Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,67
if you didn’t.”
She scooted closer to him, until her breasts molded against the hard planes of his chest, her thighs intertwining with his. “It was such a long time ago. We were kids. Too naïve to understand that things aren’t always black and white.” She took a deep breath. “I owe you an apology, too.”
“You do?” His brows knitted together. “Why?”
“I’m the one who ruined our plans. Who broke our promises. I told you I’d go to Duke with you, and I didn’t.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Yeah, but I know why you did it.” His smile was sad. “Or at least I know now. I didn’t then.”
“Yeah. That’s what makes it so sad. I didn’t know how to talk to you, and I didn’t want to listen. I was so afraid of what everybody thought of me, when the only opinion that mattered was yours.”
“I’ve always thought you’re amazing,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her cheek. “And funny, and beautiful, as well as the strongest woman I know. And every time I see you smile at me, I feel like the luckiest bastard in town. Not everybody gets a second chance.”
She smiled at him, a soft, hazy kind of smile, and he leaned forward to press his lips against hers.
“Are we done talking now?” she asked, sliding her arms around his neck and deepening the kiss.
“I am,” he rasped, as he broke away. “If you are.”
“Yep. Completely done.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“What’re you doing?” Zoe asked, leaning on the doorjamb. Van was pulling out all the dusty old boxes that had languished at the back of her closet for years.
“Sorting through my old memory boxes.” For too long she’d ignored them, the same way she’d tried to push down the memories of that time. But since it was a Saturday morning, and she’d already checked in with the contstruction team, it felt like a good time to clear out the cobwebs. Get rid of the things that didn’t give her joy.
“Can I look?” Zoe asked, kneeling down beside Van and taking a box, sending dust flying into the air. “Oh god, these are ancient.” She sneezed, then screwed her face up. “How long have they been in there? Centuries?”
“Don’t be rude.” Van shook her head, then passed a photo to Zoe. “This was me at your age. Or maybe a little younger.”
Zoe glanced at the photo, her eyes wide. “Oh my god, are those flares? Why is the waistband so low?”
“They’re bootcut jeans, not flares. I wasn’t born in the seventies, thank you very much. And it was the fashion to have low waistbands.”
“Who’s the boy with you?”
“That’s Tanner.”
“As in Tanner Hartson?” Zoe’s mouth gaped. “But he’s shorter than you. And his jeans are even worse.”
Van laughed. “He was shorter than me until seventh grade. I hated it when he grew and I didn’t. Felt like I was losing a race or something.”
“What’s that?” Zoe asked, pointing at an egg-shaped piece of plastic.
“A tamagotchi.”
“A what?”
“It’s an electronic pet. You had to keep it alive by feeding it and cleaning up after it. I used to sneak it into my pocket at school, because if I left it at home it’d be dead by the time school was finished.” She pressed the tiny button at the top, but nothing happened. “I guess the battery’s dead.”
“And the pet,” Zoe pointed out.
“Touché.” Van put the tamagotchi back in the box, and replaced the lid. “Actually, while you’re here, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“What?”
“Tanner’s found a rental house to live in. And he’s asked if I’d like to stay over with him sometimes.” Her words came out in a rush, like she couldn’t wait to be rid of them. “But that would mean leaving you here with mom. Unless you want to come with me. He has lots of rooms.”
Zoe frowned. “Why would you want to stay over with…” Her words trailed off, as realization covered her features. “Is he your boyfriend?” she whispered, her eyes wide.
“Um, I don’t know. Sort of. Though it’s early days and we’re just getting to know each other again.” She gave Zoe an awkward smile.
Zoe nodded and looked away, her face serious as she took it all in. “Are you planning on moving in with him forever?”
“No. Absolutely not. It’s too soon, and neither of us are ready for that.” Van flashed her a smile. “We just want to spend a bit of time together. And I don’t want you waking