“Phoebe wasn’t out then,” I told her. “It wasn’t my story to tell. We broke up at the end of the summer, and that was the end of it until she came back last month.”
Mom tapped a finger against her lips. “So that’s why you two quit speaking. I always wondered.”
“That’s why.”
“And now you’re back together,” she said. “Is it serious?”
“I don’t know.” And that was basically the whole problem. “I think it could be…but she’s headed back to Boston soon, so I just don’t see a future for us.”
“There’s no possibility of her staying?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Sounds like you two need to have a talk about it.” Mom shifted her gaze to look over my shoulder, letting me know that Phoebe was on her way back. Sure enough, she slid in beside me a few moments later, and this time, I took her hand. It seemed pointless to deny what my mom—and who knew who else—had already figured out.
“Want to dance?” I asked her.
Her whole expression brightened. “I’d love to.”
We excused ourselves from my mom and walked to the part of the lawn where other couples were dancing. There wasn’t a dance floor, so we were limited by our ability to dance on grass, but Phoebe and I were up for the challenge. After a few minutes, a ballad began to play, and we moved closer to each other.
“I’m sorry I was trying to hold you at arm’s length tonight,” I said as I took her hands in mine, tugging her in for a kiss as we began to sway to the music.
Her eyes widened, reflecting the bulbs overhead like stars in the night sky. “Well, I’m glad you changed your mind.”
“Me too.” I slid an arm around her waist, and she settled against me, her cheek resting against mine, or more like against the side of my chin. Our height difference was more pronounced when she wore flats.
“What changed your mind?” she asked, looking up at me.
“I hated not touching you, for one thing,” I told her. “But also, my mom figured it out anyway.”
Phoebe’s lips curved in a smile before she ducked her head, resting it in the crook of my neck. “Why does that not surprise me?”
“She’s pretty observant,” I agreed.
“And you’re okay with it?”
“Sure. It’s not like I didn’t want people to know we’re together. I just…I’m scared of you leaving.”
“Well, I’m not leaving tonight,” she said quietly. “I might not leave at all if you’d quit pushing me away.”
“What?” I drew back to look at her.
She met my gaze head-on. “Things will have to change, it’s true. I don’t own the cabin, and my dad’s getting antsy for me to finish up so he can rent it out. Not to mention, I’m paying for a condo in Boston that’s sitting empty. But change doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and it certainly doesn’t mean we have to break up.”
“I want to believe that.” With my hands resting on her waist, the warmth of her body beneath my fingers, and the full force of those chocolate eyes on mine, I wanted forever with this woman.
“Then let’s just go with the flow and see what happens,” she said.
“I don’t know if that’s enough for me, but I’m trying.”
“What part of it isn’t enough?” she asked.
“The part where you go back to Boston, whenever and however it happens.”
“I’m trying to tell you that maybe I won’t go,” she whispered, pressing a kiss against my neck. “I’d have to find a job here…and a home, and those are big things to think about when you and I have only been together a few weeks. I won’t make promises I can’t keep, but I want to make this work, Taylor.”
I pulled her closer. “I’m sorry for pushing you away earlier.”
