Chapter 6

We pull up to the peach stand and Conrad puts the car in park.

"Ready?" He smiles at me.

"Yes!" I practically leap out of the car with enthusiasm. Conrad laughs and turns off the engine.

I gather a few peaches to take home to Laurel. I knew she would appreciate them just as much as I did. I bite into a fresh one and it tastes just like I remembered. Maybe even better.

"These are the best peaches in the entire world." I sigh, savoring the flavor.

Conrad smirks. "I'll take your word for it."

"Too bad you're allergic." I squint at him under the hot sun. "Everything tastes better in Cousins."

I walk over to pay for the peaches, including the one that was half-bitten into.

"Conrad?" I hear a voice say.

I look over my shoulder to see a woman greeting Conrad in a summer dress and a straw beach hat. He recognizes her right away and they get to talking. I overhear their conversation and find out she used to volunteer with Susannah at the local women's shelter. I smile at the thought. She had looked familiar. After I pay for the peaches, I wander over to the pie stand and order us a pie to share.

I watch the two of them talk as I wait. It was nice to hear Conrad talk about Susannah so openly. Even though it had been years, I knew it took strength for him to do that. Sometimes it felt like she never truly left. She was everywhere here.

"One pie for the lady!" A man in an apron smiles, setting a cherry pie on the counter.

"Thank you." I take the pie and leave a tip on the counter. "Keep the change."

I turn around and make my way back over to them.

"Well, it is nice to see you." She says to Conrad then she turns to me. "And you must be Isabel."

I nod and smile. She had a way about her that reminds me of Susannah. Similar but different. I could have sworn Susannah had an identical hat back at the beach house somewhere.

Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she smiles. "Well, Susannah was right. You two sure make a lovely couple."

Conrad and I make awkward eye contact for a split second then look away.

"I better get going. Enjoy your summer you two." She waves goodbye and walks away.

"You too" Conrad and I say at the same time. We were silent for a few moments as we watched her walk away.

"She was sweet." I say to break the awkward silence.

Conrad nods. "Yeah, she was good to my mom. Shall we?"

We both turn around to make our way back to the car. The awkward silence continues.

"Sorry..." Conrad says after a few moments. "My mom used to talk about us all the time. I think she saw you and assumed we were still…"

"It's cool." I shrug as we walk. "Don't worry about it."

He opens the car door for me then notices the fresh pie in my hands. He smirks.

"First ice cream. Now pie. You do know there are other food groups other than just sugar right?"

I roll my eyes, hopping into the passenger seat. I shake the bag of peaches at him sarcastically. "Yeah, well. Peaches are fruit and fruit is a food group."

He laughs, shutting the door and I watch him walk to the driver's side. It was all going by so fast. Our final day together. When he gets in, I clear my throat and turn towards him.

"Actually, this is for you..." I lift the pie in my hands. "It's your favorite. Cherry."

Conrad blinks at the pie then at me. His face was hard to read.

"What?" I laugh nervously.

"Nothing." He shakes his head. "I'm just surprised you remembered…" He gestures towards the pie. I knew he was talking about the flavor.

I laugh as we fasten our seatbelts.

"How could I forget? Laurel said you begged Susannah to make you cherry pies for an entire month once. You even tried to trade her your entire stamp collection." I couldn't help but smile.

"No, I didn't." He shakes his head, looking away.

"Yes, you did." I tease.

"No, I didn't." He shakes his head as he ignites the engine.

"Yes, you did!" I laugh. "Laurel doesn't lie."

"Okay, fine." Conrad rolls his eyes but I could see a smile forming on his lips. "Maybe I did."

I raise my eyebrows, shooting him a look. He laughs at me with shrugged shoulders.

"What?" He runs a hand through his hair. "It was my birthday month and I was like ten."

He had just turned ten. I remember it well. My mom got off of the phone with Susannah laughing and told Steven and I the story but I already knew it because I had been listening to their phone call outside her bedroom door. I always listened when it was about Conrad.

