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CARSON
It doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving. Not just because it’s too hot, but also because it’s just me and my mom.
At least for today. She’s already cooking in the kitchen and says we’ll have company later, but usually by now one of her neighbors is here, or a friend from her church. My aunt comes sometimes, and last year we even invited Kyle and Denise.
But right now, it’s just us two in the kitchen, cooking.
She won’t let me help, though. Says I’m a terrible cook—which is true.
The only thing I can cook is breakfast. And I shove that thought aside, because it reminds me of all those times I made breakfast for me and Libby back at the house.
Shit, I hate thinking about her, and I love thinking about her. And just when I’m ready to stop, I think about her again.
I saw she called a few times after the open house. I’m assuming she got an offer and wanted to tell me, but I don’t want to know. That house held a special place in my heart, but it’s hers. And I wanted her to have all the money. She deserved it. And she probably would have argued with me about it, so I figured I’d leave it at that.
But damn, I wanted to grab my phone and call her back. Just to hear her voice.
To make sure she’s okay and isn’t getting herself hurt again.
“When’s everyone else going to be here?” I ask.
Mom checks her watch. “I think we have someone coming in the next ten minutes or so. Why don’t you go wait?”
I frown. “Is it Aunt Denise?”
Her lips curve in a small smile. She grabs a beer from the refrigerator and shoves it in my hand. “Get out of my kitchen. I can’t focus with you in here.”
I chuckle and give her a hug before I wander to the front door. Outside, there’s a porch swing, and I sit on it while I wait. I haven’t seen my aunt in months—it’ll be nice to visit with her.
When I see a car pull along the curb, I stand. That doesn’t look like her car, but…then I freeze.
It’s not my aunt.
Libby gets out of the car, peering up at the house to make sure she’s in the right place. And then she sees me. Her eyes lock on mine.
She gives a small wave.
I’m too shocked to wave back. She looks amazing. Hair long and straight over her shoulders, and eyes wide and expressive. She’s wearing a dress that skims her thighs and makes me think of every fantasy I’ve ever had about what’s underneath.
She walks up the steps and to the porch, where I’m still standing like an idiot with a beer in my hand. I set it on the rail, but stay where I am.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I called your mom to see if you were here because I want to talk to you.”
“If this is about the house—”
“It’s not about the house. Okay, it’s partly about the house. But, Carson…” She bites her lip. “I really missed you.”
Shit. The part of me that thought I’d be strong if I saw her again falls away. “I missed you, too.”
She walks to the swing and points. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” I sit with her, keeping my hands to myself even though it feels like the most natural thing in the world to reach out and take her hand. “I can’t believe you drove all the way here. It’s like a six-hour drive.”
“And worth every minute.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“Like I said, I wanted to see you. No, I needed to see you. I…” She swallows and stares at her hands, twisting in her lap. “I wanted to say thank you for what you did with the house. It’s not fair, but—”
“It’s completely fair,” I say. “You deserve it. And after what happened with us—”
“That’s the other thing.”
“What other thing?” My heart clenches. What’s that look in her eye? Apology?
“It’s not fair because I wasn’t fair. I should have given you a chance to explain.” She glances over with a wry smile. “I mean, I had the right to be upset at the beginning, but I still should have listened to you.”
I search her eyes with mine, trying to see where she’s going with this.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I believe you about everything.”
“I only lied about Kyle, and it was because I didn’t want you to think I was interested in the house to get back at him. Sure, it crossed my mind what great revenge in would be when he saw how well we’d done on the house and that you were working with me. But then I forgot all about that when we started working. And when I got to know you.”
“I know.” She nods her head, and reaches out to squeeze my hand. “Trust me, I know, Carson. You’re not that kind of person. And it shouldn’t have taken you giving me all the profits on the house to find that out.”
“I’m sorry, too. For lying to you in the first place.”
She lowers her chin, staring at her hands again, and I hear a quiet sniffle.
“Libby?” I squeeze her hand. “Are you crying?”
She looks up, and tears shimmer on her cheeks. “I’m sorry—I can’t help it. I hate how things ended with us, and I don’t want them to be this way.”
“What are you saying?”
She presses her lips together for a moment, then meets my eyes. “I love you.”
I stand, and then haul her into my arms before she can take a breath. “I love you, too.”
“Really?”
I nod, brushing my thumb on her cheeks to wipe away the tears. “It’s you. Only you.”
“Does that mean we can be back together now?”
I chuckle and kiss her hard, holding her close to my body. This time I won’t let her go. “Damn right that’s what it means.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and breathes in deep. “God, I missed you.”
“I can’t do this,” I tell her, pulling back and taking her hand.
“What?” She looks stricken.
I shake my head and gesture between us. “Not this. Us. I mean, I can’t do what I need to do out here on the front porch.”
Her eyes widen. “Carson, seriously?”
“I need you, Libby. And I want a minute alone with you before everyone else gets here.”
“But—”
“No time.” I tug her inside and pull her into the kitchen briefly. “Mom, this is Libby. Libby, this is my mom, Sharon.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Libby says, holding out her hand.
But my mom embraces her and says, “Looks like you have a little time before everyone gets here—better make good use of it.”
Her mouth drops open, but I only grin at my mom and say, “We’ll be back.”
I pull Libby down the hall to the bedroom that used to be mine when I was a kid. Nothing has changed.
She starts to look around, but I sit on the bed and clasp her to me. “Tell me what you said again.”
“What I said?”
I nod and slide my hands under the hem of her dress, running them up her thighs. “What you said out on the porch.”
She closes her eyes briefly. “God that feels so good. What…?”
“About loving me.”
Her eyes open again. Her lips curve. “I love you, Carson.”
“And I love you, too, Libby.”