“Yeah. But he’s here and he wants a second chance.”
“I just don’t know if I’m really ready to give him one.” We sat in silence for a moment, neither of us having the answers to my current conundrum. “I’m going for a run,” I said, standing up. I couldn’t sit here any longer with my thoughts. At least if I was running I could burn some calories while I tried to figure out what I was going to do.
*
A half-hour into my run, I realized that in my hurry to get out of the house, I’d forgotten to grab a water bottle and decided to make a pit stop at my parents for hydration. Imagine my surprise when I rounded the corner on my normal route to see Reid’s truck sitting in my parents’ driveway.
Son of a bitch.
He was relentless, I’d give him that much. My inclination to run on by and find a drink somewhere else was beaten only by my curiosity. Surely he didn’t think he was going to get to me through my parents. They knew what happened between us. Well... some of it. They saw how upset I’d been. He could be as sweet and charming as he wanted, but there was no way they were going to go easy on him.
Or so I thought.
I opened the front door and followed the sound of laughter through the living room and into the kitchen. My mom was pouring Reid a glass of what I hoped was poison, while my dad sat across from Reid at the table. While Reid’s back was turned to me, I could see the elation on my parents’ faces. My mother fawning over him as she handed him his drink. My dad practically slapping his knee at whatever Reid was saying.
“What could possibly be so funny that I was able to slip into the house undetected,” I said from the door frame. “You know, Georgia would have a fit if she knew you were just leaving the doors unlocked for anyone to walk in.”
“Nora, honey,” my mom said, guilt oozed from her as she walked over to give me a hug. She ran her fingers through my ponytail that was the same color as hers and gave me a pat on the back—silently saying that all was well. I just shook my head. My dad waved and smiled from underneath his beard. The black hairs, like the ones on his head, were peppered with gray pieces and his mountain man appeal was starting to take on a much more distinguished vibe. Reid turned to look at me. “Reid here has been filling us in on what he’s been up to.”
“Has he now?” I ignored Reid’s ear-to-ear grin. “I’m sure it’s fascinating,” I added with little enthusiasm. “I just stopped by for a bottle of water.” I walked over to the fridge and tried to pretend that him sitting in the kitchen where we’d shared so many meals with my parents wasn’t weird.
“That was after I managed to convince them that I wasn’t the spawn of Satan you’ve been painting me as the past few years,” Reid said proudly, his smile not wavering. You would have thought he’d just solved the world hunger crisis by the way he was gloating.
I stood tight lipped for a moment. “That has yet to be determined.”
“I had to tell them that it was actually your suggestion that I stop by for a visit,” he explained. “Remember today in your office when I said you should come,” he paused and my eyes went wide when he wet his lips. Was he seriously making a sexual innuendo in front of my parents? Sure my mom was at the kitchen sink and my dad couldn’t see Reid’s face, but he could see mine. And, yet I still couldn’t stop myself from feeling the effect of his words rippling through my system—blood pumping, heart racing, ovaries threatening to burst. “I mean you said I should come see them,” he laughed. “These cookies are so good, Becky, I can’t even think straight” He chuckled, holding one up and taking a bite. He continued chewing, staring straight into my eyes and had yet to wipe the smug smile off his face.