I nod distractedly. Jenson’s blond hair has gotten longer since the last time I saw him. It’s a little shaggy, nearly the length it was when he was a teenager, the last time I got to touch him. I always liked his hair shaggy. I liked running my fingers through it over and over again.
I reach back to pull my shoulder-length black hair up off my neck. I’m sweaty all of a sudden, and with this type of material, the sweat’s going to show through my dress any second.
“Although it may rain,” Mom chatters on, “which hopefully would cool everything off.”
I hear her voice like background noise. I hug Kyle closer to me, wondering how long Jenson’s in town for.
“Livia!” Connor nearly trips in his haste to jump up on the couch in between Mom and me. “Aunt Nora!”
Mom hugs him tightly. “Hi, sweetheart. Aren’t you boys growing up quickly?”
I lean in to give Connor a kiss. “Hey, little man. You get taller every time I see you.”
“Daddy drove really fast to get here.” Connor’s green eyes match his identical twin brother’s, and they shine with excitement. “He said we made excellent time.”
I smile at him. “Good for you guys. We’re all happy to see you.”
No one more than me.
* * *
Jenson
I can’t find her. I’ve got my head on a damn swivel as I glance around the room while trying to keep up with the conversation in front of me. My stepdad, Dee, is talking my ear off, but my attention is elsewhere. It’s where it’s always been—on Olivia Graham. Like always, Olivia is the best part of coming home. Sheishome to me.
Our relationship’s always been complicated, but she’s been my closest friend since we were kids and, outside of my mom, one of only two people in the world who knows the entire truth about my family.
Once I grew old enough to like girls, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be with Olivia. I can’t remember a moment I didn’t crave her. No matter how challenging things got, I never stopped believing we had a chance and that somehow, fate would find a way to step in and make this right.
But before I knew it, nearly eight years had passed from that summer night when Olivia was sixteen and innocent, too innocent for me to feel right taking things to a level we couldn’t come back from. Eight years I can’t get back, but I’m not about to let another day slip by.
Olivia Graham and I deserve to be together for real. And this time, I’m going to lay all my cards on the table with her. This time, I’m going to give her everything. I just hope she still wants it.
I finally locate her crossing the room at a brisk pace. Her long legs are as toned as ever, and her body looks like heaven and sin in that dress. Her shiny black hair hangs perfectly down her back. She’s in pain, though—if the narrowing of her eyes isn’t enough evidence, the way she’s scrunching up her nose makes it crystal clear.
I move toward her without thinking. Olivia doesn’t need saving; she never did. She detests the very concept. But one thing she’s always loved? Disappearing with me to a place where no one else can find us.
ThatI can do.
