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At least enough to stick around and see where all this was headed.
It couldn’t end up worse than our romantic getaway, could it?SophieThe moment I heard the key twist in the front door, my heart began to race and I started to second-guess my whole plan. It all seemed so silly now, as his heavy footfalls sounded on the hard wood floors of the front hall because he refused to lay a rug over such fine wood, to think my silly scavenger hunt plan was enough to win him back.
Maybe it was just too late. I had taken almost a full week to come up with a plan, to convince myself it was the plan and then put it into action.
Maybe my words were so cruel that he’d simply fallen out of love with me, I mean he hadn’t reached out to me at all over the past week. Not to check on me. Not to force an apology.
Nothing.
And now his footsteps were growing closer and closer, and doubt gripped me in its cold, forceful hands. I had to suck in several deep, silent breaths and let them out slowly before he got close.
“Hey.” His deep voice was low but somehow covered the pop music I had playing to give me a much needed boost of energy. And confidence.
This is it, just turn around and smile. That’s just what I did, drying my hand on the owl printed tea towels, I turned to a forced smile that became genuine the moment I laid eyes on Stone. He was dressed the way he always was, in a black long sleeve t-shirt with Stone Cold Fitness emblazoned across his wide chest, gripping his biceps and laying across his flat, hard abs. I was sure the part of him hidden by the counter had on cotton athletic pants and gray socks, his sneakers resting beside the front door. A small shiver snaked through my body at the way he looked at me, making me happy I’d chosen the sexy halter dress with the flared skirt. “Stone. Hey.”
He looked at me like he was transfixed, by me, the girl he’d known since forever. I offered him a cocktail that was all part of the plan and the smile he laid on me nearly put me on the ground. “Thanks.” He took a sip of the beergarita and I knew the moment it all clicked for him that the cocktail went with his favorite meal. “Enchiladas?”
I nodded, my heart stuck in my throat, leaving me momentarily speechless. This was it. Stone was here and the enchiladas had just gone in the oven, all he fixings were in the fridge.
Waiting.
Just like me.
“So,” he began and looked around the spotless kitchen, filled with the delicious aroma of garlic and tomatoes and beef. “What’s all this?”
“This?” It was a silly attempt at being coy and a poor delay tactic.
But Stone didn’t call me out, his lips just quirked into a knowing grin and he nodded. “Yeah, this. The notes. The bracelet,” he said as he held up his left arm to show that he’d put it on.
A small thrill went through me at the sight of the bracelet I’d worn all summer long, only taking it off the day before he returned from camp so he wouldn’t see what a crushing fool I was for him.
“The strawberry cake, which was a nice touch. Very nice.”
My shoulders relaxed a little and I smiled. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“So?”
“Right. What am I doing here?” I sighed and let out a nervous laugh. “For starters, I owe you an apology.” His winced at the word but I pushed on, knowing that it was now or never. “Those words I said to you at the B&B, they were awful and worse, they weren’t true. I was scared and you were pushing so I lashed out. Not on purpose,” I rushed to explain, “but I felt cornered or I don’t know trapped, and the words just came out.”
“I don’t want an apology, Sophie.” His posture had gone rod straight and twice as stiff.
“Well too bad, because I am sorry for saying those words to you of all people and I’m sorry that I lied to you and told you that was all I had to give.”
Stone took another drink from his glass, his earlier enjoyment dimmed by my words.
“But that’s not the only reason I’m here, Stone.”
“Movie night?”
It was Friday night and I hadn’t even realized it, so I shook my head and let out another half-nervous, half-bitter laugh. “No. Unless of course you want to watch a movie. But I have other plans.”
“And those plans are?”
The oven timer sounded, giving me the brief reprieve I needed from his intense stare and the questions burning in his deep brown eyes. The glass baking dish required my full focus and that’s what I gave it, for thirty full seconds, putting off looking at Stone until I no longer could. “First, to talk.”
