“I might know someone,” she whispered as she closed her eyes.
She was in a tree house, knees on the floor, leaning forward, wearing apurple dress. Yellow flower-shaped plastic barrettes from Bailey's Five and Tenin her hair. The smell of strawberries and pine boards. Please, God, don't let ourbraces lock together.
He kissed her, long and slow this time, his right arm reaching around her back, his left cradling her neck. She felt like she was home. Not her house, not
this town, just here. With Peter, on this porch.
It was more than a kiss. It was a confirmation of what had been missing all
these years. More than some fuzzy, nostalgia-fueled dream. It was real this time.
They separated, noses almost touching.
“That was much better than seventh grade,” he said. “Even better than
Chicago. I think we're getting the hang of this.”
A dog barked, the stars silently looked on.
“Yes,” she agreed wholeheartedly.
It felt right. It was right, wasn't it?
Then why was there this sinking, hard feeling in her chest?
The blanket of cool stars above her reminded her where she was. This wasn't
the glow of Chicago's eternally lit sky. It was an unavoidable reminder that, even here in Peter's arms, she was still miles away.
But those thoughts could wait until later. It would all work out, somehow.
It had to, right?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Peter heard the knock on his office door frame. He knew who it was without even looking up.
“Here early?” Lucius asked.
“Apparently.” He paused. “I have some labs to grade before the field trip at
Nitrovex this afternoon.”
Lucius nodded. “The field trip. Forgot about that. Want me to take over?”
Peter did look up now. It was tempting. Last night had been a wash after Kate showed up—a great wash, but still, he had gotten behind. But then, he might see her there. She had her presentation after lunch… “No, I can swing it.
Just a few more to go.” He yawned.
“Didn't get to them last night?”
“I got a little…sidetracked.”
“Hmm. Been a long time since I got sidetracked.”
Peter looked up. “You should try it sometime.” He went back to his papers.
“Maybe with Carol.” He smiled. That should shut him up.
It did, for a moment. “Well, I'm very happy for you, Peter. Let me be the first
to welcome you to the wonderful world of love.”
Peter put up his hands. “Whoa, whoa. Slow down. No one's saying anything
about love.” It was just one kiss, right? Or was it three? Technically probably five…
Lucius spread his own fingers in apology. “Sorry. Didn't mean to step on your intellectual toes, Dr. Clark.”
“Apology accepted.”
“Just don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he
wanted. He lived happily ever after.”
Peter snorted. “Really? You're quoting Willy Wonka at me?”
Lucius shrugged. “I'm running out of material with you.” He grabbed his jacket. “See you at lunch. Tuesday is tater tot casserole day.”
