An awkward silence followed. Trying to keep my cool, I reverted to the most recent subject. “So, your parents? Are they better now?”
“I don’t know. I guess. You know my mom. She wants me to be happy, but she also wants to keep the peace. My dad keeps reminding me that I have a job waiting for me if I decide I want to come back.”
“Well, I guess that’s good, right?”
“Yeah. I guess. It’s good to have a backup plan.” He took another swig. “What about you? What are your plans for after camp?”
“Not a clue. I feel like I’m just returning to the land of the living. Trying to take things one day at a time.”
“Makes sense. Summer goes by fast, though.”
“That’s true. I always felt that, especially here.”
“You know what that means, right?”
I shook my head.
“No time to waste,” he said, turning toward me.
“Shit,” I giggled, feeling the effects of almost two hard lemonades. “You look so serious.”
“I mean it. Being here with you, having you back, just having aconversationwith you. I’m… I don’t know. Overwhelmed?”
“Maybe you’re just drunk.” I smiled.
“Nope. I can hold my alcohol. You, on the other hand—”
“What? I’m totally fine!”
“Really? You’re one hundred percent in your right head space?”
“Maybe ninety-nine,” I said, raising my bottle. I mused aloud at how the sentence reminded me of that old song, “Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall…”Matt shook his head at my random singing.
I set my Mike’s down on the coffee table. “So, tell me,” I said, my face suddenly composed. “Do you really want to make out?”
“No,” he replied, shaking his head.
“Really?” I whined.
“Don’t misunderstand me, Roberts. Iwantto. More than that, Iplanto. But not now, and not like this.” He patted my knee. “My little lightweight.”
“I’m really fine,” I said, frowning.
“Look at me, Taylor.” He stared intently, his gaze pushing deep into my psyche. I gulped, raising my eyebrows,unable to look away.
“You need to hear this, buzzed or not,” he went on. “I never got over you. I’mstillnot over you.”
Hearing those words, my body weight slowly fell towards him, my eyes closing. I stopped short, surprised to find his hands on my shoulders, holding me back. My eyes opened, and I struggled to process what was happening.
“Based on everything you told me tonight, I’ll be damned if I’m going to rob you of the chance to feel every little bit of how much I want you.”
I stared at him, letting the words sink in.
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” he whispered. “It’s more than you could possibly imagine.” He kissed my forehead and grabbed the rest of his six-pack. “Glad you’re back, Roberts,” he whispered into my hair. Then, like a breeze changing course, he turned and closed the door gently behind him.
Chapter twenty-two
Present
