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"Now that I would like to see," she says wryly, setting the elass on a nearby table "You’ve never been one to dance much, Drew"
"I don’t really ever dance," I say simply because it’s the truth I may have coordination out on the football field, but I’ off my moves on the dance floor As if I have any moves, which I don’t
"So, what do you think? Like your reception?"
Fable and I turn to find Dad standing before us, drink in hand, a giant smile on his face He’s dressed in his usual suit with a button-down shirt, no tie, his tanned face not froolf course He looks relaxed and happy … and older than I’ve ever seen hiray streaked liberally in his dark hair
"It’s beautiful You’ve outdone yourself," Fable says earnestly, flicking a quick glance in e smile on Dad "Thank you so much, Mr Callahan"
"Fable, you’re a part of the faht fro his arht "
My heart stutters inlike that before, especially to Fable We usually skirt the issues rather than face theing them And I like it
"Thank you … Andy" She withdraws fro with a sheen of unshed tears "Thank you for this party, for inviting everyone, and for including my brother in it all"
"Owen is a part of our faet" He laughs, but the sound is painful I feel it down to
Though I still regret the loss of ret Adele’s death The wo to her I just hate how it affected Dad
"The cake" Fable gestures toward it, trying to change the subject, which I appreciate "It’s so big I hope it tastes as good as it looks"
Ah crap, I hope Dad doesn’t take that reo, he would have He would have thought it was a sla Fable laugh with him "It better be I ordered it from the best bakery in all of the Carmel Valley And I paid top dollar for it, too"
"I can’t wait" Her s for cake I have a , I’m addicted to the sweetness that isoverly sentiets a little dreamy-eyed when he feels that way And there’s a dopey s his lips that makes him look as cute as can be He’s so handso across his forehead, his blue eyes flashing at ular cheekbones, the lush mouth, the fir at him Still That he has the power toI’d much rather focus on my love for Drew than deal with the uneasy sensation that slipped over lihway One, past the Monterey exits, an to sweat
All those tough, ugly feelings swarht I could handle this, coht because I knew she was gone and those old ghosts that had haunted Drew for so long had slowly evaporated over tiht hard to conquer his de him on the entire time
But maybe since I’d spent so much ti back in the Monterey Bay area, I feel sh, poor, slutty girl again, pretending to be in love with a gorgeous, perfect guy all for a lump sum of money that will temporarily take care ofthat way, too I thinkthat seeped fro in the backseat with his earbuds in, the music so loud I could still hear it, tinny and bass-heavy Drew had looked over at me and reached out across the console to takethe softest, sweetest kiss to aze flickering to mine before he returned it to the road stretched out before us "Don’t ever forget it"
Just like that, the knots ineased "I hate this place," I whispered in return
"Why?" He let go of my hand and turned his attentiondown as he pulled off on the upco exit "It’s where we fell in love"
The realization had stunned ht We had fallen in love here It , but our week in Carmel had also been sweet and hopeful and full of wonder I’d never felt anything like what I experienced with Dreith any other boy
And that little conversation, Drew’s simple words, fueled me for the rest of the trip Out here on his father’s back patio, the fairy lights wound in the trees twinkling above, the sliver of a pale whitevoices even louder, I’ here
"We should check out Ocean Avenue to his deep voice
"What? Are you serious?" Even though I’ve coer and et back home so he can resume practice
"Well yeah, remember the spot where we kissed?" His eyes are warm as they search my face, filled with so ly "Of course I reo back there" He tucks a strand of hair behindon ain in that little alley and remember hoe were froht reject me"
I’d felt the sas and fears and hadn’t even known it
"I want to take you to that store where you got the dress that just about killed ers drifting across my jaw My eyes flutter closed asroo you’re trying on"
That he remembers all the little details sends a thrill of pleasure spiraling to the very depths of my soul
"And then I want to wander off for a bit and let you do whatever you want, secretly hoping that you’ll send h if you don’t, that’s okay, because I’ll send you one instead" He offers up a crooked sht of it crackswith so much pure love for him I want to cry "Because we made a deal Whenever we see or hear that word, the other co I’ll always be the one to rescue you, Fable You never have to worry about that"