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“Um, because you’re here?”
“I, ah, well…” She released a deep breath and a laugh. “Sorry, you’re making me stammer.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I wasn’t sure what this was,” she said. “If we were two buddies hanging out at the end of the summer or something more.”
“It’s definitely something more for me, so much so that I’ve actually thought about quitting the job I haven’t started yet and breaking my lease so I can stay here with you.” He glanced at her and found her staring at him. “Was that too much?”
“No, not at all. I just… I wasn’t sure.”
Jeff held out his hand to her, barely breathing as he waited to see what she would do. Their relationship up to now had been platonic, and he wasn’t sure she wanted the same things he did.
As she joined her hand with his, the look she gave him was full of vulnerability and maybe a hint of excitement.
“Is there any chance you might want to move to Tampa?” he asked in a teasing tone, even though he was serious.
“I promised Mac and Maddie I’d stay for the year, at least. They really need me.”
He kissed the back of her hand. “I do, too.”
“Jeff…” She released a nervous laugh. “Don’t say things like that.”
“I mean it. I really like you, Kelsey. Like, a lot, and I hate to think about leaving here and not seeing you for months.”
“I like you, too, and I’m sorry you have to leave. I’ll miss you.”
“You will?”
“Of course I will,” she said, laughing. “We’ve spent every minute we could together for weeks.”
Everything about her did it for him—her smile, her pretty face, her curly reddish-gold hair and her sexy body—but more than anything, he was attracted to her sweetness. She was the nicest person he’d ever met, except for maybe his mom and grandmother. In a way, she reminded him of them and how they never had a bad word to say about anyone. Well, except for his father, that was, but they all had bad things to say about him.
“There are things you should know about me,” he said, feeling deflated as he broached a subject he’d studiously avoided until now.
“What is it? You seem so serious all of a sudden.”
“It is serious.”
“Whatever it is, Jeff, it won’t change how I feel about you.”
“How do you feel?”
“Interested, excited, happy—and sad now that I know you’re leaving.”
He was relieved to know she had feelings for him, too, but hoped he wouldn’t spoil everything by sharing the truth with her. “I, um, I told you I’m the youngest of seven, right?”
“Yes, and I feel like I know your siblings from the way you talk about them.”
“They’re all great, but we went through a lot growing up. Our dad, he wasn’t a good guy, and it was hell. It got even worse when everyone else moved out, and it was just me. I got messed up with drugs, and when I was fourteen, I tried to kill myself because I honestly felt there was no way out of the addiction and depression with years ahead of dealing with him.”
“Oh God. Oh, Jeff. I’m so sorry you went through that—and when you were so young.”
“It was an awful time, but thanks to my grandparents and some intensive rehab, I’ve been clean for years, and I’m in a much better place than I was then. My grandparents moved me to Florida where they were living and got me back on track. I owe them everything. I take my recovery very seriously and actively attend meetings and help others who are just starting their journey through recovery.” He realized he was saying more than he’d intended to, and as he glanced over at her, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “So, yeah. It’s a lot.”
She gazed at him with what might’ve been respect and admiration. “I’m proud of what you’ve overcome.”
“It’s not a deal breaker?”
