She sighed. “No. Look, when we were kids you had a crush on me, and in high school I was barely aware of you.”
“Thanks so much.” He swore under his breath as the snow started coming down. “Yeah, I thought you were hot. And for a beautiful girl, you didn’t have that phony attitude a lot of the others did. You were always real. In your own way you were nice to me.”
“You made me laugh.” She smiled, remembering his antics. “To be honest, I was a little bummed when you transferred to Mountain View High.”
“Me too. But they had the courses I wanted. I was obsessed with you back then. And yeah, you could probably say I stalked you a little. Innocent, but I was so into you. I would have done anything for you.”
Then, went unspoken.
She coughed. “So, um, you don’t think I’m blaming you anymore for that? I enjoyed myself at the prom. I just didn’t like how we’d gotten there, but not that we were there, if that makes sense.”
“I guess. Then I had to ruin things by showing up in town and doing it all over again, eh?” He snorted with derision. “I’m not as bright as I thought I was.”
“Dex, stop.” She put a hand on his arm, and he tensed beneath her. “I’m glad you came back, glad you forced me to go out with you.” She squeezed. “I like you a lot.”
“Could have fooled me.” He turned and glared at her. “And for the record, my mother isnota bigot. You’re the one with the chip on your shoulder about race.”
“I know.” She sighed. They’d turned off the main drag onto a private road. “Your mom was fine. I have issues, okay?”
“Okay,” he said gruffly. “Not saying you aren’t entitled. There are some real jackasses around, Selena being one. But damn, Maya. Let it go. You should only care about the people who love you and what they think.”
Are you one of them?she wanted to ask. She glanced around at the handsome cabin in the middle of nowhere. So close to the ski resort yet far enough away, tucked on private land. “I don’t see her car yet.”
“Good. We’re here early.” He turned off the ignition, but before he could go in, she grabbed his arm.
“Wait, Dex. I have something I need to say.”
“Go ahead.” He turned to face her, and she stared at him, not sure where to begin.
“I miss you.”
He didn’t respond, but his jaw clenched.
“I’m so sorry for how I ended things. Your mom was just an excuse.”
“But why?”
Her hand slid down to his and squeezed it tight. He didn’t squeeze back, but he didn’t pull away either. “This is going to sound stupid, but I was too happy.”
After a moment, he pulled his hand away. “You’re right. That is stupid.”
“Just listen, would you?” So annoying, this man. No wonder she loved him. “You made me so happy. I kept waiting for it all to go bad. I’m not lucky when it comes to love. Actually, I’ve never been in love.” She took a deep breath. “Until you.”
“Wait. You’re saying you love me, so you broke it off with me.”
“I know, stupid.”Such an idiot, Maya.“I had a big talk with my dad last night. That’s why I was so late getting up. We discussed my mom leaving and how it impacted us both. I’ve been afraid of getting my heart broken for a long time.”
His expression seemed to soften. Fingers crossed…
“I got in way deep with you. I didn’t mean to. But hell, you’re hot and you know it. Don’t even pretend you don’t know how good-looking you are.”
His small grin relieved her. “It’s the biceps, right? Chicks dig the biceps.”
“No, dork. It’s you. You’re funny and nice. No, don’t frown. Trust me. Nice is good. Nice is great. And if it makes you feel any better, you’re not nice in bedat all. You turn me on just by breathing.”
“Yeah, well, you too.” His smile left him. “But I wasn’t going to break up with you because of it.”
“Look, I already admitted I was an idiot. I fell hard for you, and I couldn’t handle it. Then your mom made me extra nervous, because I wanted so much for her to like me. I know how close you and your family are.”
