Footprints In The Sand - Michelle Horst Page 0,47

to Lacey and take her hand. I see the confusion on her face but before I can explain, Nate steps forward to shake my hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

I smile and shake his hand. “You too, Nate.”

Lacey’s eyes jump between her parents and me, and then she asks, “You’re not angry that I came with Seth?”

“Now why would we be angry?” Nate says. “The boy said he will find you and bring you back, and look, here you are! We’re just so happy you came home!”

Lacey frowns and looks at me. “You kept contact with my parents?”

“I went to the same college your dad works at. We got to talking and one thing led to another.”

“Oh.” I can see the news surprises her. I just hope it’s in a good way.

~*~

Chapter Forty-One

Lacey~

I was so scared my parents wouldn’t want to see me. And I was so scared that they wouldn’t approve of Seth being there.

But everything went well. We didn’t talk about what happened or that I ran away. They just wanted to know what I’ve been doing, and if I’m well. I know that talk will come, but I’m grateful it wasn’t today.

As we get out of the car and start walking towards our apartments, things get uncomfortably quiet. I stop in front of number eight. Seth is so deep in thought that he doesn’t notice I’ve stopped. “Thank you for going with me,” I call after him.

He stops and looks back at me, a look of confusion on his face.

“Okay … ahh, I guess I’ll see you around,” I stumble through the words, not sure what else to say. I don’t understand what went wrong between leaving my parents place and arriving here. I take out my keys and go to unlock the door when Seth asks, “What are you doing?”

I glance up at him. “I’m going home?”

He shakes his head. “Not in there, you’re not.”

“Huh?” I step back and look up to make sure I’m at number eight.

“Lacey, that’s not home.” He closes the distance between us with a few steps. “You can’t stay on a couch. Your room is in number five.”

“But,” I frown, not sure where he’s going with this. “I can’t just move in with you!”

“I said there is a lot to talk about. That’s not going to happen with you hiding behind your friends. It’s time you realize that I’m going to be in your future.”

I tilt my head, still not sure what he’s up to. “I can’t just move in with you,” I repeat lamely.

“You’ll just be moving back into your room,” he says, as if that’s totally okay.

“But it’s full of boxes,” I try to come up with an excuse.

Seth takes a deep breath. “It’s not. I cleared it out last week already. Would you stop making excuses? You can get what you need for the night and then we can come get the rest tomorrow.”

I’m all out of excuses. It’s not that I don’t want to be with him, it’s just that I’ve never lived with a man, and my dad doesn’t count!

~*~

Chapter Forty-Two

Seth~

I can see the uncertainty in her eyes. I know I’m pushing her and I probably shouldn’t, but I’m scared that she’ll run the second she’s out of my sight. That’s what Lacey does, she runs.

It’s not that she doesn’t want to stay and fight, it’s because she doesn’t want to feel caged in or cornered.

I wait for her until she comes out with an overnight bag. “Do you have clothes for work in there?” I double check with her.

“I’m still looking for a job,” she murmurs.

I take the bag from her and throw it over my shoulder. I take her hand and pull her behind me, and I don’t let go until we’re safely in the apartment and I get to lock the door.

I walk to Lacey’s room and place the bag on her bed. When I turn around, it’s to find her standing in the doorway. “Now, you’re more than welcome to sleep with me.” Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink, and then she looks away, so I quickly add, “You know, sleep not sex.” Her face lights up like the fourth of July and that makes me wonder for the first time. “Have you been with someone before?”

Her eyes widen. “Seth! You can’t just ask someone a question like that!” She turns to walk away but I rush forward and grab her hand.

“You’re not just someone. I want to know