Page 30 of Fortuity
“You’re quick with the perfect lines, slick.” Really damn smooth while I still felt awkward and nervous around him. It was understandable since I didn’t have much dating experience. Seeing my mom with so many strange men when I was young had given me a skewed perspective on romantic relationships. Coupled with my not-so-great experiences in foster care, my illness, and the scars from my transplant, and I’d gotten in the habit of avoiding potential relationships for the most part. But Dillon had snuck in there; tricking me into our first date. Blindsiding me by calling us a couple. Making me feel things I didn’t expect. “Should I beworried?”
“If what I’m saying is coming off as perfect, that’s just blind luck.” He shook his head and let go of one of my hands to run his through his hair. “I’m flying blind here,Faith.”
“It doesn’t seem like it from where I’m standing.” I took a couple of steps backwards, and his hold on my handtightened.
“I dated some in high school, but nothing too serious. Then Declan died, and everything changed.Ichanged,” he stressed, the words practically ripped from his chest. “I was messed up in the head for a long time, struggling with guilt because the one thing I was better at than him was driving. I couldn’t get it out of my head that if I’d been behind the wheel instead of him, maybe the accident wouldn’t have happened. But I’d had a few drinks and a hit from a bong at the party we’d gone to, so Declan tookmykeys.”
His confession ripped my heart to shreds, and I closed the distance I’d put between us. “You know it wasn’t your fault, though.Right?”
“Most days, yeah. And on the others, I turn to gambling. It’s been my outlet for the past few years because I couldn’t stand the thought of drinking or smoking pot after Declan died. Ordating.”
He was hot. Rich. A good guy. Even though he was a little messed up, understandably so with what happened to his twin, Dillon Montgomery was one hell of a catch. Most of the girls on campus had to have been chasing after him on the regular. “Nodating?”
“Nothing serious. A few hookups the summer before my freshman year before I realized they just made me feel worse. I just ended up at an underground poker game afterwards. It fucked with my head, and I lost each time. I finally figured out that casual shit wasn’t for me, but a serious relationship wasn’t either.” He shrugged. “It would’ve meant opening up to a girl about Declan, and I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea ofdoingthat.”
“But you told me?” It put our conversation in front of the fireplace into a whole newperspective.
“Sharing with you feltright.”
He sounded more okay with that than I was. “Because you think of us as acouple?”
“Yup.”
“Even though we’ve only been ononedate?”
“What can I say? When you know, you know.” He grinned and winked at me. “I never understood what my dad meant when he told me that, but now Igetit.”
I’d seen how his dad was with Elaine and caught the implication. As shocking as it was. Thrilling. And scary, too. Some of what I was feeling must have shown on my face because he hurriedly urged, “Don’t be afraid to let me in. Share as much or as little as you’d like. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I’d destroy anyone who tried tohurtyou.”
His eyes gleamed with sincerity. Knowing he’d made himself vulnerable with me left me in the unusual position of being open to the idea of doing the same. “I’lltry.”
“I appreciate it.” He lowered his head and pressed his lips against mine in a kiss that was gentle and...meaningful. When his dad opened the sliding door to call out for us to come inside, it ended too soon. “You just gave me the best reason to be thankful on my favoriteholiday.”
I had a big smile on my face when I walked with him into the house. Then I enjoyed the best Thanksgiving meal I’d ever had, surrounded by amazing people and filled with gratitude because maybe—just maybe—I’d finally found my path tohappiness.
