He came closer and leaned down to rest his forehead against hers.She could hear the waves rolling in behind them, steady and unhurried.
"Can we start with a clean slate?"
She held his gaze as she said, "I'd like to, but I need to be honest with you first as well."
"You don't have to if you don't want to."
"No, Ollie, I do.You were right that I wasn't honest with Alara about Reaves and his Friend Finder.I still haven't told her that I called her because he was worried about her."
"Yeah, but I shouldn't have thrown that back in your face."
She shrugged."You didn't throw it at me, you just reminded me.But even worse than that — Becca's the only one here who knows that...Well, her dad, Chuck knows as well."
He squeezed her hands."You really don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"But I do want to, Ollie.That's the point.We said no more secrets, right?"
He nodded.
"Well, this isn't a secret that I'm keeping from you.But I want you in on it with me."
"Okay, then."
"I told my folks that I moved out here for a job."
He raised his eyebrows."Not to make your pottery?"
"Nope.I told you I used to work at the bank.Well, I spent all my evenings and weekends first taking classes and then making things and selling them online.It took me a couple of years to build up enough of a business that I felt secure enough to make it my only income.But even when I showed them my savings and told them that I qualified for a mortgage without even including my bank salary, they were still too worried.They didn't get it.They still don't get it.They would have worried sick if they knew I was out here without a steady job.So, I told them what they wanted to hear."
He nodded slowly.
"Do you think I'm awful?"she asked.
"Hell no."He tugged her hands, and she planted her forehead in the middle of his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head."I think you're more like me than I realized.You care, and you try to manage people's feelings for them."
She looked up at that, and he nodded."I've done a lot of thinking over the last few days, Callie, and that's what I did to you.I tried to manage your feelings for you because I wanted a chance with you.My intentions were good, but—"
"Yeah, you're right.I'm doing the same thing with my folks.I'm lying to them with the best of intentions, but I'm still lying."
He nodded."Do you plan to tell them?"
"At some point, yeah.I just don't know when or how."She blew out a sigh.
She rested her hands in the middle of his chest and rose up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips."Thanks for being understanding."When she settled back down, the sun was warm on her shoulders despite the wind.
He ran his fingers down her cheek."Thank you for being understanding."
She shrugged."I wanted to understand.I didn't want it to be the end of us."
"And it's not going to be, is it?"he asked hopefully.
"No, but..."
He made a face."Just when I was starting to feel hopeful.What's the but?"
"I know that you're not who I thought you were, but I want you to tell me who you really are."
"I'm still me, still Ollie.It's just that my background's not what you thought."
