Neither one of us says anything and a heavy silence settles around us.
Years of questions, years of anger, and after one conversation, it’s all gone. I’ve walked with this lingering fear not only that I could lose anyone at any time, but that it was only a matter of time before I pushed them away. Until this moment, I didn’t realize how heavily this has weighed on me. I see him with a new set of eyes and appreciate the man he’s become more than I could’ve ever imagined. All the feelings I’ve been suppressing for so long flood to the surface. I want to pull him into my arms and make up for all the years we lost . . . all night long.
After what feels like an eternity but is probably only a minute or two, I slice my fork through the piece of cake sitting next to a melted puddle of ice cream, and take a bite.
“It’s pretty good.” The tart lemon and cream cheese frosting is the perfect combination. “Try it.”
Instead of cutting his piece, he reaches across and cuts into mine. His eyes light up when he chews.
“I was afraid you were messing with me,” he says. “This is great. I’ll have to swing by and thank your mom. I mean, if that’s okay with you.”
I put the fork down and twist my body so I’m facing him on the stool. I rest one hand on top of his leg and the other on his shoulder, unable to hold back from touching him any longer.
“That’s more than okay with me,” I say with total sincerity. “Maybe you could come over for dinner tomorrow? I think they’d really like it. I know I would.”
His shoulders fall, and when he smiles, I can feel it between my thighs. “You would?”
This time, I decide not to answer.
Not with words at least. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his mouth to mine. And with his lips pressed against mine, I realize that I don’t hate Ohio at all.
In fact, I think I like it here . . .
Maybe even love it.
Chapter 24
To say my mom was happy to have Nate sitting at her dining room table again is perhaps the understatement of the century.
For her, it was like the president (a good one), the pope, and Oprah came to dinner.
Except better.
Because the president is married, the pope can’t marry, and Oprah won’t marry. With Nate, however? There’s a chance. And that small sliver of hope is all my mom needed to go from one dinner to whispering in my ear every chance she got about what a nice boy Nate is and how cute we look together. Something, it’s important to note, she did not do once when I was dating Peter.
But while I might give her a hard time about her constant meddling and her overboard love of Nate, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t loving being around him too. After we laid everything out in the open, it was like we were right back to being young again. Except this time Nate has his own house and we kiss.
Oh yeah . . .
And there’s also the sex. So. Much. Sex.
Let’s just say the first night was not a fluke. In fact, I’d venture to say it keeps getting better. If that’s even possible. I feel like I’ve been walking on sunshine for the last two weeks. Which is much better than what I’m doing right now, which feels like I’m literally walking on the surface of the sun.
“I don’t understand why you’re still running,” Ruby complains beneath the brim of the giant hat protecting her skin from the sun as we canvass the neighborhood. “Weren’t you only doing it to spite Nate? What’s the point now that you don’t hate each other?”
I can’t lie. After Nate and I made up, I did consider dropping out of the HOA race for a second. But then I started thinking about how fun it would be to force him to call me president and it reinvigorated me all over again. Plus—and I will deny this if asked—I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my neighbors and feeling like an important part of the community.
Ohio is doing weird things to me.
“You know how competitive I am. You don’t think I’m going to tap out because I let Nate tap in, do you? I’m not quitting this thing no matter what happens.” I take one of the flyers we made from Ashleigh. “Also, how are you still here? Don’t you have to go back to LA soon?”
I know she said she’d stay, but I didn’t think she meant it. I figured she’d be on the first flight out of here as soon as she knew I was okay, but it turns out I’m not the only one who secretly missed being home. She checked out of her hotel and has been splitting her time between my house and Ashleigh’s. She still hasn’t seen her dad, but that’s a topic for another day. Or maybe another century.
“I told you I have a lot of time off and I can do work on my computer.” She slaps one of the “Vote for Collins” magnets we made the other night on the side of the mailbox we pass. “Plus, now that I’ve invested so much of my time and energy into this campaign, it would be a waste if I missed the final debate.”
“Well, I for one am glad you’re still running and that Ruby’s still in town,” Ashleigh chimes in. She’s wearing her favorite pair of wedges and is the only one of us who hasn’t complained about her feet hurting. “I’ve been having fun preparing for the debate. Plus, do you remember that makeup party I went to the other night?”
“We remember.” Ruby and I have been talking her down from becoming a lipstick rep all week. I’ve never seen anyone so into MLMs in my entire life. I think Ruby and I might have to stage an intervention.
“Anyways”—Ashleigh rolls her eyes and Ruby laughs—“I forgot to tell you that I met this woman named Vanessa who lives over on Wabash. I guess one of her neighbors is friends with Angela and the other one is an older woman who goes on walks with Nate. Apparently news of you and Nate is the topic of the neighborhood. She said she’s never been to an HOA meeting before, but she’s coming this week just to see you and Nate.”
I wish this was news to me, but it isn’t. There’s been so much interest in the upcoming meeting that we had to move it from inside the clubhouse to outside so we could accommodate more people.
“I know.” I try to sound irritated but don’t succeed. “My mom told the Karens about me and Nate when she saw them at church. I can’t confirm this, but I’m pretty sure they have a phone tree in place for good gossip.”
It wasn’t even an hour after they left Bible study that Nate’s phone started lighting up with texts and Facebook messages asking if we were together. I can’t help but be impressed with the efficiency of their wicked ways.
Also, if I’m being honest, a part of me is thrilled to have the news out. Sneaking around was fun for a second and I’m glad we had time to figure things out without the nosy gaze of the neighborhood bearing down on us, but getting to parade him around outside is even better.