neck. “Shelby,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry. I fucked everything up. My parents got into my head. They played me, using my past with Katie—”
“Just shut up,” I said, turning to face him. I pulled the elevator stop button because there was no way in hell I was having this conversation in either of our apartments. “When we first met, I thought you were a spoiled brat. And, well, you kind of were. But then you started coming to the tutoring center more and more, and you were so good with Sophia and with me…” My voice cracked as I faded out, shaking my head. “I just… I thought you were going to be different. And I didn’t lie to you—”
“I know,” he said. “I’m an idiot. My parents have had a lifetime of learning how to manipulate me. They won the round, but they’ve only won the game if we let them. If we walk away from each other when we don’t want to.”
“Who says I don’t want to?” I asked, folding my arms.
His smile was lightning fast and just as striking. “Because you could have left this conversation at any time and you haven’t.”
“Is that a challenge? Because I’m just about done here—”
“No, wait. I have a surprise for you upstairs.”
I rolled my eyes at that. “The last thing I want is for you to throw your money around to get me back.”
“I know. It’s not like that. Please, come up. Just for a second.”
I don’t know why I agreed. Curiosity, maybe. Or simply because I missed him.
Because damn did I miss him.
I leaned over and hit the button, starting the elevator moving once more. Silently, we made our way into his apartment, and Buddy came trotting over, hopping around, tail wagging, when he saw me. I knelt to pet him and allowed myself to nuzzle the long fur at his neck before I stood back up and faced Tate. “Okay,” I said, “what’s this surprise?”
“Let me start with the fact that I had no idea you’d be coming up tonight, so I’m a little unprepared. But…” He rushed around the kitchen, pulling out a milkshake machine like the one they have at diners—classic spindles that frothed the shake while blending. “I bought this earlier this week. It’s supposed to be the best.” He also grabbed mint chocolate chip ice cream from his freezer, milk from the fridge, and a sealed envelope from a drawer. He handed the letter to me and got to work on the milkshake.
“Tate, this is really weird. What are you—?”
“Just read.”
I opened the sealed letter, which had Cathy’s name scribbled along the edge.
My dearest Shelby, I’ll make this short. This boy’s a keeper. I don’t know what happened to split you up, and I will say to always trust your instincts wherever they may lead you. That being said, he has come into the diner the last four days learning how to make you your perfect milkshake. It’s really not that hard to make a milkshake, but I think he just wanted it perfect for you. Think hard before throwing this fish back. I love you, sweet girl. -Cathy
Tears sprung into my eyes, wet and fresh and salty, and damn, they burned. “You learned how to make me a milkshake?”
He paused, sliding over a glass of the mint chip shake. “I tried to learn. You tell me. How’d I do?”
I lifted the glass to my lips, ignoring the single tear that slid down the side of my nose. “It’s good,” I said, hiccupping. “Really good.”
He grinned proudly. “But not as good as Cathy’s right?”
“No one’s ever will be.”
His smile dropped into something more serene. “Maybe if you gave me a few more tries.”
We stood there staring at each other, suspended in time. Suspended between what my heart wanted and what my head kept trying to talk me out of. God, I was exhausted. Tate screwed up. That was obvious. But if I was being honest with myself, I screwed up a lot in the first month we knew each other. I ran out on him and never wanted to talk things out. But he never gave up. He never stopped trying to make me happy. Even here, now.
He clutched the edge of the marble counter, clearing his throat. “Well, really, this machine is for you to take.” He was rambling, filling the silence. I knew the technique because I’d damn near perfected it. “So that after graduation you can still have milkshakes whenever