I smiled. Being alone with him sounded great. Pat grabbed Valiant’s leash off the hood, then put it back when he realized Valiant was fast asleep in his dog bed.
It had stopped raining, but the humidity made my skin and dress feel damp all over again. The excessive amount of lights around the apartment complex lit the path, despite it being past 9:30 p.m. Pat walked slowly beside me, tapping his hands in his pockets as we walked. His mannerisms were adorable, and I caught myself stealing glances at him.
I tore my eyes back to the sidewalk. “Okay, tell me the best part.”
“Well, I found out this morning I probably have a daughter.”
I stopped abruptly. “A daughter?” The words escaped on a breath. “How? Are you serious?”
His face broke into a full smile as he told me about the time capsule and about Gracie’s letter. The baby was named Sunny. The fitting choice made me smile; her existence was a bright spot in so much pain. He beamed as he talked about her.
“I assumed our intimacy was the first time for both of us.” Pat palmed the back of his neck, and his smile faded. “Man, I was stupid, thinking there were no consequences for my actions.” He back peddled a little. “Not that Sunny is a consequence. But the fact she has never known her parents? That shouldn’t happen. I regret it for her sake.”
I nodded, not knowing what to say. The reality of Sunny was bittersweet. She was a product of love and pain. Hope and regret mingled together. He guided me onto a bench near my apartment door.
“Gracie seemed pretty sure Sunny is mine. Said she looked like me.” The smile returned, and his eyes searched mine in the yellow light of the sidewalk lamps. He scooped my hand into both of his, his thumbs running in circles over the back of it. My pulse went into overdrive.
“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I was a coward. This morning I told my parents, and it gave me some courage to bring all this to the light. I promise I was going to tell you. That’s why I took you to the park—”
“Pat, stop. I’m the one who’s sorry.” I stumbled for words, feeling like a dummy. “I freaked out. I should’ve waited to hear what you had to say.”
“Any normal person would react that way.”
Would they? I’m pretty sure friends wouldn’t. I reacted irrationally because Patrick wasn’t my friend anymore. He caught me watching his thumbs gliding across my hand.
His grip loosened. “This not casual enough?”
The thought of him letting go made my heart stutter. I squeezed his hands and almost choked on my words. “No, it’s fine. To be honest, I was starting to hate the casual thing anyway.” I laughed and regretted it. It was nasal and nervous sounding.
The corners of his mouth lifted, and he went back to tracing my knuckles. “I’d understand if you want to keep your distance. There’s history and baggage galore here.”
Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. This night had done nothing but throw fuel on my admiration for him. My first assumptions were still true; Pat was a catch.
“I want to be with you.” Heat rushed to my face, and I averted my eyes as I realized I’d admitted more than I’d intended. I wracked my brain for something I could add to dampen the weight of those words. Though theyweretrue, weren’t they?
Pat didn’t seem surprised or bothered. He tilted his head into my line of vision to catch my wandering gaze. His deep hazel eyes sucked me in. I couldn’t look away, even though heat radiated off my face and body. A drop of rain cooled my exposed shoulder.
“I want to be with you, too, Jules.”
He wasn’t talking about friendship either. I knew because his eyes dipped to my lips, and he tugged me closer. More drops fell from the sky, clear evidence the rain was on its way back. I hardly felt them.
“Thank you.”
“For—for what?”
“Coming back. Says a lot about you.”
“Oh, really? Like what?”
More drops of rain. One hit him on the forehead. “You’re forgiving. Want to believe the best. Full of hope. Generous with second chances.” He stood, keeping my hand clasped in his. “Let me walk you back so you don’t get soaked all over again.”
We walked the few steps to my unit, picking up speed as the rain did. It roared right as we stepped inside my corridor.
My heart rolled as we came to a stop on my doormat. Would he kiss me goodnight? I didn’t want to say goodnight yet, but I wanted to kiss him more than I wanted my very next breath. Urgency stirred within me, making my skin tingle.
Ineededto kiss Pat.
He turned my shoulders towards him. “I didn’t tell you earlier how beautiful you look. This color—” The words faded as a thoughtful frown crossed his face.
