52. Eden
EDEN
NEW YEAR’S EVE, SIX DAYS LATER
“So the ‘pause’ is over?” Bree asks as I scurry around getting ready.
“Yes, and I’m way past done with it.” I’ve been back in Florida only a couple hours, and Connor’s already on his way to pick me up. Seems neither of us wanted to prolong the break.
She waggles her brow. “Shortage of Vitamin C getting to you?”
I roll my eyes. “That joke is so dumb. It’s frankly beneath you.”
“I hope soon to have something else beneath me.” She’s spending the New Years countdown with a Tolliver baseball player she’s been hooking up with—so, fair.
“Haha.” I don’t have time to keep joking with her, and I jump into the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, Connor texts that he’s here.
“Bree, I’m leaving,” I shout in the direction of her room. “Have fun.”
“See ya!”
I grab my overnight bag, repacked after the trip with a few days’ worth of clothes. With school not starting until next week, and no soccer practice, I can lounge at Connor’s.
For the first time in our relationship, we can be together without a million obligations, on my end, at least. He still has Waves duties.
My priority right now is simply to see him.
I scramble out the main entry. Dressed in a light green collared shirt and khaki shorts that show off the cut of his body perfectly, Connor’s leaning against his car, the sunshine framing him in yellow light. He straightens once he sees me, nothing brighter than his eyes as I approach.
“Oh fuck, you’re a beautiful sight. Come here.”
I walk straight into his arms, and he folds me into a big hug, kissing the top of my head. He smells delicious, like a mix of cinnamon and smoky wood.
“I missed you so much,” I say from within his hold.
“Me too. No more pauses. Ever.”
We break apart slowly. “Agreed.” I look down at my clothes. “Is this alright?” I’m wearing a loose blue blouse over thin white jeans.
“You look beautiful. It’s perfect. We’re only hanging with family tonight, anyway. They’re very excited for your initiation in the Battle clan gatherings.”
I smile reflexively. “Me too.”
“Before we head to Landon’s house, I thought we’d visit an old haunt, be alone for a bit?”
“Old haunt?”
He winks. “You’ll see what I mean…”
After starting the car, he swings around a few corners, still on campus, before coming to a stop—at Tolliver’s park.
“Oh!”
He turns off the car and gives me a grin. “The last talk we had here went so well, I thought we’d roll it back.”
“Where it all began…”
“Well, one of the times it began.”
I giggle. “Right. I guess if you were feeling really adventurous, you could have brought me to the park in Bree’s development.”
He chuckles, grabbing my hand. “So your flight was okay? Sorry I couldn’t pick you up, with practice.”
“Yes, I slept a lot of the time. Read a bit.”
“Reading for research?” His lips turn up.
“Not this time…it’s a sweet second chance romance with no kink involved.”
“Hmm, it kind of feels like we had our own second chance.” He inches closer to me, now leaning against the armrest dividing us.
“Or a hundredth chance,” I joke, making him laugh.
“Truth.”
“How was practice?”
“After the win last week, the division clinched, you’d think everyone would be hyped and happy.” His answer has nothing to do with us, but his eyes tell a different story, scanning my face and landing at my lips. “Instead, the intensity was raised even higher. Everyone wants that first round bye.”
“Yes, well, a win on Thursday, and that’ll be done.”
I press my fingers against his hand. Reconnecting physically, despite the fact we’re discussing football. Three weeks without his touch…even the basic contact sends tingles up my arm.
“Exactly.” His face inches even closer.
“I…I picked my spring semester classes today.”
His other hand comes around to stroke the side of my hair. “Did you? What did you choose?” His voice soft.
“I’ll have my capstone again, but otherwise I’m free to pick what I want. I went with Immunology, Global Public Health, and an elective that’s supposed to be a blast, Social Media’s Impact on Pop Culture.”
His hand lands on the ends of my hair, softly gripping them. “Sounds perfect, Rosy.”
“I think so.”
“Come here.”
I bend in his direction, his hand gently tugging my hair forward. He sinks down toward me and connects our lips.
His warm, soft mouth feels like home after all this time apart. Moving over mine like it’s seeking its haven. Connor, my mind says, making sure this is real.
He proves that by slipping his tongue deep inside my mouth and starting to worship me. His movements loving and sweet—another kind of reunion.
Unlike the last time we were here, the sun is still out, light streaking into the car. We’re visible to everyone, and there are people walking in the park.
It doesn’t matter.
The secret keeping is done.
I begin to return the kiss, and he moans as he feels my tongue stroke his mouth. Exploring again what he likes, relearning what pleases him, what it’s like to taste him.
The kiss continues for minutes, until it feels like our “normal” has been reestablished. We’re back together, Connor and Eden, without any reason for a separation again.
He must sense that too, and pulls away, kissing my nose. “Now I wish we didn’t have this family event.” His voice is gruff.
“Ah, it’s okay. I’m excited, and you said they have to end it early.”
“Johnson insists it end by eleven, yes.”
“Plenty of time after to celebrate the New Year, then.” I grin, wiping my lip gloss off his mouth.
He stays still until I’m done. Lip gloss gone. “True. We should probably go. I just really needed to have this time first.”
“Mmmm, I’m glad you did.”