Page 68 of Second Time Around
“I hated that you thought I would do something like that after everything we shared. I was in love with you, Jenna.”
The words swirled around in the steam, and he wished it was light outside so he could better see her expression.
“I was in love with you too.”
She took a step forward, and he swallowed hard. “I never wanted to hurt you, and I still don’t.”
She nodded, so slightly that it was almost imperceptible. “I was stubborn.”
He smiled. “Was or still are?”
“Both, I guess.”
He chuckled, and she moved closer.
“Kat said some things about you…”
“What things?”
“I could just tell she had a crush on you, but I thought that’s all it was. I never thought she would act on it.”
“Like I said, she was on something that night; otherwise, she might not have.”
“I kept waiting for her to apologize, but she never did.”
“I don’t think she was really sorry.”
“But you were.”
“I was devastated.”
“Then you left for Chicago.”
“Only because I had to. My parents paid for my first year of college, and I couldn’t let them down. Besides, you wouldn’t even talk to me. What else was I supposed to do?”
She looked down, and her hair tumbled forward, shielding her face. He reached out and tipped her chin up.
“But you’re here now, and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”
She shook her head. “You should hate me.”
“I could never hate you.”
“I was a brat!”
He laughed. “Not gonna argue.”
“I pushed you away.”
“You were angry.”
“Don’t excuse my behavior.”
He dropped his hand from her chin and instantly missed the contact. Still, he didn’t want to push it.
“I owe you an apology.”
He shook his head vehemently. “No, you don’t.”
