over.
Great.Grace would probably be the talk of the town at Gossip Central, aka Stardust Café, tomorrow. She made a point of answering loud enough for everyone to hear. “He’s just driving me home. I’ll see you there.”
Or maybe she was really trying to deliver that message to herself. As she made her way back to Reed, every step brought a thrum of anticipation followed by a pang of anxiety.
Reed fell into step beside her.
“It’s like you’re ready to step into the shoes we filled all those years ago,” she said, even though she didn’t know if that was true. She needed boundaries, more rules, orsomething. Feeling out his intentions gave her a modicum of control. “I outgrew those shoes. I’m sure you did, too.”
“I don’t want to fill those old shoes, Grace,” he said as she slowed her pace. “I’m just not afraid to admit that I still feel something for you, and I don’t want to pretend otherwise.”
She stopped walking and studied his face for a moment. He was dead serious.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I honestly have no idea, but I have a feeling we need to find out.”
He cocked a grin and returned his hand to her lower back as they ascended the hill, as if he already knew the answer, sending her stomach into knots again.
“That’s what you said the first time I convinced you to meet me after school,” he reminded her. “Remember?”
Yeah, she remembered all right. They’d seen each other at football games, and she’d ended up searching for him when their teams went head-to-head. Then she’d seen him in town at the public library, where she used to hang out with Sophie. He’d asked her to meet him there after school one day, and that had been the start of it all.
“I’m going to take that smile as a yes,” he said as he opened the door to his truck and retrieved the jacket he’d promised. He held it up, and then his expression became pinched and he tossed it behind the front seat. “Hold on.”
“What’s wrong with that jacket?”
He ignored her question and dug around back there, pulling out a navy hooded sweatshirt. He helped her put it on, and the smile that crept across his lips as the soft cotton tumbled down her hips was one of sheer pleasure.
“That’s better, Gracie. Just like the old days.”
“In the old days my clothes wouldn’t be wet.”
