Page 15 of The One
I wanted to ask what they were. But if I did, I didn’t know if we’d ever circle back, and I needed to get this out.
“When we moved, I was so furious with my parents. I didn’t speak to them for a month. I wouldn’t even leave my room unless it was to go to school. I despised them for making me go to Manhattan. And Penelope, she tried everything she could to get me to go out,” I said, ignoring his last comment. “She even came into my room one night and spiked my Diet Coke, hoping it would loosen me up enough that I’d leave.”
“Did it?”
“The second I tasted the vodka, I flushed it down the toilet and locked her out.”
“Hard-ass.”
I sighed. “I was miserable, Rhett.”
“I don’t like hearing that.” He extended his leg and rubbed it against mine. “Was it because they had taken you away from everything you knew?”
“It was because they had taken me away from you.” My chin dropped, and I looked at my lap. “I know we were together for just a few months, and I was only fifteen years old, and in most people’s minds, they’d think that’s ridiculous. I was practically a baby. But to me, it was everything.” I looked up. “You were everything.”
“Lainey …”
“After a month of my not speaking to my parents, my dad came into my room to talk to me—which he’d done before, but I wouldn’t open up. This time, I was finally ready to get everything off my chest, and I told him I wanted him to let me go home. I’d live with a friend or family member—anyone—but I wasn’tgoing to stay in New York.” I wiped my hands on my thighs and wrapped my arms around my stomach. “He wouldn’t let me. He said I needed to tough it out, he wouldn’t give me any other choice. But he made me a promise and said he’d do everything in his power to prove himself to the New York office so he’d be offered the CEO position in LA. In return, he wanted me to stop sitting around and moping, to enjoy my time in New York.”
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this back then?”
“I didn’t know if it would happen, or if Dad would keep his promise, or if the LA office would even give him the promotion—there were so many things out of my control.” I tightened my grip on my stomach. “When it eventually came through, Dad wanted us to stay in Manhattan and finish the last month of the school year and move here during the summer.” I let out a huff. “There wasn’t a chance in hell that was going to happen. We arrived in LA last Sunday night, and I was at school on Monday morning.”
His stare intensified. “You did everything you could to come back to me.”
I thought of the conversation I’d had with my sister in the car.
She’d told me to tell him.
But I felt like such an idiot.
This time, when I drew in air, I held it in. “There’s more … I haven’t told you everything.”
“What do you mean?”
I rocked over the bed, hoping the swaying would ease the feeling in my chest. “The whole time I was there, I didn’t date anyone. I was asked out plenty, but I couldn’t do it. It didn’t feel right. They weren’t right.” I slowly let out the air through my lips. “They weren’t … you.”
As soon as I reached forward, his arms moved from behind him to in front of him, and he grabbed my hand as though he’d been waiting for it.
“The first kiss I ever had, Rhett, was with you in that janitor’s closet.”
When he scanned my eyes, the movement was gradual. He wasn’t just looking at them; he was looking through them. “Hold on a second.” He went silent. “You really didn’t date anyone while you were there?”
“No.”
“And I was really your first kiss?”
“Yes. Really.” I wanted to die at the thought of saying the word, but I had to. “I’m a virgin.”
He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “You were waiting for me.”
“I wouldn’t be happy with anyone but you.” The emotion came into my throat. “I knew that at fifteen, and I know that now at seventeen. I was coming back, no matter what, however long it took. But I wouldn’t keep you dangling—because for me, that was torture, and I wouldn’t put you through it.”
His stare covered my whole face. I even felt it on my ears.
“All this time, all you wanted was me.” His head shook. “And all this time, I thought you wanted nothing to do with me.” He pulled my hand until he had more of my arm, and then he slid me closer.
With inches separating us, he traced his thumb around my lips. “I’m the only one who’s ever had these.” He wasn’t questioning. It was like he was saying it out loud so it would stick in his head.
