Just The Way You Are(87)

Alli cherished the embrace between them, wishing it could go on forever. But as the minutes ticked by, reality began to intrude along with the uncomfortable feeling of wet flour halfway down her back. She slowly pulled away. "Grams would have our heads if she saw this mess."

"I think she'd be smiling, glad we're finally talking to each other," Tessa replied.

Alli slowly stood up as Tessa did the same. They took a good long look around the room, realizing the extent of the damage. Well, some things didn't come easily or neatly.

"When Jimmy suggested we do this together all I could think of was that you and I would be alone," Tessa said. "I didn't know we were going to throw food at each other, but I had a feeling something was going to happen."

"Probably why Jimmy suggested it. He's a natural-born troublemaker."

"That he is," Tessa agreed.

"He appears very interested in you."

"He likes women; he likes to flirt."

"Seems like more than that."

"It's not. I know Jimmy."

"I'll have to take your word for it." But Alli wondered if Tessa really did know Jimmy as well as she thought. "We better clean this up before the guys come over. I think Jimmy would have his camera out in about two seconds."

"Make that one second," Tessa replied, reaching for some paper towels.

"I don't really want Megan to see this either. She still thinks I'm a responsible adult." Alli picked up a sponge and wiped down the counter.

"Sam thinks you are, too," Tessa said after a moment.#p#分页标题#e#

"What?" Alli couldn't possibly have heard her right.

"Sam thinks you're a responsible adult. He told me."

"He did?"

"Does that surprise you?"

"Sam continually surprises me."

"Well, I have to admit that he's right. And Alli, I'm tired of our old fight. It's so over. Can we stop talking about it? Move on with our lives?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Deep down, Alli didn't know what moving on meant exactly in terms of the three of them, but she knew the next move belonged to Tessa and Sam.

"I'll get a mop," Tessa said.

"All right." Alli leaned over to pick up an oyster, and as she did so she saw one that had been split in two after hitting the edge of the dishwasher. Something glittered within it, something shiny and smooth. "Oh, my God! Tessa, come quick."





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Chapter 21



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"Nice car," Jimmy said, rubbing his hand over the smooth finish of Sam's Thunderbird. "How does she drive?"

"Like a dream."

"And you're going to sell this beauty?"

Sam nodded, feeling a momentary pang as he took a good look at the car which had been a part of so many of his memories. "It's time," he said shortly. "I could use another boat more than I can use this car."

"That's thinking practically."

Sam had a feeling that thinking practically wasn't one of Jimmy's priorities. "I guess."

"Can I sit in it?"

"Sure."

Jimmy slid in behind the wheel and smiled with appreciation. "This is very cool. Maybe I should buy it."

Sam instinctively tensed, seeing Jimmy and Tessa in the car, driving off with a laughing wave. It was the wrong image, and yet… He couldn't really see Tessa and himself in the car anymore. Instead he saw Alli asleep in the front seat after she'd spent the night waxing the car for a surprise birthday present.

He'd felt so incredibly touched by her gesture that he'd awakened her with a kiss. Five minutes later they were making love in the car. It had been passionately awkward and fun; they'd laughed at the foolishness of it all. Because they had a perfectly nice bed just up the stairs. But wasn't that the way it had always been with Alli—passion, recklessness, laughter, love? His body tightened at the word love, the word she wanted so desperately to hear from him.

"Uh, Sam?" Jimmy asked, snapping his fingers.

"What?" he said shortly.

"Where did you go just now?"

"Just thinking about the car."

"Lots of memories, huh?"

"A few."

"Are you sure you can let the car go?"

He could let the car go. But how could he let Alli go?

"I'm thirsty," Jimmy said as he stepped out of the car. "What have you got to drink?"

"Let's see," Sam said, heading into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator. "Do you want a beer?"

"Sure." Jimmy deftly caught the beer can in one hand. As he popped the top, he said, "So, do you think Alli and Tessa have killed each other yet?"

"Maybe," Sam muttered, taking out a bottled water. He put the cool glass against his still hot, swollen cheeks. "I'm not sure leaving them alone was a good idea."