Page 118 of Meant to be Mine

She pulled back and cupped my face, studying me with that mom intensity that saw everything. “You’re doing the right thing. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but you are.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

The drive to Drew’s house was a blur. I pulled into Drew’s driveway and killed the engine. Before I could even unbuckle, the front door opened and he appeared, walking toward my car in swim trunks and nothing else. I climbed out and he immediately pulled me into his arms. I buried my face against his bare chest and breathed him in.

Home.

“You okay?” he murmured against my hair.

“I will be.”

He pulled back enough to look at my face. His thumb brushed under my eyes, tracing the evidence of my tears. “Let’s go swimming. The water will help.”

“I didn’t bring a suit.”

“So?” He grinned. “We’ve got a private pool and a tall fence.”

I laughed despite myself. “You want me to skinny dip in broad daylight?”

“I want you to relax. Come on.”

He took my hand and led me through the house to the back patio. The pool sparkled in the afternoon sun, perfectly blue and inviting. I hesitated for just a moment before pulling off my shirt. If I was doing this, I was committing.

Drew watched as I stripped down to nothing, his eyes darkening with appreciation. Then he stepped out of his swim trunks and dove into the pool in one smooth motion. He surfaced in the middle, water streaming down his face.

“Come on in. The water’s perfect.”

I walked to the edge and dove in. The cool water enveloped me, washing away the tension I’d been carrying all day. When I surfaced, Drew was right there, pulling me against him.

We floated together in the deep end, his arms around my waist, my legs wrapped loosely around his hips. The water made us buoyant, weightless. I let my head fall back, staring up at the clear blue sky.

“Thank you,” I said.

“For what?”

“For understanding.” I brought my head back up to look at him. “For making it easier to walk away from something I loved.”

“You’ll find another job you love. One that’s even better.”

“I know. It’s just scary, you know? Starting over. Not knowing what comes next.”

“I know.” His hands moved up and down my back in soothing strokes. “But we’re doing it together. That’s got to count for something.”

“It counts for everything.”

We drifted like that for a while, not talking, just being together. It was perfect. Peaceful. Exactly what I needed.

Drew pulled me closer, his forehead resting against mine. “I’m proud of you,” he said quietly. “For making that call. I know it wasn’t easy.”

“Drew?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

He went completely still like someone had hit pause on him. His hands stopped moving on my back. His breathing stopped. Everything stopped. Panic clawed at my throat. I’d said it too soon. We’d only been officially together for a couple of weeks. Yes, we’d known each other forever, but this thing between us was new and fragile. I’d just dropped the L-word on a man that had never been in a full committed relationship.

“I love you too.”