"Well." I smile. "Consider this a birthday wish come true."

We both laugh then look at each other. There was a seriousness to the air as we held each other's gaze. I could tell he was feeling the same way I was. In a few hours, we'd be saying goodbye to Cousins and goodbye to 'this'. Whatever 'this' was that was happening between us. I kept waiting for the moment. The moment that he would tell me everything he had told Steven but as the day went on, I began to realize maybe it would never come. Maybe it was better this way.

I break eye contact and look away. "Well, we still have a few hours left. Where to next?"

Conrad surprises me when he says, "Let me take you out to dinner."

I look at him. "What?" I almost laugh.

"There's no food left at the house." He says, not missing a beat. "It's the least I can do."

"But… pie?" I say like an idiot and it makes him laugh. He looks out the window then back at me fighting a smile.

"Let me take you out for a real meal, Belly." He laughs. "You know, one with all the food groups."

I laugh. Was this his way of asking me out? It felt like it. Could this be the moment I had been waiting for? I look at him, wondering what was the right thing to do.

All I knew was I wasn't ready to leave. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Cousins and I certainly wasn't ready to say goodbye to him. I couldn't say no.

"Sure." I smile. "Why not?"

"Okay." He smirks. There it was – that irresistible smirk again.

"Okay." I blush. "It's your move, Conrad Fisher." I repeat what he said to me earlier with a laugh.

He puts the car in reverse and we drive away from the peach stand without a worry in the world. We talk about all of our memories as we pass by places we used to go as kids. We talk like the two summer kids we were at heart who had their whole lives right infront of them.

I roll down my window and soak in the Cousins sunshine, my hair flowing in the wind. I could feel Conrad's eyes on me the entire time but I kept mine closed as I memorized it all.

The song playing on the radio is Nobody Sees Me Like You Do by Japanese Breakfast:

I wanna quit moving, I wanna quit running

I wanna relax and be tender

I wanna see us together again

Rocking away in our walnut chairs

Even with your warmth and closeness

These feelings of loneliness hangs over like a curse

No one can see me like you do

No one can see you like I do

Conrad:

We carry the peaches and pie inside and set them on the counter. I steal glances at her as we walk inside together and can't help but smile. It has been such a great day and our time was running out.

"Alright, where are we going?" Belly smiles.

"You'll see." I smirk. "Meet me outside in one hour."

Belly laughs. "How fancy are we talking?"

"However fancy you want."

"Okay." She nods. "One hour. Got it."

I let her get ready first. As soon as I hear the shower turn on upstairs, I call to make our reservation. I ask for a table for two. When I'm asked if it's for a special occasion, I hesitate at first. Then I smile and tell them: "Yes. We're celebrating my girlfriend's college graduation."

I clean up the downstairs to pass the time. I pick the best flower I can find from the garden and set it on the counter to save it for later. When I hear her door shut upstairs, I knew it was my turn to get ready. I find myself feeling nervous. Giddy. Happy. Feelings I hadn't felt in a long time.

An hour later as promised, I wait for her outside. I lean against the hood of my car dressed in the best clothes I could find. It's not long until I hear the front door swing open and I look up. Belly walks out in a beach dress I'd never seen before. It was a lilac crochet lace trim design that complimented her tan skin. I let out a deep breath before her eyes meet mine. No one would ever have the same effect on me as she does. No one.

"Is this too casual?" She laughs.

"No, no." I shake my head, unable to keep my eyes off of her. "It's perfect."

She blushes and I give her the flower from the garden. She accepts it with a smile then smells it.

"Thank you." She smiles at me. "You always were good at giving gifts…"

And that's when I see it. The infinity necklace around her neck. What once was a shining and brilliant silver was now a faded copper brown. I had almost missed it. It blended into her tan skin so well. I couldn't believe she had held onto it after all this time. It gave me hope. Validation. She didn't have to say anything. It was a symbol worth a thousand words and memories.

