in the tray on my nightstand dumped, and my bed made. I could already tell by the crisp lines in the sheet that they had been cleaned. I frowned, wondering if my mom had cleaned up. Mrs. Greene stopped bothering a long time ago. I checked the bathroom for Bee, but when I didn’t find her, I headed back downstairs.
Where could she be?
I checked every room downstairs before heading out back. My heart was beating a mile a minute, wondering if she’d left me. Could I blame her if she had? Could she blame me when I tracked her down and dragged her back?
The sigh of relief I breathed was loud when I finally spotted her standing by the line of trees I’d chased her through the day we met. Her hands were covering her eyes, and she was shouting something.
As if on autopilot, I drifted toward her. I was halfway across the yard when I realized she was shouting numbers, counting down. Curious, I held my breath when she got to one.
“Ready or not, here I come!”
She moved into the trees, and I frowned as I followed, keeping my steps silent and Barbette oblivious.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Giggling had our heads swiveling in the direction of the noise. I could see the sneaky grin on Bee’s face as she tiptoed toward the hollow tree the sound had come from. She was two steps away when two small figures darted out, squealing as they ran farther into the trees to escape capture.
“Oh, come on, guys!” Barbette shouted after my brother and sister. “No fair!” She started to chase after them when she suddenly spun around. Her lips parted when she spotted me standing there. “Jamie,” she gasped. “You scared me.”
“You scared me, too,” I admitted as I closed the distance between us. Of course, it wasn’t what she meant, but I didn’t care. I needed her to understand why I’d been an asshole to her after she risked her life for me. It didn’t excuse my behavior, but at least she’d know the truth. “I read somewhere once that fear is temporary. It’s regret that lasts forever.” Before she knew what was happening, her back was against the tree. “I don’t want to let you go because I was too chickenshit to love you.”
Her small hands fluttered against my chest as her blue eyes filled with hope. “Then don’t let me go, James.”
The tips of our noses nuzzled as I brushed her lips with mine. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a dick. Do you still love me?”
“You’ve been a dick since the day we met, and I still fell for you.” She frowned before giving me that same look my mother gave me. Yeah, I was an idiot.
Kissing her because I didn’t know what else to do, I wrapped my arms around her. “Please don’t stop.”
“Never.”
I didn’t even try to hide my relief, which made her giggle. “I have to leave for school in a couple of months.”
“Philly isn’t that far away,” she assured me, even though she looked sad to see me go. “Promise to visit every weekend?”
“Now that’s an idea… or you could just come with me.”
“Go… Go with you?” She was so shocked I could tell the thought had never occurred to her. “Jamie, I can’t do that.”
“Why? What’s keeping you here?” I challenged.
“Nothing, but you don’t actually expect me to live with you in your dorm, do you? Is that even allowed?”
“I’ve got an apartment. You can decorate.” She punched me in the chest, making me laugh, and then I kissed her senseless.
“Don’t you think it’s too soon?”
“We lost five years, Bette. I’m not losing another day.” My hand started creeping up the red tank she wore. I was pleased to find she’d skipped a bra today. Her nipples had been beckoning me from the moment she caught me stalking her. “Besides, there’s no one who knows you better.” I swept my thumb back and forth over her hard right bud as I waited for her answer.
“I know what you’re doing.”
I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling. “Is it working?”
“Yes,” she whined. “You’re not playing fair.”
Deciding on mercy, I let my hand slide to her waist. I wanted her as clearheaded as possible when she made this forever decision because that’s what Bee and I were. Forever.
“I want to fight with you over leaving the toilet seat up and forgetting to take out the trash. I want to see your smile when