Page 66 of To the Moon and Back
T his summer was easily the most beautiful of Brady’s life, and yet he had the worst feeling. The sense that life with Jenna wasn’t just beginning.
It was ending.
Brady tried not to think about it, tried not to read into some of her comments or expressions. She had read every letter he had ever written to her, and they’d talked about them. Each one seemed to draw the two of them closer.
In fact, their good times were better than Brady ever imagined they might be. But so far Jenna hadn’t wanted to discuss what they were going to do next, after summer. Sometimes at night he’d lie awake remembering every wonderful thing that had happened since she’d walked back into his life, and then the fear would hit.
Summer was almost over.
School had a start date, first full week of August for teachers. When that day arrived, Jenna would be there. Not in Oklahoma City with him.
That much was certain.
Columbus was a thousand miles away. A thirteen-hour drive on a good day.
That wasn’t all.
Lately she’d been mentioning her faith more often. It was becoming the religious elephant in the room. Eleven years ago they were the same, raised with their parents’ faith but certain God had forgotten them. He had taken away the people they cared about most, and He hadn’t answered any of their prayers since.
Back then they agreed on every point.
Now, though, Jenna spoke like someone who definitely believed in God. She talked about wanting to know God’s will and several times she had referenced her certainty that God had great plans for His people.
Whatever that meant. Because how could God’s great plans include what happened at the Murrah Building?
Brady gripped the wheel of his pickup. He was five minutes from the place where Jenna was staying. Today they were doing something new. Riding bikes together. Kyrie thought it would help his recovery to use his upper leg muscles. A bike ride through the park had been Jenna’s idea.
When he didn’t think about her increasing penchant for faith or the fact that summer was fading, Brady put his concerns out of his mind. Their chemistry was crazy amazing, and even though Jenna seemed careful not to spend time at his apartment, she clearly felt as much for him as he felt for her.
Brady pulled up in front of Allison’s house and hurried out of his pickup. Not because he was late. Because it felt so good to be able to move. To order his legs to take a stretch of sidewalk at a fast clip—the way he had done all his life—and for his body to follow through.
He still hurt, still woke up each morning stiff and achy. Kyrie said that was to be expected. But the more he moved throughout the day, the better he felt. And every day he could move a little more.
Jenna opened the front door before he reached the top of the steps. “You’re getting around so well.” She shut the door behind her and joined him on the porch. “You’re the hardest worker I know.”
This was something else he’d noticed. She never invited him inside. They’d hung out every day for the past few weeks, and yet they’d been alone only a handful of times.
And almost never lately.
Brady let it go.
“I found the perfect park.” Jenna moved to the edge of the porch. “Fifteen miles of paths and they rent bikes right near the parking lot.”
“Sounds good.” He took Jenna’s hand as they walked back to his truck. If this summer was all they ever shared, if he had to live the rest of his life without knowing the sweet look in her eyes or the feel of her lips against his then he would at least have the memories of these weeks.
The feel of her fingers between his.
He opened the truck door for her and before she stepped inside, he pulled her into his arms. “Is Allison home?” His voice was softer than before. Full of a desire he could no longer avoid.
“She’s not.” The want in Jenna’s eyes mirrored his own. But again she stopped short of inviting him in. “Brady . . . I can’t . . .”
“Shhh.” He put his finger to her lips, and then, like he was dying to do, he kissed her. “I missed you.”
This time she kissed him and when she finally stepped back, her cheeks were red. “I missed you, too.” But as soon as she said the words the look in her eyes changed.
There it is again, he thought. What is it? He walked to the driver’s side and climbed in. Every move made him aware of his healing injuries. But nothing hurt more than her hesitancy or doubt. Whatever it was.
Forget it, Brady. He started the truck and pulled away from the curb. She was here. She was real and she was his. There was nothing to fear. He forced himself to relax.