The entire drive over she asks me where we are going and I give her the same short responses. When we turn into the Cousins Country Club parking lot, her eyes light up with surprise.

"You did not!" Belly laughs at me. "I should have known!"

"I figured it would be the perfect way to end the day." I smile as I pull into a parking spot.

I open her car door for her and reach out a hand. "Ready?"

She takes my hand and smiles. "Ready."

I couldn't believe we were here. A hostess greets us and walks us to a table for two in the corner. It was intimate and private, tucked away from other tables. It was special. It felt like a date.

The hostess sets down menus in front of us and winks at Conrad with a flirty voice. "Enjoy."

I press my lips together and look at him. Conrad was already looking right at me.

The waiter comes over. "Welcome. Have you dined with us before?"

"Yes." we both say at the same time.

"But it's been awhile." I smile.

The waiter smiles. "Welcome back. Can I interest you in any drinks?"

"Um…" I smile, fishing out my ID then presenting it to him. "I'll do the Fisher Fourth."

"Ahh. Pomegranate margarita. Great choice." He nods with approval as he checks my ID then he turns to Conrad next. "And for you?"

"I'll have what she is having." Conrad shows him his ID. I smile imagining his fake Guam ID. I make a mental note to tease him about it later.

"I hear we are celebrating something special tonight. Congratulations on your graduation. Dessert is on the house tonight." The waiter smiles at me.

I look at Conrad. I should have known. He was always up to something.

The waiter walks us through the specials of the night then leaves us to decide on our entrees.

"Wow." I laugh when he is gone. "You went all out!"

Conrad smirks. "You only graduate college once."

"True." I say then I laugh at him. "Also I'm happy to see your Guam ID days are behind you."

Conrad laughs, shaking his head at me. "You'll never let that go, will you?"

I shake my head. "Nope! I mean Fritz Herbertson is such a memorable name."

We both laugh together as the same hostess returns with a bread basket and whipped butter. Conrad pushes it towards me and I love him for it. I had worked up quite the appetite after surfing and arcade games.

The hostess looks at Conrad only again. "Let me know if you need anything else." She smiles.

Conrad nods and I start buttering my slice of bread as she leaves our table.

"Someone has a crush." I laugh, taking a bite.

Conrad looks at me confused.

"The hostess." I take another bite. "She is totally flirting with you."

Conrad just laughs. "She's not my type."

"Oh really?" I tilt my head. "Blonde, tan, and beautiful isn't your type?"

Conrad looks into my eyes and the look he gives me makes me hold my breath.

"No." He says. "Not at all."

The same hostess drops off our drinks and makes another flirty comment. Conrad doesn't give her the time of day.

"Wow!" I laugh as we sip our pomegranate margaritas. "These taste amazing!"

"I think I've had better." Conrad smirks.

I give him a look.

"The Belly Special." He makes a dramatic display with his hands and we both laugh.

I remember that Fourth of July well. It was the first time I had drank alcohol. And it was the night Conrad and I almost shared our first kiss.

I laugh at him, taking another sip. "God, that feels like forever ago! So much has changed."

Conrad's expression changes then it hits me. It was the last summer we had spent with her: Susannah. I immediately change the subject.

"You know a place is fancy when they serve whipped butter." I take another bite.

"If I had known you'd be this easily impressed I would have just taken you to Mcdonald's." Conrad teases me as he sips his margarita.

Mcdonald's always reminded me of the Fisher brothers. A memory of Jere pops in my head.

"Jere always loved a Mcdonald's breakfast." I laugh, shaking my head. "Don't tell Adam but one time he spilled it all over the Jeep. It smelled like pancake syrup for weeks." I take another bite.

Conrad offers a smile but it doesn't reach his eyes. I suddenly recall the events of this weekend and feel uneasy. I look down.

"Sorry. I don't know why I said that..."

I take a sip of my margarita and quickly glance up at him. He was looking at something behind me, his eyes cold and distant. I knew that look well. He was in his head.

