Page 76 of An Unexpected Turn
“Yes, but repeating it is fine.” She grabbed the back of my head and pressed her lips to mine. “I love you too.”
“Text me when you get home.”
I shoved my hands into my pockets and watched as she drove off. When I shifted back toward my truck, Mike was facing forward, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t turned his head and seen me kissing his guidance counselor. But I felt no panic or dread if he did. I loved Peyton enough to tell him the truth about anything he may have noticed or seen tonight.
“You can always talk to me about your mom or anything else. Don’t take that burden on when you don’t have to.”
He nodded, focusing on the whiz of cars outside his window.
“I know. And listen, it’s okay that Ms. Miller is your girlfriend. I like her. I think she makes you happy. It’s really not a big deal.”
It was time for me to whip my head around and my mouth to gape in shock.
“You figured that out tonight?”
He rolled his eyes in my periphery. “No, but I heard you the other night speaking to someone named Peyton and saying I love you. Plus, you guys always look like you’re afraid to look at each other for some reason. I thought that was weird until I heard you on the phone.” He shrugged when we pulled into the driveway. “I just hope she was kidding about that Santa suit.”
My eyes followed Mike into the house as I gaped at him, in awe of my son and the wisdom beyond his fourteen years.
I pulled out my phone when he ran upstairs.
Me:Mike told me it’s fine that you’re my girlfriend. Turns out he heard me say I love you to a Peyton over the phone and connected the dots.
Peyton:I rehearsed running into you all afternoon for nothing? What a waste.
Peyton:He’s okay with it?
Me:He is. He said he’s happy I’m happy.
Peyton:I’m happy you’re happy too.
Me:You have no idea how happy I am right now, sweetheart.
Me:Next time, you have dinner here. Maybe even stay for the night.
Peyton:That’s a big leap. Are you sure?
Me:More like it’s about time.
It had taken too long for me to find the guts to be happy. I wasn’t wasting a second.
THIRTY
PEYTON
“Hey, beautiful,” Jake murmured against my lips. His mouth had been on mine the second he’d stepped through my door.
“Hey yourself,” I chuckled against his mouth. “Did you miss me that much?”
“Always.” He framed my face, his blue eyes twinkling. “But I have a surprise for you.”
“It’s not Christmas for another couple of weeks, but okay,” I said, trying to hold on to my wide smile.
The thought of spending the entire Christmas holiday keeping the man I loved a secret made me want to scream and cry at the same time. Neither of us had been able to get a hold of my uncle for weeks, and when I did see him for a few minutes, Jake wasn’t able to be there. I was so close to breaking the promise I’d made to Jake and just telling Uncle Keith the truth. I’d gladly bear the brunt of his anger if we could finally be out in the open.
“How would you like to spend the entire weekend with me?”
“I’d love it, but where?”
