I trudged outside, dropping the plates on the glass table with a huff. Dad was going to let us see each other, I should have been happy. And I would have been, if I was sure Dylan still wanted to see me. A three-day separation shouldn’t have screwed with my head like this. What I had with Dylan felt like a giant bubble. When I was a kid I’d slowly blow into the hole in my wand, my eyes widening as the bubble grew bigger and bigger, excitement fluttering through me that maybe I could keep going forever—until it popped. Maybe I’d secretly expected Dylan and me to … pop.
I separated the plates and counted out five. Mom had given me an extra one by mistake. I put it aside and continued with other place settings.
“I don’t get a plate, sweet girl?”
The plates clattered onto the table after they fell from my arms. My head whipped toward Dylan’s voice. He was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, wearing a black T-shirt and khaki shorts, and a wide smile lifting his cheeks as he inched toward me.
He grabbed my face before pressing a light kiss to my lips. “Did you get even more gorgeous the past few days?”
“What …” Couldn’t I make it through one sentence without blubbering today?
“I went to see your dad today. I’d had enough of this separation or whatever it was. I told him I’d play by his rules, but I wouldn’t leave. I told you, I’m not goinganywhere. Ever.”
I flung my arms around his neck before he lifted me off the ground. He swung me around as if I were a rag doll in his arms.
“I missed you.” I wanted to devour his lips, but didn’t want to push our luck. He was here with me,forme, and it wasn’t a secret we had to hide. That was enough.
“I missedyou, sweet girl.” He set me down and kissed my forehead. “I asked if I could take you to a movie after dinner.” I squinted at his sneaky grin.
“What movie?” I couldn’t care less where Dylan took me, as long as we were together and didn’t have to lie about it anymore.
“No movie,” he whispered before pulling me closer. “You’re coming home with me. I haven’t seen you in three days, and I’ve hardly even spoken to you.” His lips brushed mine. “I may have to park around the corner, but I’m going out of my mind. I won’t be able to touch you here. In fact,nottouching you here is a pretty big rule.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as my eyes darted from Dylan to the back door to our kitchen. “Well, didn’t you say you told my father you’d play byallthe rules.”
“I did.” He nodded, his lips curling in a slow grin. “But I never said I’d be a saint.”
He winked and kissed my cheek, lingering for a minute before my father cleared his throat behind us.
Maybe we had that soul crushing love after all, because neither of us would ever stop fighting for it.
38
Jack
I stood at my parents’back gate and lingered for a minute before making my presence known. Things were a lot different now than when I’d left. Three months felt like a lifetime ago. The entire time I stayed at my parents’ house after the accident, I’d spent every second pissed off at the universe because of the painful curveball it had thrown me. Now, gratitude washed over me at the second chance I’d received. Maybe I wouldn’t get my old life back, but I hadalife.
I scanned the backyard; the tiki lights my sister made draped the fence, the table full of food, Dylan perched next to my sister as she leaned into him. I guessed it all worked out or Dad figured out a way to tolerate it, as there was no question whether they appeared to be “together.”
“Deciding on whether or not to stay?” Uncle Evan said from behind me. “We can leave and hit the bar before they see us.”
“True,” I said without looking back at him. “Do you think Mom would let you get away with that?”
“Hell, no.” He laughed. “Hey guys, look who’s home?” Four heads whipped in our direction at the sound of Uncle Evan’s voice. My mother was the first to pummel me in a bear hug, followed shortly by my sister. My chest rumbled with a laugh as I spotted Dad over their heads chuckling along with me.
“Aren’t you staying, Evan?” My mom kept her hold on me and craned her head to my uncle.
“The girls are all home tonight for a change, and I figured you’d want your boy to yourself for now.” He came over and slapped my back with a wink. “Just a hunch.”
I smiled as Uncle Evan made his way out of the backyard, leaving me in my mother’s and sister’s death grip.
Dylan stood and made his way over to us, smiling at the hold these tiny women had around my waist. I wrapped my arms around them both and let out an exaggerated sigh.
“Not that a big welcome isn’t appreciated, but I just saw you both. I’m not returning from war.”
Mom swatted my chest before lifting her head to kiss my cheek.
“I’m glad to see my son home and back on his feet.” As she scowled at me with tears flooding her eyes, shame flooded my veins at all I’d put her through. I kissed her forehead and dropped my head on her shoulder.