The waiter returns before I can say another word.

"Alright." The waiters smiles at the two of us. "Have we decided on our entrees?"

I look at Conrad. "Do you know?"

Conrad nods, his eyes still distant. "Ladies first."

I open the menu and point towards one of the specials. "I'll try the Pulled Pork Sandwich."

"With fries?" The waiter asks me and I nod. The waiter turns to Conrad next.

"I'll do the Lobster." Conrad says and tells him his side.

"Great." The waiter smiles, taking our menus. "Those will be right out."

When the waiter is gone, I look at Conrad again. He still wasn't looking at me. And this wasn't something I could just let go.

"Can I ask you something…?" I ask him after a few moments.

He doesn't respond.

"What did Jere say to you?" I swallow. "Steven and Taylor told me some of it but I know… I know they left out a lot."

"It doesn't matter, Belly." Conrad shrugs. "Let's just have a good night."

"It matters to me." I shake my head. "What did he say to you, Conrad?"

"It doesn't matter. I've let it go."

"Have you?" I say, trying to get him to look at me. He doesn't.

I place my hand over his to get his attention and he finally looks at me. His eyes looked sad. Cold. Detached. It made me want to hug him from across the table. It made me want to kiss all his pain and sadness away.

"Look, whatever Jere said. I'm sure… I'm sure he didn't mean it." I squeeze his hand to comfort him. "Don't let it get to you. He loves you, Conrad."

Conrad nods, looking down at the table.

"It's not your fault this weekend happened the way it did." I squeeze his hand again, urging him to listen to me.

"I know." Conrad's voice sounds far away.

I sigh. I knew what he was doing. He was shutting me out and I wasn't going to let it happen.

"I know what you're doing, Conrad." I take my hand away.

He finally looks at me.

"You're shutting me out because you don't want me to see how bad you're hurting." I say.

"That's not what I'm doing." He shakes his head, stirring his drink.

"Bullshit." I look into his eyes. "Come on, Conrad. I know you and Jere better than anyone. You can talk to me about anything."

"I don't want to talk about it, Belly." Conrad says in a low voice.

"Why not? If it's about me, I don't care. It won't hurt my feelings. Just tell me."

"I said let it go, Belly." Conrad looks at me then looks away.

I feel hurt but let it go because I knew he didn't mean it.

"I'm not going to spend our last night together like this." I shake my head at him.

"Like what?"

"Like this." I say. "With you shutting me out. You said it would be different this time-"

"Yeah, well. I've said a lot of things I didn't mean this weekend..." Conrad says.

His words rock me to my core. I lean all the way back in my chair in shock. I couldn't look at him. I should have known he was going to be like this. It was bound to happen eventually.

Conrad studies my face and quickly realizes how his words were perceived.

"Belly, I didn't mean with you. I meant all the things Jere and I said to each other-"

"No." I stare down at the table. "You meant what you said."

I try to hide the dissapoint and hurt on my face but it was too late. It was already there. It hurt because we had been here before. It hurt more than it ever had before because I did it to myself. I allowed myself to believe this time would be different.

Our last day in Cousins together convinced me that maybe we could make it work. And his talk with Steven made me think maybe there was something left between us but once again I was made a fool.

Not anymore. After tonight, I was done.

The waiter brings out our meals. "Anything else I can get for you two?"

"Can we get the check?" I look up at him. I feel Conrad's eyes on me as the waiter nods.

"Sure… Do you want your dessert to-go?" The waiter asks awkwardily.

"Oh." I say, forgetting about the dessert. "Um, don't worry about it. We have a long drive ahead of us. We're in a hurry to get back home."

The waiter nods then steals a quick glance at the two of us before walking away.

"Belly…" Conrad starts but I wasn't in the mood for whatever he was about to say.

"It's fine, Conrad. Let's just enjoy our meals and go."

Both of us pick at our food and don't touch our drinks for the rest of the night. Conrad pays.

