Page 74 of Late Nights

Which had me remembering that although I might have Victor’s approval and my grandfather’s advice to not let my parents and my past hold me back any longer, I still didn’t know the first thing about how to be with Demi. If she and I did try being in a relationship, and if it didn’t work out, where would that leave me?

Alone.

The front door opened, and out walked Demi.

“Hey, is everything okay?” she asked, her gaze full of concern as she searched my face.

Of course she had come to check on me. She seemed to always be wondering how I was doing, and I appreciated that more than she would ever know.

“Yeah, I was just about to come in,” I told her, adding a smile to show her I was okay.

“It’s too bad your Grandfather had to leave before dessert.” She slipped her arm through mine and led me back into the house.

It was a friendly gesture, but it was still the first time we’d touched in the last nine days. But who was counting?

After our first night playing video games together after coming back from Lake Tahoe when I had been boldly honest about how hard it was for me not to kiss her that night, we’d somehow been able to seamlessly go back to being just friends. As grateful as my heart and hormones had been for that, I’d also been a little disappointed.

Was it easier now for her to think of me as a friend? We hadn’t talked about anything feelings-related in the last week and a half. We’d talked about our days in depth and hung out playing video games, but that was it. It had been comfortable and easy, but there was still a part of me that I always worked to hold back from her. My hands automatically wanted to reach out to brush her hair out of her face or grab her hand. My gaze wanted to linger when her shirt would fall off one of her shoulders or when the sliver of skin showed at her waist. But I’d always force my hands to remain at my sides and for my eyes to look away.

“What’s the dessert tonight?” I asked, pushing aside the not-so-friendly thoughts of her, as I was getting so used to doing.

“A chocolate ganache cake with gelato on the side.” She practically moaned.

I laughed and reached a hand toward her mouth. “Here, let me help you get that drool off your chin.”

“Oh, shush,” she laughed.

It was one of her favorite desserts, and I wondered if Rose had it planned tonight for her specifically.

“Things with your dad went better tonight than last month,” I said as we reached the house.

She sighed. “Yeah. I, uh, actually talked to him while you were outside with your grandfather.”

“Really? How did that go?”

She paused before heading back inside. “Good. He was apologetic and said he’d support me in my new path.”

“That’s great,” I said, truly happy for her. “I know your dad can be tough, but he really does love you, and he wants you to be happy.”

“Deep down I knew that, but he’s still not the easiest person to talk to.”

“Yeah, I agree.”

She dropped her arm from mine and walked through the front door. “What did your grandfather want to talk to you about?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Um.” I wasn’t quite sure how to answer that but decided to keep my answer simple. “He just wanted to let me know that he’s proud of me.”

A soft smile settled on her face. “That must have been nice to hear. Especially coming from him.”

I nodded. “It was.”

“Demi! Cannon!” Rose called out from the dining room. “I can’t guarantee that your dessert won’t have already been eaten if you don’t get in here quick.”

Demi and I looked at each other, our eyes going wide. We knew exactly who was eyeing our desserts.

“West!” we both yelled as we hurried to the dining room, and I couldn’t help the smile on my face as moments flashed through my mind of all the times I’d spent with the Vanderhalls.

There was no way I could give them up. Not even if my heart hurt every time I looked at Demi, knowing I couldn’t be with her. I’d rather have her and them in my life than risk not having them at all.

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