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I reach for him at the same time he reaches for me.
We stand in the middle of his office, holding onto each other as if it's the first time all over again. I feel myself tightening my arms around his shoulders as I think about how hard it was to leave him. How much I cried on that ride to the airport. How devastated I was when the plane took off. How numb I felt when I told him to go back home when he showed up.
If we had stayed together then, we never would have made it. If we would have come back here together, the town would have ostracized us. We were cheaters. Regardless of what Maya was doing behind Brady's back, we're the ones who would have taken the heat. And I know I would have caved beneath the pressures of a small town. I would have broken up with him.
We make choices when we're young, never realizing the impact they'll have later in life. One decision—just one—can alter the course of our lives forever.
"You want to drive over with me?" Brady says into my ear. "We can leave your car here, and I can pick you up tomorrow morning for work."
I exhale. "If I show up with you, Angie will notice."
Something a lot like frustration flashes across Brady's face. "OK."
"Are you OK?"
He kisses my forehead. "I don't know."
"Brady," I frown as he looks down at me. "What's wrong?"
"I'm putting you in the same position I did all those years ago," he gives me a tight smile. "The lying, the secrets."
"I can, uh, look for another job," I offer. "I..."
"No," Brady cups my face in his hands. "You're not going anywhere. I will figure this out."
"Am I putting you in an awkward position?"
"No," he states firmly. "You're not doing anything wrong."
"Let's drive together," I say. "If Angie asks why we arrive together, we'll tell her I couldn't find my car keys, so you drove."
"If Angie asks," Brady shakes his head, "we tell her the truth. We drove to the cook-off together because your mom wanted you to meet her there. We're not lying this time, Iz."
"Are you sure?" I question.
"I'm sure."
Brady keeps his hand on my lower back as we walk to his SUV. He opens the passenger door for me and I climb inside. He doesn't even hesitate as he leans into the car and gives me a swift kiss on the lips. My cheeks heat as he closes the door and walks around to his side.
We hold hands as Brady drives us two streets over. Mom is waiting as we park beside her and I hop out.
"Don't ask right now," I flinch as she glances from Brady to me.
"I wasn't," Mom purses her lips.
I change out of my heels and into boots. Then, I slip into the knee-length winter jacket Mom brought for me.
"Mittens and beanie," Mom hands over the last pieces of my ensemble.
"Where's Brianna?" I ask her as I check the backseat of her car.
"Dad took her to start the taste-testing."
"Are you...is it OK if Brady, uh, hangs out with us?" I close my eyes, waiting to hearno.
"Of course, Izzy. He's your boss, after all."
Boss. Right.