Conrad:

It begins to rain as we drive back to the beach house in complete silence. A perfect day gone to shit. Even the car radio wasn't working right due to the weather. Belly hadn't looked at me since we had left the Country Club and the drive home felt longer than usual. Everything was wrong.

When we pull up to the beach house, I look at her. She hadn't moved an inch the entire car ride. She was looking out the window. She leaves without saying a word and slams the car door shut. She walks into the beach house and doesn't bother looking back. Not even once.

I punch the steering wheel out of frustration. What the fuck was wrong with me? It was just like every fight we'd ever had. Once again I had shut her out and let her walk away. Once again I had let her think I didn't care. And I had once again broken yet another promise. A promise I made on the night of her graduation party that we could be friends, that we wouldn't shut each other out, and that this time would be different. I let her down and I hated myself for it.

As I sat there, I realized something – something that one can only come to know after losing those you love: I couldn't erase the past but I could learn from it. I could choose at this very moment to learn from it all. To be better. Choose better. Be a better guy. Be the good guy Belly thinks I am – or used to be.

The difference was I was no longer a boy. I was a man who had experience with loss. I knew grief like the back of my hand after losing my mom to cancer. I knew true heartbreak after walking away from Belly on the day of her wedding. I had come to learn time was the most precious thing on this earth that you can never get back and each moment counts more than the last. They say loss is the greatest teacher and over the years I had come to realize what is most important in this life. I had come to realize who and what really matters. And this was one of those moments where I could let her walk away like the young boy I once was or I could man up and finally make things right with her once and for all. I couldn't erase what I had done or who I had been in the past but I could choose to be the man she deserves today.

I couldn't let this be it. Our last talk. Our last fight. Our last anything. I wouldn't let it be. Tonight I would face her and tell her the truth. Everything I had kept buried inside for years -- like a time capsule hidden in the sand of Cousins Beach. It had all built up to tonight and I knew there was no other right thing to do than to go after her. It was now or never. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try. I had to.

Shoot your shot.

I run inside and call out for her but she was nowhere to be found. My heart sinks as I begin to wonder if she had left. Maybe she had caught a ride or called Steven and Taylor. I enter the kitchen to see the peaches and pie still sitting on the counter. She would have taken them with her if she left. It was a sign. She was still here. I look out the window of the kitchen to see a shadowy figure at the end of the pier in the rain. She was looking out at the water. I run outside as fast as humanly possible and call her name.

"Belly! Come back inside!"

She doesn't respond. She doesn't even acknowledge me. She stays put.

"Belly." I say as I approach her on the pier.

I reach out to touch her. Her dress and hair were soaking wet from the rain. She must be freezing. She slaps my hand away immediately.

"Leave me alone." She says, walking past me. She won't even look at me.

"Belly, will you please just come back inside?" I shout over the rain.

She keeps walking away and with every step she takes, I feel the adrenaline kick in.

I catch up with her. "Belly. Will you please just talk to me?"

It sounds like a laugh when she says, "Now you want to talk?" She turns around to look at me. "Go ahead. Let's talk."

She waits for me to say something and when I don't respond fast enough, she shakes her head.

"Same Old Conrad." She walks away, leaving me behind. Her words cut me deep.

I watch her walk away from me in the rain and it takes me back in time to the night of her Prom. My heart begins to race. Tonight would not end how Prom did. I wouldn't let her walk away again.

"You're right!" I shout. She continues walking.

"I shut people out. Sometimes it's easier that way. But I don't want to do that anymore. After my mom passed away I was so angry with everyone and everything. I didn't know how to handle things. It wasn't fair to you and I know better now."

Belly turns around to look at me with a pained expression. "We all lost her, Conrad. You don't get to use her as an excuse for why you treat people the way you do. It doesn't work like that."

"I know." I say, looking into her eyes. "That's not what I'm trying to do."

She shakes her head and turns back around to walk away. She picks up her pace and I pick up mine as I chase after her. I reach for her hand. Anything to get her to look at me. There was so much I wanted to say to her.

