Page 54 of Set It Right
“I’ll text you back this time. When you go, if you send me a message, I’ll reply.”
The corners of her mouth lifted. “Good. I’d really like it if you did. We can’t be muddy kids anymore, but we can remember what it was like when we were.”
I cocked my head, doing nothing to hold back my smile. “I don’t know. I think you could borrow a bow from Hannah. Though…I’m not sure you could tackle me to the ground anymore.”
She gasped. “Are you kidding me? I could take you down in a heartbeat. I might be short, but I’m strong, and your center of gravity is way too high.”
That got me laughing. “All right. If you want to believe that, you can.”
“We can go outside right now, Cormac Kelly. I’ll prove it.”
My shoulders shook at her fierce expression. She meant it. Hell, she probably would knock me right off my feet. I wouldn’t put anything past this woman.
“I’m good,” I choked out. “I concede.”
When it came to Zara, there was not a chance I would win.
I was finally learning to accept that.
Chapter Twenty
Zara
Mysmilehadlastedlonger than I’d expected. Cormac had gone home, the dishes had been cleared, my face was shiny and clean, and the lights were off.
Lying in my bed, I faced the wall of windows, and slowly, it slipped away.
The view from here was the same as the living room, with Cormac’s house in the distance. The lights were off downstairs, but one still shone upstairs. Was that his bedroom? Or did he still like having a night-light glowing all night like he had as a kid?
Was he awake? If he was, was he thinking about our conversation?
I’ll text you back.
He should have texted me way back then. Why’d he let me go?
Why had we had to let each other go at all? I’d lost so much in such a short period of time, I’d never expected Cormac to be another loss on top of far too many.
He hadn’t fought for me, but I’d pulled away first.
It was my fault.
I’d been stupid and young and a little flighty.
But mostly, I’d been afraid.
Six Years Ago…
My heart thumped in my chest like a door knocker as Cormac wove his way through the student union food court, heading straight toward me. I hadn’t seen him in person in months. I’d let myself forget what this felt like: to be the only person in a crowded room and the sole recipient of his smile and attention.
I stood from the table I’d found for us, and he wrapped me in his long arms, pressing my face to his chest. His heart was dancing the same wild rhythm as mine.
“Hey, you,” he murmured into my hair. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Hey, Maccie.” I rubbed my face back and forth against his soft T-shirt, inhaling his scent. It would always smell like home to me. “Did you get taller?”
He chuckled and slowly released me, taking the seat next to mine. “Maybe. I’m not really counting.” His eyes swept over me, warmth and happiness radiating out of him like sunshine. “Look at you, college girl.”
I tugged on my Savage U T-shirt. “It still feels like I’m playing a part. I can’t believe I’m really here.”
