Then There Was You(53)

I laughed. “Now you really are crazy!” I loved this flirty side of Chris, and the fact that the beer had started to loosen our inhibitions a little.

“I might be crazy, but I know hot when I see it,” he said with confidence.

Oh my…

I had no idea how to respond as he walked back to the sofa, twisted the cap off the beer, and handed it to me.

With a smile he smirked, “It’s true. You were always very easy on the eyes. All the other guys talked about what a MILF you were.”

Playfully rolling my eyes, I groaned, “Oh geez, I remember… like that’s not embarrassing,” as I covered my face with my hands. I didn’t want to think of those boys crushing on me, but it definitely boosted my sad ego.

He sat down beside me and continued to grin, enjoying my reaction. “Yeah, I didn’t let ‘em talk shit though. I had way more respect for you than that.”

“Thanks,” I chuckled. “I appreciate that.” I clutched the bottle in my lap and began peeling the label. My nerves were on overdrive. It’s not that Chris made me feel uncomfortable as much as I was just keenly aware of this crazy, new feeling that I’d never expected—my own attraction to him. I glanced at the beer and immediately took a big gulp, hoping he wouldn’t notice my trembling hands.

Popping the top off his own bottle, he leaned toward me, his voice gravelly, “I mean, come on. I’m not gonna dance around it. You’re beautiful.”

I nearly choked on my beer, but quickly recovered, masking my freaking-the-hell-out face with a subtle smile.

He continued, nervously glancing at the beer in his hand. I wondered if he was praying to the gods of liquid courage like I was. “Salem, you’ve… you’ve always been sexy as hell,” he stammered. “You had to know how hot all the guys at Fairbanks thought you were, and you probably just chalked it up to some silly teenage fantasies.” His eyes shot up to meet my gaze. “But I hope you know that you meant way more to me than that.”

I nodded. I understood where he was coming from because he’d always meant more to me than ‘just some client.’ He was my saving grace. We’d shared things that I’d never shared with anyone. That moment in my office, when he found me looking at my wrist, the promise I made to him was a turning point in my life. He didn’t cure my depression, but he certainly gave me a reason to keep pushing forward. “You were more to me too,” I said softly.

Continuing to stir up my already mixed emotions, he added, “You were my lifeline back then.”

He stood up, walking over to the massive windows. Leaning both hands against the glass, he stared out at the city for several seconds. “And yet, here we are again… crossing paths.”

Without thinking, I spoke what had been on my mind all night, “Does it make you question fate?”

He whirled around to face me. A brooding expression was plastered on his face, and he seemed just as perplexed as I was. With each ragged breath, his sculpted pecs rose and fell, defining themselves in his fitted, thermal shirt. Finally speaking up, he said, “Yeah… yeah, it does.”

Suddenly the air between us changed. I soaked in the way he looked at me with a softness in his eyes. The expression on his face was different than the canned smile he normally used to pose for the cameras of his adoring fans. This smile was warm, inviting, comforting—a smile meant just for me.

What does all this mean? Part of me felt so ridiculously wrong, but then again, another part of me felt so utterly, hopelessly… right.





I stood there, suddenly realizing this woman was like an ointment on my raw and wounded heart. I’d just opened up to someone I hadn’t seen in fourteen years. I felt like I could talk to her as if not a day had passed. Then why did you hesitate when the opportunity to talk about the kid came up? Everything about her felt safe—secure. It’s still too soon, I argued with myself. But I looked into her eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel… heard. Maybe someday I’ll find the courage.

Something should’ve felt amiss. She was my fucking counselor fourteen years ago. I shouldn’t have felt so connected to her like I was, but I did. It was crazy to think how quickly my heart could remember. I mean, after a few weeks back home from juvie, I knew I had to force myself to forget about Salem Honeycutt. She meant a lot to me in those months at Fairbanks, but I had to let her memory go. Move on. Learn to live without needing her.

But I’d learned when you have a connection like that with someone, it was impossible to see them again and not feel something.

Just then, my phone rang in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, hoping I could ignore the call. I just wanted to sit and talk to Salem all night.