AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not sayinganythingdefinite.”
“Then I want it too,” I go on. “I want him, whatever happens. If it’s just a fling, I can handle that. It’ll hurt, but I can take it. What I can’t take is hiding in my shell, never taking risks, never knowing what could’ve been.”
Mom sighs, squeezing my shoulder. She leans down and kisses my cheek softly. “I think that’s my cue to stop babying you.”
“I know you’re only trying to protect me,” I murmur, “but I can handle this. I promise.”
I’m unsure if that’s true or if thisboyfriend and girlfriendtalk is just a line. If he lied on the phone a few minutes ago when he said itwasn’tjust a line, what would I do? Laugh it off, brush it all aside, tell the desire deep inside that none of it was real to begin with? But I’ve just promised Mom. I don’t break promises to her. That means Ihaveto be able to handle it.
“Okay,” Mom says, kissing me again. “I trust you. I’ll stop coddling you but know one thing, Sammy. If you ever need me, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
We hug for a long time. Then I head out to my car, released from the garage. When I went to pick it up, they told me the bill had already been settled. I remember the date and talking with Fletcher about how I’d like to start a family earlier. When I picked up the car, I wondered if wedidhave a family, would he support us? Or would he want me to work? Either way, I’d throw myself into the relationship and the future. We’d make it work, even if I had to work twelve-hour shifts daily. It’s him I want, not the money. That fact slamming into me on the way home felt good, affirming how true this connection is, at least on my end.
When I get to the park, I see my man leaning against the railing with Loki sitting at his feet. Fletcher looks so cool and calm in his army-green jacket and faded jeans. As I walk over, Loki runs until he’s at the full extension of his leash, straining to get closer to me. Fletcher chuckles and walks toward us. Kneeling, I stroke Loki on his head, then tickle him under the beard. He’s probably the most resilient person I’ve ever met. Well, the most resilientdog.
“Hey,” Fletcher says. Then he does something I never would’ve expected in public. He leans forward and presses his lips against mine. The shock stuns me for a moment, but then I taste his lips, taste his certainty. I kiss him back. “You seem surprised,” he goes on when the kiss is over.
I smile, trailing my hands up his back, holding tightly onto his solid muscle. “I didn’t think we were going to be public until…”
He sighs and nods. He doesn’t need me to mention James. “I feel like a terrible father, but when I see you, hell, I can’t resist.”
I take his hand, holding it tightly. “I know the feeling. Especially after…”
He nods again, his eyes getting dark. Leaning forward, he gently kisses the side of my head, where the glass bit into me. “I’ll never let anything happen to you. I’ll die or kill before I let that happen.”
When other boyfriends say stuff like that to their partners, there’s a chance it’s just talk. They want to seem tough and capable in front of their women. When it comes from Fletcher, I don’t have to wonder if it’s true. He proved it in the woods.
“Shall we?” he says, gesturing to the park.
“Is this our second date?” I tease as we walk through the gate and down the path. Loki stops every few moments to sniff.
“I guess it is,” Fletcher says, smirking. “Our second date, and I already feel closer to you than I would to any other woman after two hundred.”
I feel my cheeks heating up. I know there’s still so much up in the air. His sonlovesme, apparently. Deep down, when I look at this situation objectively or try to, I can see Fletcher’s point. We really shouldn’t be here, doing this so soon after what James told me. He was also right when he said it’s hard to resist.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks.
“Us,” I tell him.
“What about us?”
We stop near a large tree, Fletcher letting Loki’s leash extend so he can sniff around the base of the trunk. Loki’s tail is perked. Every time there’s a noise outside the park, a car or somebody yelling, he snaps his head around, on alert.
“Just the future, I guess,” I murmur, refusing to meet his gaze. Being with him has helped me break through these walls deep inside and helped me to say things I’d usually keep locked up, but this is next level.
“The future,” he repeats, his voice husky.
I swallow. We’re standing side by side as Loki takes his time with the tree. I’m guessing he can smell countless other dogs. He’s probably got a lot of catching up to do since he’s been away. It’s like a doggy message board.
“Yeah,” I say, then wait for him to reply. It takes a while. I wonder if he’s mad. I wonder if I’m pushing too hard.
No, I’mnotpushing. I’ve got to stop doubting myself so freaking much. I’ve got to stop acting like I’m somehow less worthwhile than others, less able to share my thoughts.
“What about it?” he asks after a pause.
I risk a glance at him. He’s staring at Loki with a faraway look, as if he’s looking past Loki, past the tree, past the world, into the future.
