"What else? Their own stuff."
At this, I had to laugh. "You mean the Camaro? And those, um, collector's items?"
"Yeah. Those too."
"Wow, so you actually returned them? Why?"
"Because I didn't want anyone showing up on your doorstep."
My heart gave a wonderful little flutter. "So you did it because of me?"
"And, for me. Because I didn't wanna leave town."
"What do you mean?"
"You ever wonder why I was staying in a tent?"
"Well, yeah. At first. But then I figured you just liked camping."
"Nothing wrong with camping," he said. "But I was straight with you that first night. It wasn't just a vacation. I was lying low, looking to avoid their bull."
I couldn’t resist teasing him at least a little. "So you were living off the grid, huh?"
"More like off their radar. I wanted some time alone. But then, something changed."
"What?"
His gaze warmed. "I metyou."
Through the passenger's side window, I glimpsed the glimmer of a campfire though the trees. But it couldn’t compare to the glimmer in Joel's eyes when I whispered, "And I met you."
He leaned toward me, and I met him halfway. Our lips met in a kiss so sweet, it felt like coming home.
Now, more than anything, I wanted to pretend that our fight never happened. But I couldn’t, because he was already packed and ready to go.
I pulled back and asked the question that I'd been dreading. "Are you still leaving?"
"That depends." His mouth twitched at the corners. "You still want me to?"
I gave an embarrassed laugh. "I didn'treallywant you to go."
He smiled. "Yeah? Could've fooled me."
I looked toward his empty campsite. "So, what now? If you're not hiding out anymore, what are your plans?"
"That depends."
"On what?" I asked.
"You."
I smiled, even as heat rushed to my face. "Can I confess something?"
"Sure, what?"
"I kept your duffle bag."
He gave a small laugh. "If you like it, it's yours."
