Page 138 of Huckleberry Hill
“I’m annoyed because you knew and instead of telling me you didn’t want to divulge what you knew, you misdirected me. Don’t misdirect me. Next time I can’t know something, then tell me that.”
“And you’ll just accept that as a viable answer?”
“Well, of course not.” I rolled my eyes. “But once I calm down, I’ll respect your decision to be an iron vault.”
“All right.”
“But you do know now that I’m your girlfriend we’re not supposed to have secrets, right? You’re supposed to tell me everything you know. Especially when it pertains to gossip.”
“So, if Salem tells you something in confidence, does that mean I get to know too?”
“Hell no. Salem isn’t just my sister. She’s my twin.”
“So let me get this straight; I have to tell you someone else’s confidence, even if they swear me to secrecy, but you won’t do the same.”
“That’s right.” I nodded.
“That’s not fair.”
“I don’t make the rules, Declan. But what’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine.”
His lips turned up in a smile. “Is that right?”
“That’s right.” I nodded.
“Hadley?”
“Hmm?”
“You called yourself my girlfriend,” he said.
“Oh.” I nibbled on my lip as I began loading the dirty breakfast plates into the dishwasher. “I just assumed—maybe I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“Assuming is good,” he said.
“Yeah?”
He grinned at me and then leaned over and brushed his lips across mine. “Yeah.”
I sighed. We finished cleaning up the kitchen in companionable silence. It made me think about doing this with him forever, but my heart saddened when I thought about no sounds of children’s laughter echoing through the house. No Christmas mornings of squeals when they realized Santa had come the night before.
“Hey,” I said, feeling emotion jam my throat. “I know we were supposed to have a day together, but I really want to call Salem and my friends and tell them . . . well, everything.”
“Everything?” he asked, wrapping his arms around me.
“Not everything. But enough that they understand.” I placed my head against his chest and closed my eyes. He smelled like bacon, and I nuzzled my nose against his shirt.
“Stop that,” he whispered against my hair.
“Or what, my big, delicious snickerdoodle?”
“Or I’m carrying you out of here and taking you back to the cabin. And then I’ll have to make love to you on the hardwood floor with nothing but blankets because the mattress is still in the back of the truck.”
“That doesn’t sound so terrible,” I whispered, peering up at him.
“Hmm. No, it doesn’t.” He kissed me and then let me go. “Call Salem and your friends.”
“I want you to take me for another ride on the back of your motorcycle soon,” I said. “But I don’t have the clothes.”