"Let go!" She tries to yank her hand away. "Let go of me, Conrad!"

"No." I shake my head as I hold her hand. "I've let you go too many times."

She looks up at me on the verge of tears as I hold her hand in mine. I take a deep breath. I was going to do it. I was going to tell her how I feel.

"Conrad, what are you-"

"Something I should have done a long time ago…" I exhale. "I was an idiot to think I could ever let you go, Belly. I've laid awake every night agonizing over how I let you slip away. I thought it was better this way. I thought I was doing the right thing but I was wrong. I was so wrong and I see that now. Remember what I said to you the night of Jere's bachelor party?"

She closes her eyes. I knew she remembered. She didn't have to say anything.

"Nothing has changed me for me, Belly. I'll never get you out of my system. Or my heart. You've always been there. Here." I place her hand over my heart, my hand over hers.

"Stop!" She drops her hand, crying harder. "You can't just say all of this! Just stop!"

"Why?" I swallow. "It's the truth."

She walks up to me with an expression I've never seen before then begins to shove me backwards on the pier. I see the pain written all over her face as she shoves me and it kills me inside. I could feel her heart breaking because mine was too and the worst part was I deserved it. I deserved it all.

"I hate you!" She cries out into the rain as she shoves me. "I hate you!"

I shake my head. "No, you don't."

"Yes, I do!" She cries out as she continues to shove me. "I want you to leave me alone!"

"I can't. You know I can't!"

"Don't you get it?" She shoves me harder. "It's too late. You're too fucking late!"

"If it's too late then why did you keep it after all this time?" I demand.

Belly stops shoving me and her hand immediately goes to the infinity necklace around her neck. I watch her face go from anger to sadness.

"If it's too late then why can't you get rid of it?" I shout over the pouring rain, stepping closer. "Why hold onto it if it doesn't mean anything to you anymore?"

"It doesn't. Take it. I don't want it anymore!"

Belly tries to unclasp the necklace from her neck. It was just like Prom all over again. She was going to give it back to me. I feel a familiar ache in my chest.

"No." I say as I watch her do what she has done before. "We're not doing this again, Belly."

Belly cries as she struggles to unclasp the necklace in the rain, her elbows in the air as she struggles to undo what can't be undone. I watch her struggle, my heart breaking into two.

"Damnitt!" She cries up at the sky in defeat. "Why won't it let me go? Just let me go!!"

"Belly." I whisper.

"Just let me go!" She cries again.

I take a step closer to close the distance between us and she collapses into my arms.

"I can't." She cries into my chest. "I can't get it off."

I hold her as she cries and let her say what she needs to say.

"I thought I'd finally done it. Let you go for good." She sobs. "Then you show up again…"

Tears begin to stream down my cheeks as I hold her.

"It's impossible." She whispers. "I can't let you go. I can't even take off this necklace."

I hold her in the pouring rain as I let her cry into my chest. When I finally let go of her to look at her, I see her eyes are closed with mascara running down her cheeks. I wipe away her tears with my thumbs as I gently caress her face in my hands. It was heartbreaking to see her like this.

"Belly." My voice breaks as I whisper to her. "Look at me."

She refuses to open her eyes.

"It's over." Belly shakes her head with closed eyes. "We can't be friends. We can't be anything. We have to let each other go." She finally opens her eyes to look at me.

I take a moment to gather my words as I look at her.

I knew this was it. This was the moment.

"You're right…" I whisper. "We can't be friends."

She closes her eyes again and a single tear falls down her face. I catch it with my thumb as I continue to caress her face.

"We can't be friends, Isabel Conklin. I think you know that. I think you've known that all along."

She slowly opens her eyes to look up at me.

"I think you've known it from the first moment we kissed. And I think you know it now…" My voice breaks again as I search her eyes. "I will never be just your friend. Because I want to be so much more than that. I want it all with you. I want you."

