Chapter 29
Jenna inhaled the calming scents of pine and earth. The forest canopy cocooned them from the city’s sights and sounds. Out
here there was only the rush of Rock Creek, the sunlight dappling through the trees, and a million shades of green.
It was a full ten degrees cooler in the depths of the park. The roar of the rapids absorbed the sounds of their footfalls.
The weight of her upcoming conversation with her mother seemed to have fallen off a couple miles back. This outing was exactly
what she’d needed. Time in nature to soothe her mind and ease the tightness from her shoulders.
As they followed the trail, Tyson gave her the time and space to work out her thoughts. He knew her so well. Knew just what
she needed—sometimes before she did, apparently. That was the benefit of knowing someone for so long. The blessing of having
someone care enough to pay attention to your needs. What a gift that was, to be known and understood in such a way.
A rush of affection swelled inside, compelling her to reach out. She took his hand and threaded her fingers through his. She
caught his startled look from the corner of her eye and held her breath. Then his hand tightened around hers and her lungs
began functioning again.
They continued along the dirt path, linked in a way that felt so natural, even though this was a first for them.
He must be wondering why she’d reached for him.
It was the gesture of a girlfriend, and they’d agreed to leave the more-than-friends activities behind last night.
But in this moment she simply felt so grateful for him. She wanted his touch, this connection.
Was that so wrong?
Maybe not wrong but probably confusing. Which was apropos since she was confused. Confused as to why making out with Tyson Parker had affected her on a level she’d never experienced before. She
thought back to last night. To his passion, tempered with gentleness. His touch, restrained by will. His words, imbued with
caution. He cared about their relationship enough to stop what they were doing—as wonderful as it was—and consider the risks.
Even though it also made her wonder—what would it be like to see him lose control and know she was the one who inspired that?
One touch of those lips and she’d lost all reason. She cast him a glance from beneath her lashes. Was he remembering those
kisses too? Why had they made that stupid arbitrary agreement, limiting their kissing to such a stingy fragment of time? It
just hadn’t been enough.
She wanted another kiss more than her next breath. She pulled him to a stop.
He turned, a question in his eyes.
She answered by rising on tiptoes. Brushing his lips with hers. When had she gotten so bold? It must be Tyson. She was so
comfortable, so at ease in her own skin with him. She could hardly regret her fearlessness when he responded so fervently.
The kiss lingered a heartbeat before she drew back.
His expression held surprise along with warmth and affection. Then another question flickered in the depths of his gaze. “I thought . . . ?”
She’d thought too. Yesterday’s kisses had opened a Pandora’s box, but she didn’t want to think about the ramifications right
now. She only wanted to feel close to him again. “I just figured since we’re still in DC . . .”
He searched her eyes for a long, hopeful moment. “So when we go home, things go back to normal. But until then . . .”
“Until then . . . we do as we like?”
The corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly, and he leaned close enough that his breath whispered across her lips. “Is
this what you’d like?”
In lieu of an answer, she welcomed his kiss.
They spent the morning walking, taking selfies on Boulder Bridge, and of course kissing. They held hands as they strolled
and chatted about their families, work, and old times, falling into a familiar rhythm derived from years of friendship.
When morning melded into afternoon, they found a snack bar at the tennis center and settled at a secluded table for an impromptu
picnic. Afterward they rented a canoe, and Tyson gave her palpitations when he stepped in wrong and nearly tipped them into
the river.
By the time they exited the park, Jenna felt so refreshed and joyful that she hated to leave. Hated the thought of that conversation she had to have with her mom. Hated the thought of returning to the island because that would burst this bubble of intimacy she’d enjoyed with Tyson.
As he turned onto the highway, she glanced his way. In roughly three and a half hours they’d be home, and they’d go back to
the way things were before. Back to being only friends.
The thought left her hollow. But as much as she’d enjoyed these hours together, not to mention the monumental kisses, she
couldn’t escape the fact that she couldn’t be with Ty.
As they headed back to the island, heaviness swelled inside the cab. There was little conversation. Obviously she wasn’t the
only one with conflicted feelings. She could read the tension in Ty’s body language. See that the sparkle in his green eyes
had dimmed.
They hit a drive-thru for supper, and when they were an hour from home, he gave her a sidelong glance. “Want to talk about
what’s going on?”
She held his gaze for a long beat. “I’m not sure it would do any good.”
He turned his attention to the road. “Probably not.”
“We can just, you know, carry on as usual. We’ve been friends for a long time. It’s familiar ground.”
“I’m not sure it’ll be that easy for me,” he said quietly.
Or for her. A frisson of fear passed through her. The closeness they’d shared might’ve changed everything between them. And
the thought of losing what they’d had before the past twenty-four hours knocked the wind out of her.