Page 73 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“Weare,” Brindle insisted. “I never told Mom and Dad about the time me and Morgy—”
“Stop!” Morgyn slapped her hand over Brindle’s mouth, causing everyone to laugh. “Whatever was going to come out of that trap of yours needs to stay locked up.”
Grace went to her father and said something Reed couldn’t hear. The look in Cade’s eyes and the hug he gave her told him things were going to be okay.
Better than okay, he thought when Grace returned to his side.
She hugged him and said, “Thank you.”
“I’d do anything for you, Gracie. I would have told the world back then if I hadn’t thought it would come back on you.”
They followed the others down the driveway, and Reed said, “Let’s let the others leave first. That way I don’t have to drive three miles an hour behind my uncle.”
“You always did hate driving slow.”
“Or maybe I want a reason to be alone in the car with you.” He gathered her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers.
“Hurry up, lovebirds!” Brindle said as she and Morgyn ran past. “We have rumors to spread!”
Chapter Twenty-Six
REED STOPPED FOR gas on the way to the jam session, and the pump must have been slow, because it took forever. When they got on the road, he drove past the Jerichos’ street.
“You missed the turn,” she pointed out.
He pulled her tighter against his side. “I got a text when I was pumping gas. I need to make a quick stop, if you don’t mind.” He drove through town and to the high school. The parking lot was packed.
“It looks like there’s something going on,” she said as they climbed from the truck.
“There’s a fundraising meeting tonight. I’m bidding on a job and just have to pick up the papers from the family. They’re going out of town tomorrow.”
“I thought your next job was the Majestic.”
“Mm-hm. This is a small one. I don’t close on the theater for a few weeks yet.” They ascended the stairs, and he held the door open while she walked inside.
It was eerily quiet. “Where’s the meeting?” she whispered.
“In the auditorium. Why are you whispering?”
“I don’t know. It feels like I should.”
He chuckled. “For a girl who snuck out to hang with a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, you don’t seem to have another rebellious bone in your body.”
She poked his side. “Don’t make fun. I used up all my rebellion on lying to my family. That was hard for me.”
“I know, baby. I remember. I love that you’re only abadgirl with me, in private.” He stopped outside the auditorium and wrapped his arms around her, gazing deeply into her eyes. “Sorry we’re late to the party, baby.”
“I don’t mind. It’s not like I haven’t been to a hundred jam sessions at the Jerichos’ before. If Phoenix and Lauryn weren’t playing instruments for the first time, and if my sisters hadn’t gone to so much trouble to make me look half decent, I would say let’s skip it and go lie out under the stars by the creek in your backyard.”
“You look way better than half decent, and we’re not missing this party. We’re not missing anything ever again.” His lips came coaxingly down over hers in a deep, slow, penetrating kiss. “Ready?”
“The way you kiss, I’m always ready.”
“I love you, baby.” He took her in another delicious kiss.
“Maybe I should wait out here?”
He shook his head, his slanted smile playing with her heart. “No way. We have only one more week before you go back to New York. I want to spend every minute with you.”
