Page 95 of Homecoming

“Could be, but I really hope not.”

“I keep telling myself I did nothing wrong, but it feels so sordid to have that come up again when it happened years ago.”

“I heard you say something to Renata about other people’s opinions…” He held out his arm to bring her closer. “Get over here. I miss you.”

“I’m right here.”

“Closer.”

Kara snuggled up to him, resting her head on his chest and listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart, which always brought her comfort. That heart beat only for her, and knowing that, believing in it, had changed everything for her. “I meant what I said to Renata. It was worth all the risk. You know that, right?”

“Despite your forked tongue and jabs at my overinflated ego, I do know that.”

Kara snorted with laughter. “Those are just my attempts to keep you somewhat humble.”

“No one can humble me like you do, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I like to think about those early days on Gansett when you were driving me mad, showing up every day in those ridiculous loafers, paying me for rides in the launch just so you could hang out with me.”

“That was one of my better strategies. You were madder than a wet hen over me wanting to just ride around on the boat with no destination in mind.”

“Because that’s not how it works. I’m supposed to take you somewhere.”

“You took me somewhere, all right. Remember that day Kelly and Matt showed up on the island, and you took meall the wayto paradise right there in the middle of the Great Salt Pond?”

“Shush. The walls are thin. Bertha will hear you.”

He rocked with silent laughter.

“That was the day I fell in love with you, when you came running to warn me that they were there and intended to ambush me.”

“I couldn’t let that happen.”

“You know what the best part of that day was?”

“It wasn’t sex on the boat?”

“That was the second-best part.”

“Huh. That’s kind of insulting.”

“Hush up and listen. The best part was having time to prepare myself to tell her off.”

“And you did so—epically, I might add.”

“I would’ve frozen up if I hadn’t had that time to figure out how to handle her. You bought me time, and that made all the difference. Any time I’m forced to think about her or Matt or what they did, I think about that day and instantly feel better about it all. You made that possible for me.”

“Don’t forget I also gave you the opportunity for her to realize—every day of her life—that you married afarsuperior lawyer to the schmo she ended up with.”

Kara giggled. “That, too. I can’t believe there was a time that I thought my life was over because Matt Gallagher decided he loved Kelly and not me.”

“My lucky day.”

“It was mine, too. I didn’t see that at the time, but I sure as hell see it now.”

“Same thing with the day I caught my fiancée doing it with the best man right before the wedding that didn’t happen. It’s so funny how I thought I was going to spend my whole life with her, and now she never crosses my mind.”

“Because you’re too busy thinking about me and baby Dylan.”

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