Page 25 of Part of Forever
Grace’s eyes go wide. “Before or after the kiss?”
“Before.”
“And the two of you kissed?” She gestures between me and Tucker and I still feel his eyes on me, but I can’t bring myself to look at him yet. I’m hot all over. This wasn’t how I thought tonight would go.
“Yes,” I say, sounding much calmer than I actually feel.
“So thisisa Jess and Rory moment!” Grace jumps up and down a little as she says it, as if she’s been hoping for this to happen.
“I guess so,” I tell her.
“Um,” Tucker says. “What does that even mean?”
Grace rolls her eyes. “He’ll never know about our other true love.” Then to Tucker, she says, “If you know, you know.” He kind of shrugs, still waiting for her to explain. It’s kind of cute that he doesn’t get herGilmore Girlsreference. But if she’s not going to explain, then neither am I.
“Wait,” I say, because she said ourothertrue love. “What is our first love?”
“Dance for you, Disney for me,” she says. “Now I’m going to sit, because standing here in this circle is kind of weird.”
“And me,” Tucker says suddenly, and we all look at him. Grace raises her eyebrows and even though this moment feels like it shouldn’t be funny, I almost start laughing. What is he talking about?
“And you what?” Nathan asks and I let out a giggle. Grace’s cheek twitches.
“I’m one of your true loves.” Tucker says it confidently, his eyes not leaving mine, and I know my cheeks are red.
“Um, no,” Grace says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to follow her onto the couch. “You probably don’t even make the top five… the ocean has to fit in there somewhere.”
I nod in agreement. “But you, um, do make the list…” Did I just say that out loud?
“I’ll just sing for you again.” He winks. “That seems to dosomething to ya.” Without another word, he sits next to me, our arms and legs touching, but he doesn’t reach for my hand.
“Oo, he’s good,” Grace says.
“Of course I am. I’m Tucker Bensen and everyone falls in love with me,” he says sarcastically. Nathan smacks him with a pillow and we all laugh.
AfterBambiis done, we head upstairs to see if there is any pizza left. Grace tells Nathan she has an outfit that she wants his opinion on and they head off in the direction of her bedroom.
“So,” I say, looking at Tucker, who’s already watching me.
So,” he says back. He’s leaning against the counter and there’s a part of me that wants to move closer and kiss him, but my body seems to be rooted to the spot.
“I have something to show you,” he says suddenly, grabbing my hand and pulling me through the house and to his makeshift bedroom. I think it was technically an old storage space, since there isn’t a window. His bed has been shoved into the corner, and on the opposite end of the room is a large dresser.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in your room before,” I say as I take it all in. Even though it’s cramped, it’s tidy.
“Uh, yeah.” He runs a hand through his hair, then motions to the bed. “Sit, please.”
“Oh-kay,” I say slowly. I sit on his bed and lean against his pillows, which smell like him—pine and spearmint. I close my eyes and inhale again.
My heart speeds up as I open my eyes. He is leaning down to open his guitar case. There’s a crash from somewhere in the house and then somewhat muffled voices of Micah and Kenny yelling at each other.
He closes the door so it’s only opened acrack. “Never a dull moment here,” he says sheepishly and runs a hand through his hair again, like he’s nervous.
“I like it,” I say honestly, because I do love it here. Even with dance, I spent so much of my childhood here. “My house is far too quiet all the time.”
“Yeah, I don’t really remember quiet. Someone is always making noise here.” He sits on the edge of his bed, across from me, and pulls his guitar into his lap.
“How do you even think?” I ask as there’s another thud from somewhere above us, this time followed by laughter. “How do you write songs?”
