"No, I don't. People grow apart, for reasons sometimes none of us understand. In the end when we finally do understand it, it turns out for the better."
She looked up at me with those blue eyes, and I thought I caught a glimmer of something in them. I cleared my throat and continued walking.
"So, since you asked me earlier, it's my turn. Would you ever move back here?" she asked.
"I could see myself moving here, yes, but like you, I would have to have a reason." I looked over at her and the shutter of her camera went off. I reached over and grabbed the camera from her. "Now that you have objectified me, it's my turn," I said, pulling the camera up to my eye and clicking away as she smiled over at me.
As we walked, I took every opportunity to snap shots of her. She sat down in front of a Christmas planter and posed for a picture, which I gladly took.
"Stand up beside the giant bear over there in front of the pub."
She did as I suggested and once again posed for another picture.
We continued walking in silence until her soft voice echoed through the air. "So what would give you reason to move back here?"
"Oh, Lex, I don't know. It probably wouldn't happen anytime soon. I'd need a job first. What about you?"
She shrugged, looking over at me, a soft smile on her lips. I quickly raised the camera and snapped away again; only this time, when she looked into the lens, I saw the same glimmer I had seen earlier. Only this time it didn't leave, and it was as if she continued to look right through that lens, right into my eyes and into my soul. I lowered the camera slowly and looked at her. It was definitely there; the glimmer of desire filled her eyes as she looked at me.
I swallowed hard, the look she gave me was mesmerizing, and I slowly dropped my arm that was holding the camera. I stepped toward her, expecting her to back away, but she didn't. Instead, her eyes held mine, and I stepped closer into her and felt her hand slip into my free one. I watched as she lightly licked her full lips, leaving them slightly parted.
"I guess if I had someone here, someone special to me, I might move back," she whispered to me, her eyes still burning with desire as she studied mine.
I knew instantly that she wasn't talking about family, but I didn't say anything. I just kept my eyes locked on her.
"You know, someone who wanted to be with me."
The snow started falling harder and we stood on the quiet sidewalk staring at one another.
"Someone who maybe loved me, and I them." As the words fell from her lips, her eyes dropped away from mine. "I doubt I'll ever find that though," she whispered.
I cupped her cheek and lifted her head so she was looking at me. The look of hurt in her eyes was apparent, and I wondered who the guy was who had hurt her. A spark of a tear flashed at me as the light hit her eyes, and soon all I wanted to do was find out who he was and what he had done.
I let out a breath, and instead of focusing on that, I slowly leaned into her, my lips barely feathering across hers. I expected her to pull away, possibly slap me, but she didn't. Instead, she stepped into me and placed her hands on my chest, and I kissed her again, this time deeper, my tongue brushing through her mouth.
When she pulled away, she looked up at me, a shy smile coming to her lips, a lone tear sliding down her cheek, but again I didn't focus on that. “You’ll find him one day, Lex, I promise, and he is going to be the luckiest man in the world, trust me.” I leaned down, kissing her hard, pulling her small body against mine, and instantly I wished it wasn't winter and that we weren't standing here in thick jackets. I wanted to feel her body pressed into mine.
Lexi let out a soft moan as I kissed her deeper, harder, and I felt my cock jump as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
Chapter 13
Zach
I wasat the counter waiting for the two coffees I had ordered, my mind reeling from what I had learned at dinner. They were really selling the house; they had mentioned it earlier through the year, but I never figured it would happen. I let out a breath. I really needed tonight with Ann Marie. I needed the distraction because I would be lying if I said them selling the house wasn't bothering me. I knew it had bothered Lexi. I mean, the tears were practically running down her cheeks before the words had even left my parents’ lips. I'm pretty sure on some weird level it bothered Drew as well.
I hadn't called Ann Marie to tell her I was even dropping by; I just had Drew drop me off. I had gone into the house and asked her to join me for a walk into town. After an hour, I still hadn't mentioned anything. I knew she knew something was on my mind, but she was giving me space, just like she always had, and she would listen when I was ready to talk about it.
Two coffees were placed on the counter in front of me. "Enjoy, sir."
I smiled at the girl who had pulled me from my inner thoughts and picked up the two mugs and carried them over to the table.
"Your peppermint latte, my love." I placed the mug in front of Ann Marie and sat down across from her, both of us taking a sip.
"So, I think I decided on the necklace for my mom," she said, setting her cup down and looking at me. "However, I'm still torn. I really liked the heart pendant, but then just the simple chain was nice too, that way she could wear one of her own pendants."
"I like either idea, but perhaps if you are really undecided, we could always go back and look again."
"That might be a good idea. What about you? Did you decide on anything?"