Forever Innocent

She glared at me. “Then I’m not sorry for stealing your covers.” She ran out of the room, and water started running on the other side of the wall.

I knew I should get up and find my clothes and get out of there. But I just couldn’t, not yet. Corabelle’s room was pretty sparse, just the bed, a table with the hula girl and a clock, and a stack of sideways crates that served as shelves. Looked like we’d both been living pretty close to the bone. My mind was already whirring, thinking that if we moved in together, I could probably support us, and maybe she could finish faster if she didn’t have to work.

Then leave faster.

I rolled off the bed. She seemed okay this morning, but with Corabelle, you could never tell. I picked up my boxers and shorts and headed for the hall. She’d left the bathroom door open and her silhouette behind the shower curtain made me want to go right in and join her.

But she was late, and remorse might hit her any moment. I had to play it careful.

The spray turned off and I leaned on the door frame as the curtain slid back. “Oh!” she said. “You’re watching!”

“It’s the best view I’ve had in a long time.”

She wrapped up in one towel and snatched a second from a wire shelf for her hair. I noticed her phone in the corner on the floor and picked it up. “Leave this here?”

That panicked look came across her face again, and she snatched it from me. “Yes. Thank you.” She passed me to head back to the bedroom, so I followed.

“Did you call work?”

“Not yet.” She disappeared into a closet, a nice walk-in for such a small place.

I sat on the bed and shoved my legs into my boxers. I wondered if she’d keep the fast and furious pace until she took off, and we wouldn’t get to do any sort of wrap-up on the night and what would happen next.

She came out in a pair of jeans and a simple blue T-shirt that was already wet on the shoulders. “I’m sorry I have to rush.”

“I have to be at work too.”

“Are you late? I didn’t think to set an alarm.”

“We had other things on our minds.”

She blushed, shoving her feet into little pink tennis shoes. I finished dressing and searched around for my phone, which had slipped out of the shallow pocket when the shorts came off.

“Under the bed,” she said.

I knelt down and saw it near the baby’s box. I swallowed hard as I came back up. “Thanks. Can I call you?”

Corabelle pushed her hair out of her face. “I don’t know. I have to think.”

“Please don’t think.” I stepped toward her, but she moved away.

“It’ll be okay. I just have to get used to this idea.” She snatched a purse off the top of the crates. “I really have to go.”

I followed her to the living room and picked up my keys from the table. She looked at me a moment. “Let me loan you a shirt.”

I would have protested, but she ran down the hall, returning a minute later with a New Mexico State T-shirt that would have swallowed her now, but she’d gotten it back when she was pregnant with Finn.

My throat constricted as I took it from her. “I remember this.”

“Yeah, it’s a good one. Don’t ruin it.”

I pulled it over my head. “I guess this means I have to see you again to return it.”

“You’ll see me in class on Monday.”

We headed for the door. After she locked it, I pulled her into my arms and didn’t let her resist. She relaxed against me, her face against my chest.

“Corabelle, are we okay?”

She nodded.

I lifted her face. “Just one simple kiss?” I didn’t wait for an answer but leaned in, just grazing her lips.

Her hands gripped me, and when I pulled back, she stepped away. “See you soon, Gavin.”

She ran out to the parking lot and jumped into her car. I stood there, unmoving, as she backed out and drove away.

I turned back to her door. I hadn’t imagined just a week ago that I’d be at Corabelle’s home, and she would be back in my arms. I’d been given this amazing chance, and even if she seemed a little reluctant, I had hope that we could set everything right.

Chapter 24: Corabelle

Oh God oh God oh God. What had I done?

I pulled into an employee space a block away from Cool Beans, wondering if Gavin was still standing in front of my door. We could not do this. I could not tell him everything. Not now. It seemed like a way better idea to remember this one amazing night and just stop. No more.

I dashed down the sidewalk, worrying that Jason would be late as usual, but then remembered that Jenny was working that morning. She was pretty reliable.

The bells jingled as I ripped open the door. Jenny was waiting on an older couple getting plain coffee, judging by the mugs. I flashed her an apologetic look and raced behind the counter, stuffing my purse beneath the register and yanking out an apron.

Then I saw him.

Austin.

He pulled his headphones off and set them on the table, his usual one in the corner.

“He’s been here since we opened,” Jenny whispered. “Must have been some impression you made on him last night.” She elbowed me. “You’re one crazy chica.”

The couple walked away from the counter, and I could see Austin heading toward me. “I can’t talk to him!” I said, planning to scurry to the back.

Jenny grabbed my apron string. “Nuh-uh. He’s been waiting for hours.”