I lean forward until our foreheads are touching as I hold the most precious thing in the world to me between my two hands. We stay like that for a few moments with our foreheads touching and eyes closed.

When we look at each other again with our faces inches apart, we share an unspoken moment. There had always been something between us that drew us together. An invisible string. A magical tide that pulled us in no matter how much we tried to fight it. What I felt for Belly was beyond words. Beyond anything I'd ever experienced – the kind of love that only happens once in a lifetime. A love so magical you'd do anything just to feel it again. A love so pure and real it never dies.

I lean in until our noses are touching and feel her cold breath hit my cheek. We look at each other and when her eyes grant me permission, I lift her in my arms and she wraps her legs around me. I don't break eye contact with her as I prepare to kiss her like she'd never been kissed before. Our lips part for each others in the rain, washing away all of the time we had spent apart. All that mattered was now.

We both felt everything in that moment. Magic. Closure. An awakening. Desire. And there was no denying it – no denying that above all it was love. It had never left.

Conrad carries me inside the beach house, our lips hungry and our hands frantic. We couldn't keep our lips or hands off of each other. He carries me to the living room and when he sets me down I catch a glimpse of the fireplace. We exchange smiles and he starts a fire.

We let our bodies do the talking as we undress each other standing. We let our wet clothes hit the ground as we rediscover each other. We couldn't stop smiling as we kissed one another. It was just like our first time, but even better. There was no shyness or awkwardness. There was only desire – a desire that had been burning for years and years. Two hearts that had finally found their way home, back to each other.

Conrad's body was different now – it was more muscular and manly and I suppose my body was different too – more fleshy and womanly. But we were still the same summer kids at heart and that was something that would never change. I couldn't get enough. I couldn't believe the words he had spoken to me tonight. I couldn't believe we were back in the exact spot years later about to make love again.

I never wanted tonight to end but I also couldn't undress him fast enough. I had dreamt about what this moment would be like for years and it was finally happening.

"Slow down." Conrad whispers against my lips as we kiss. "I don't want to rush this."

I pull away and blink at him in amazement. I had forgotten how sweet he could be when we were intimate like this. A quality I hadn't appreciated until my adult years after dating other men.

"What?" Conrad whispers, the fire dancing in his eyes.

I reach out and slowly run a hand through his hair then trace his cheek, admiring all of him as if it was the first time I'd seen him. It felt surreal to be this close to him. To touch him like this again. It wasn't something that I was going to ever take for granted again.

"I just can't believe I'm here with you right now." I whisper.

He looks at me in the same way I'm looking at him. "Neither can I."

He kisses me and I melt into him. I could feel the tension building between us.

"I have to tell you something." I say after a few kisses.

He looks at me. "What is it?"

"I overheard you… earlier today." I search his eyes. "Talking to Steven."

Conrad looks to the fire then back at me. "Oh…"

"I should have told you sooner." I shake my head. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay." Conrad looks at me. "Why didn't you say anything?"

I look away. "I guess… I guess I was scared."

Conrad caresses my face and forces me to look at him. "Scared of what?"

"Scared of this. Scared of what I feel for you."

Conrad smirks. "Yeah, I know the feeling."

"But you did it." I smile. "You told me. And I'll never forget this, Conrad. I'll never forget tonight."

"I meant every word, Belly." The fire dances in his eyes as he whispers. "You're it for me."

I smile and lean in to kiss him until a loud ringtone in the kitchen goes off and interrupts us.

Conrad laughs. "Sorry, that's me. One second." He stands up to silence his phone in the kitchen. I fish my own phone out from my pocket. It had been hours since I checked it last.

I look down to see twenty missed messages and calls. I do a double take.

"Um, Belly…" Conrad says, coming back from the kitchen with a worried expression on his face.

"What the-" My eyes grow wide as we look at each other.

I click on the most recent text. It was from Laurel:

Belly, pick up your phone. Steven and I have been trying to get a hold of you. There has been an accident. Taylor is in the hospital. Is Conrad with you? Call me.