I took in a deep breath, remembering all the quiet conversations sharing secrets and dreams, the laughter that was nonstop for us, the adventures we had been on, and so many other things that bonded us. I saw the encouragement in his gaze, but also something more lingering there- an understanding far greater than words.
“Daisy, are you coming?” I snapped back to reality, realizing Iwas still holding onto the rope.
“Yeah, I’m coming. Hold your horses.” I pulled back on the rope, letting my body move backward to get more momentum, then lifted my feet off and went flying into the air a second time. I let go when I was near where Colt was in the water, landing with a splash beside him.
“You almost landed on top of me!”
“Should’ve moved out of my way, cowboy.”
? ? ?
Chapter Twenty-Three
Colt
Daisy was leaning against the counter and I was leaning against the one across from her, licking my lips and taking in her gorgeous body. Neither of us had put our shirts back on yet, and I was very easily distracted. She took my breath away. The mess we just made was completely worth it. I would have made that mess to get even one little taste of her.
She crossed my arms and I was afraid of what was to come, knowing that her folding her arms meant one thing- that she wanted to talk. I hated those words. I'm sure they might just be the most dreaded words for any man to hear. Usually, they didn’t mean anything good.
“Colt?”
“Hm?”
“We really need to talk about what happens next. I can’t pretend like everything’s fine.” I wish we didn’t have to talk about anything. I wish this could be our life and we didn’t have to worry about anyone else. I just want us.
“I know.”
“We need to figure out where we go from here.” I nodded. “You and I both know we aren’t just friends…I mean, after a scene like that…”
We aren’t just friends. We are so much more than that. We were almost more than that as kids, and we probably could have been more if I hadn’t been so stupid and backward and just manned up and told her how I felt. I could tell she longed for me as much as I did for her back then, but I never got around to sharing how I felt.
That is still my biggest regret to date.
We lost so much time and maybe if we had been together, she would never have left.
And then I wouldn't have missed her as bad as I did.
I wouldn't have shed tears for her.
But this is now, and I can't change the past. I have to make up for what happened before and do what I need to do this time to hold onto her. My heart longed for the beautiful and stunning, curly headed, brown eyed girl that took my breath away and always made me turn my head.
“Yeah, but that’s what my dad thinks. He thinks we’re just friends…or at least we can get along sort of like we used to. I don’t think he knows the full extent of our friendship…before things started heating up between us.” I brushed my hair back. “If we tell him now, I’m afraid it will complicate things.”
I made a promise to my dad, and I was so afraid of hurting him that I was terrified to tell him the truth. I have never, not once, broken a promise to my dad. My word meant something, and now what was I to do?
“What do you think will happen?”
“I’m not sure…but what if he doesn’t take it well? I don’t want to lose this summer with you because of a misunderstanding.”
She sighed, just barely where I could hear. The thought of not having Daisy here all summer hurt me. This was the first time I had seen her in seven years, other than at my mom’s funeral, and it was really starting to feel like old times…you know, without all the kissing and touching we’ve done. But I’m sure that would have been done back then, too, if only...
“I hate hiding this.”
“I do, too, Daisy.”
I wanted to shout the way I felt about her from the rooftops. I wanted everyone to know how I felt, especially Daisy. I wanted people to know she was mine, and I wasn’t going to let go this time.
“Maybe we can have it all.”
