you. Second, shame on you again!”
I held up my hands. “I’m not sure what is first and second, but I swear I didn’t do anything in either instance. I’ve already gotten in trouble for pushing Jake for information. I eavesdropped on his conversation the second time. He doesn’t even know I know.”
“Everyone knows you know,” she said dryly. “You’re not that sneaky.”
“I don’t want to be sneaky. I want Harper.”
“You seem to keep screwing that up. What’s the deal with Tawny?”
I groaned. “Nothing. I didn’t know she was going to do that. I thought she was flirtatious before, but I had no idea she was that set on getting me into her bed.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Gross. I didn’t need that information.”
“Isn’t that why you are here?”
“No. Yes. But I’m glad to know you didn’t take Tawny up on her offer. Did you put her in her place?”
“Somewhat. I didn’t want to burn the bridge too badly. I made it clear I had no intention of climbing into bed with her.”
“Good.”
“Am I off the hook now?”
“Yes. Why are you sitting here sulking? I mean I’m glad to see you aren’t in your room sulking, but you’re sulking in general.”
“I’m just trying to work some stuff out.”
“Your feelings for Harper?”
“Yes.”
“You love her.”
“I do.”
“Then what’s the problem? Why don’t you just tell her that?”
“Because every time I try, something gets in the way. I just wish things could be like they were.”
“Like they were when?”
“Back when we were in high school. It was so easy then. We had this close bond that felt unbreakable. I used to think nothing would ever get in the way of our happiness. I would give anything to go back.”
She slowly shook her head. “You’re not supposed to go backward in life. You’re supposed to move forward. You’re supposed to grow and evolve and become a better person. Going back solves nothing.”
“But back then, we were so good together. Now, it feels like there is one hurdle after the other put in our way. I can’t seem to get it right with her. I miss the intimacy we used to have. I missed that feeling of being so close to her I could predict her every move. We used to be so solid. Back then, I was convinced we could handle anything that came our way. Everything felt so right.”
“You guys were really good together,” she said with a smile. “But I don’t think you can go back. You were younger then. Your lives were different. You can’t go back to the way things were. They will never be the same.”
“I swear, if I could go back to that night and do it all over again, I would. Actually, the night was awesome. It was the following morning that sucked. That’s where I went wrong. I went so wrong. Every single day for the last ten years, I’ve been thinking about that morning and what I could have said and done differently.”
“I think a little healthy regret is a good thing. It shows you care. It shows you know where you went wrong. Too bad we didn’t all have time machines.”
“No kidding. I swear it would be different.”
“You know, the only reason you want to go back to that night is because in the ten years since that fateful moment in time, you’ve grown. You’ve become wiser. That gives you the confidence you could make the right decision.”
“I do have the wisdom and I know what I should have done. I want a do-over.”
She smiled, her eyes filled with laughter. “I promise, if I had a magic wand, I would absolutely grant your wish.”
“You know, I don’t need a time machine or a magic wand,” I said, leaning forward.
A million ideas were popping into my head. I needed to grab hold of one and hold on. I closed my eyes and let my imagination run wild. I was smiling when I opened my eyes again.
“You have that look in your eye,” she said.
“What look?”
“The same look the day you convinced me to jump off the house because I might be able to fly,” she replied.
I laughed, remembering the day very well. “I promise this idea doesn’t involve you doing anything dangerous.”
“I’m still afraid.”
“I want to recreate that night.”
“What night?”
“Prom.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You want to go to prom? Aren’t you a little old for that?”
I shook my head. “No. I want to recreate that night and do everything right. I want a redo. I want the