Page 39 of Coming Home
“Want to tell me about it?”
“Not really.”
Worry began to needle its way into my brain. “Can I at least sit with you out here?” I wouldn’t push him. He’d tell me when he was ready.
Reed patted the grass next to him, and I immediately sat down. I noticed he had put my shirt back on. “You’re in your underwear,” he commented.
“I wasn’t thinking. I just woke up, and you weren’t there,” I admitted. “Baby, are you sure you’re okay?”
He nodded. “I’ll be fine. I should probably think about heading back to my parents. Mom has class this morning.” But he didn’t make an attempt to get up, and we both sat there watching the water as the sun began to come up. It was a beautiful sunrise, but it didn’t compare to Reed. He put everything and everyone else to shame.
“Will I see you later?” I reached out to comb my fingers through his soft hair. When he didn’t answer, I scooted closer. “Reed, baby?”
He smiled as he tilted his head to look at me. “Sure, we can get together tonight.” Reed reached out to grab my hand and tangled our fingers together. “I’d like you to see me dance sometime.”
“Of course, I can come by the studio. Let me know when. I’d like nothing more.” I squeezed his hand lightly.
Reed glanced back at the lake. “I meant on stage. My school does a big production every spring. It’s a huge deal, too. My parents usually come up. Last year, they gave me flowers. I had a small part, but it was amazing. Maybe this year I’ll get the lead.”
“You will. And I’ll bring you so many roses that all your friends will be jealous. They’ll want to know where they can get a boyfriend who loves them as much as I love you.” I kissed the back of his hand.
Reed’s ears burned pink. “They wish they could have a man as wonderful as you.”
“Mm, damn right.” I tugged on his hand. “Come sit with me.”
Reed didn’t hesitate to crawl into my lap. He rested his head against my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around him.
“I’m so glad your dad got married. That he and Dean bought the house next door to my parents. That we were able to reconnect.”
“That would make two of us. This has been an amazing summer.” I tucked my nose into his hair and inhaled the scent of sweet pecans.
Reed sniffed softly. “The best.” He had tears in his eyes when he looked up again. “Sorry, I guess I was just sad thinking about if you hadn’t come down here. What if your dad got married somewhere else, and we never had this chance?”
“But that doesn’t matter. Because we’re here right now,” I reminded him. “Baby, are you sure you’re all right? You seem off.”
He nodded. “Just tired.”
“We had a busy night.” I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I should probably get going, though. I have to meet Jax at the arena by six, and I don’t want to be late.” But when I started to untangle myself from Reed, he clung to me. “I’ll be back later. I can take you out for dinner.”
Reed gave me a small smile. “That would be nice. I’d like that.”
“Anywhere you want. Text me where you want to go, and I’ll make it happen,” I assured him. When he climbed from my lap and stood, I followed. “Baby, you can always text me if you need to talk. I won’t have my phone on me while I’m on the ice, but I’ll check it as soon as we’re done.”
“Thank you. I’m okay, but thank you.”
“Promise me you’ll text me.”
Reed leaned up to kiss me, his lips warm against mine. “I promise.”
Chapter Twenty
Reed
Five years later
Iopened the door to the arena and stepped inside, instantly assaulted by the familiar scent of ice and the crisp, cool air of the hockey stadium. I was frozen where I stood as I watched the players below on the ice. Listened to their laughs and voices as they carried through the building. Before him, I knew nothing about the sport, but after him? Well, after him, I could tell you everything you wanted to know with my eyes closed. Just being here was enough to send me back to that summer. I tried to calm my racing heart, but this was all too much.
“You sure you want to be in here, babe?” My best friend, Zach Swan, nudged my side, his green eyes wide. “This doesn’t seem like your jam. And we both know it’s not mine.” He wrapped his arms around his body to prove his point. I had warned him to put on something warmer, but he said it wouldn’t look good with his silver top.
