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“And the inevitable is that you’ll be graduating and leaving Pete.”
Leaving me. I hadn’t meant to imply it out loud, but I couldn’t stop my thoughts from going to that place. A place where my heart could get broken. A place that meant he could leave my life forever.
I couldn’t lose someone else I loved.
“Do you think I’ll leave here and never think of you again?” He shook his head, “Do you think I haven’t thought this through a thousand times Rae?”
I honestly didn’t know. What did he think? What did Peter want? His mind was a confusing and unknown place to me. Over the years I always thought he was a dreamer. Playful by nature and good-tempered, he was always one step ahead of me in that regard.
“Rae?”
I was forced to meet his stare, “I don’t know.”
He seemed frustrated, “You’re an important part of my life. Of course I’ve considered it.”
I was confused. What were we talking about exactly? His decision to join the military? His leaving town? Or what?
“Stay with me, baby.”
I wanted to, really, I did. But I still had no idea what he was confessing or what his motivations were. “What do you want Peter?” I asked, unable to discern the truth.
He groaned, “You really have no idea, do you?”
I blushed. Looking away, I let my hands drop to my sides.
Peter stood up and began to pace the small room, making him seem like a wild and caged animal with his long dark hair falling in his eyes, the tattoos on his arms, and his sexy swagger, “How could you have missed it?” It was a rhetorical question and I remained silent. “All this time, all these months in class, I thought you were flirting with me.”
My eyes widened in surprise, “Why?”
He
stopped mid-stride and pulled me to my feet, his palms resting flat against my cheeks, “Because I love you, Rae. I’ve loved you since we were ten years old. How could you not see that?”
Shock played out on my features, “You . . . you love me?” I sounded so stupid. Surely he would laugh, but he didn’t.
Was he serious?
“Yes Rae,” he lowered his lips to mine, almost touching. “I love you.” With his hands still on my face, he kissed me.
Gentle. Loving. Soft.
His arms wrapped around me like a cocoon and hugged my body close against his hard frame, “Tell me you feel something for me Rae, anything at all?” he laughed a little nervously.
I lay my head against his chest, “You know I do.”
His heart was racing. The pounding rhythm thrummed beneath my ear like the consistent beat of a drum, “Rae, baby, say you’ll be mine.”
Fear clenched in my belly. Fear of the unknown and losing my heart, of loving him so desperately I might lose myself in the process.
“Oh, Peter . . .”
“I promise you . . . you’ll never regret it,” the look of adoration in his eyes was my undoing. I nodded.
His boyish grin lit up his entire face, “Good.” His kiss was liquid heat and blazing desire all in one. Pete pulled me back to the floor, his eyes shining with mischief. I melted into his arms as he pressed me back against the blanket on the floor of the treehouse. The butterflies in my stomach intensified. Were these feelings the result of his words or my own deep desires rising to the surface?
“Rae,” his voice was low and husky.
“Yes?” I whispered, too languid to speak louder.
