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“I missed you, too. All of you.”
“We should go somewhere and talk. Somewhere we won’t draw such a crowd,” T.J. said in a soft voice as he gave a slight jerk of his chin towards the grassy area and the open sided tents.
Becca stiffened in his arms and took a step into the small opening between her and me. For a minute I worried that she was going to bolt on us again, but then she squared her shoulders and a look of fierce determination crossed her face. “Let me go wish Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell a happy anniversary, and then I’ll meet you somewhere.”
“Why doesn’t T.J. go with you while Brice and I grab food for all of us. Then we can meet…”
“Out back by the pool. It’s closed off to the guests and the house will block any prying eyes.”
Before I nodded I checked Becca to see if she agreed. When she nodded, I added mine.
Finally, we’d be able to put the last six years behind us and start fresh. I just hoped that our start included her…in more than a friendship capacity.
***
Becca
Eyes followed us as we walked. Or at least that is what it felt like. I only hoped that my mother hadn’t arrived yet to see the little display. No matter what the end outcome was after our talk, the last thing I was sure that I wanted to do was to discuss it all with my mother. Not when she’d be trying to set me up with Dr. Muir throughout it.
We split off into the two groups once we stepped onto the grass with T.J. leading me into the first tent where I could see his parents sitting at a table on a raised platform. The table and the area surrounding it with balloons, streamers, and a giant sign reminding everyone that it was their fortieth anniversary.
I snickered.
“What?”
“I’m sure your parents, especially your father, are enjoying that.”
He chuckled. “Actually, I thought the same, but it turns out my dad was fine with it. He said, ‘I don’t mind everyone knowing that I’ve had the best woman there is for the past forty years. In fact, I hope it makes the young bucks jealous that they’ll probably never snag a woman like her.’ All of which made my mom melt and quickly agree to it.”
“That’s so amazing. Your parents are so lucky to have found that kind of love.” It was true. Our small town probably had more relationships that went the distance—marriages from the I do to death—than average, but still, it was nice to see long lasting marriages where the people involved were still in love.
“They are lucky.” He took my hand and pulled me towards them as he leaned down so that his mouth brushed my ear. “And they taught me well.”
Goosebumps erupted along my skin, and I shivered despite the heat that gave a shimmer to the pavement.
“Look who dropped by to wish a happy anniversary,” T.J. said as he pulled me up onto the dais with his parents.
“Becca.” His mom jumped up, wrapping me in a hug. “I’m so sorry to hear about your Nan. If there is any way that we can help, just let us know.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Mitchell. And happy anniversary.”
She released me from her hug, but didn’t step back until after she patted my cheek and gave me a loving smile.
Then it was Mr. Mitchell pulling me into a hug. “Still as beautiful as ever, he said loud enough for those close by to hear, heating my face. But when I was completely enfolded into his embrace, he lowered his voice so that only I could hear him over all the conversations and music going on around us. “Make them work for it.”
And before I could ask him what he meant, he let me go, giving me a large indulgent smile.
“Now go have some fun with people your own age instead of wasting any more of your time with us old fogies.”
T.J. gave his parents a big smile, telling them that he’d see them later before taking my hand and pulling me through the tent and up to the house.
My heart jumped and lodged itself in my throat. Was I ready to do this? I really didn’t know. But my self-imposed isolation the night before had given me time to really think about things. When everything happened six years ago and I lost my virginity to the three of them in that crazy, amazing, loving night, I reacted like a young child. Instead of staying and talking to them about my feelings for all of them, I ran. While I might have had the best of intentions, telling myself that I did it to keep their friendship intact, it wasn’t the whole truth. And I hadn’t really known what it was until last night.
The truth was that I’d been scared.
Scared that they didn’t love.
Scared that they’d make me choose.
