“What us?” I boomed, grateful the parking lot was still pretty much deserted.
“Exactly. Men!” Kellie threw her hands up and started to stalk away.
“Where are you going?”
“What’s it matter?”
“Marshmallow!” I called after her, but she didn’t slow. Instead, her sassy ass swayed as she stormed across the parking lot headed for who knows where.
Roaring in frustration, I slammed the tailgate shut and chased after her. Reaching her side, I grabbed her arm, halting her in her tracks, and spun her toward me.
“What! What do you want, Jake?” she asked, tears filling her eyes, shattering me.
“You. You’re what I want, Kellie,” I told her honestly before slamming my lips down over hers, kissing her the way I’d been dreaming about for months.
Not much had changed since then. Kellie was still sassy and frustrating and drove me completely insane. Seeing her the other night had brought all those memories flooding back, bringing back a smile I hadn’t been able to wipe off since.
“I thought I might find you up here,” Mom said as she panted up the hill.
“I just needed some space.”
“You always loved this spot.”
“Yeah. It was where…”
“You were going to build your house,” Mom finished.
“You knew about that?”
“Here.”
“What is it?” I asked as Mom handed me a plastic folder.
“Your father had it drawn up for you.”
“Had what drawn up?” I asked, looking up at Mom as I untied the string holding it together.
“He loved you.”
“He had a funny way of showing it.”
“Maybe, but you should know he did. He only wanted you to be here and happy.”
“No, he didn’t. He never accepted me. Never listened to what I wanted.”
“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong, Jake. He just didn’t know how to show it. You were both so pig-headed sometimes. But he listened. Just take a look and see,” Mom said cryptically before turning and leaving me sitting there.
I waited until she’d vanished through the tree line before turning back to the folder in my hand. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what was inside. The last time Dad left me something, I ended up becoming the owner of this whole place, something I hadn’t been ready for and wasn’t even sure I ever would be.
Curiosity got the better of me, though.
Pulling the papers out, I gasped, completely shocked.
There was our dream house. Kellie’s and mine. All designed, planned, and ready to go. Ready to be built exactly where I was sitting.
ChapterSeven
Kellie
