Page 36 of Ever's Last
“I will. I should come up and say hi. When she was around, she would chase all of us away.”
“I’m sorry about that. He’d like a visit,” I tell her, following her inside. The house hasn’t changed. Same floral wallpaper and pictures of family everywhere, including mine. I think the lap blanket on the couch is the one I gave her for Christmas one year. I bet his room is the same too.
“Dinner is ready.” He places his hand on my back and his touch sends shivers down my spine.
“Memphis . . . ” I start.
“I think we have a lot to talk about. I’m ready to talk if you are. But this is happening. I’m not letting you go.”
I needed to hear that.
“And the show?”
“You’ll see.” He winks as he guides me to the dining room. I do know where it is, but I want his hand on me. Some might say I’ve given in too soon. But when you love someone, you love them. And we were bound to run into each other again because his mom and my dad are good friends, small town and all.
“Rider, elbows off the table. ” Bernie chastises Brick and I giggle, making Brick grin. Nothing changes. Ariel is a new edition, but I’ve sat at this table with both of these men before and it feels like home.
“Ariel, how do you know these two?” Bernie doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“I . . . ”
“I kissed her at a party and left her,” Memphis fesses up. I’m not sure that’s the whole story, but he’s trying to be a gentleman. I do know they didn’t have sex.
“And what are your intentions with Rider?”
Ariel looks ready to bolt, but I squeeze her hand under the table. I guess we should have warned her.
“I love him,” she smiles at Brick.
“Rider?”
“I love her.” I think my heart nearly bursts at that.
“Alright then. Has she met your pa yet?”
“No. When this is all over, we’re going to spend a week here and then visit her family,” Brick says.
“You did well, Rider.” I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen Brick blush. “Eat up,” Bernie says. I smile at Ariel. I’m so happy for her. I can only hope that I find that with Memphis.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Memphis
Yeah, we should have warned Ariel about my mom. But in the end, my mom loves her. And I love that Ariel and Ever are becoming good friends because when we get back to Atlanta, they will be around each other a lot.
Brick takes Ariel back to the house and I lead Ever out to the barn. I don’t think this is the time to talk about the heavy stuff, but that needs to happen. Tonight, I just want to tell her that I meant what I said.
She lays her head in my lap and I love that. I love running my hands through her hair.
“What will happen after the show?” she asks.
“I’m hoping that you’ll come to Atlanta with me.”
“What would I do there?”
“You want to go to school, there are several colleges there.”
She hums but doesn’t say anything.
