Dad pulled up alongside my window, and when I rolled it down, he said, “We’ll see you two on the road.”
“Okay, Dad, we won’t be too long. I think he is just about done gassing up.”
Dad nodded and pulled away right as Drew got into the car. He leaned over and flashed me an adoring smile. I forced myself to smile back. I wasn’t going to let my jealousy get to me, his past was his past, and there was nothing I could do to change whatever lived in it. His gaze dropped to my lips, and he leaned in further grasping the back of my neck, pulling me to him. The other times he’d kissed me had been the type of kiss that made it clear he was testing the water and gaging what I’d be receptive to. This time was different. It was deeper, passionate, and entirely exploratory. I reached up and tangled my fingers in his hair and shocked myself when just his lips weren’t enough. I wanted more, and so I took it and heard the surprised sound in his throat. After that, it was all over. He must have viewed what I’d done as a green light because his hold on me became assertive and he destroyed my senses with a kiss I’ll never forget. Oh, Sara had been right; feeling it down to your toes was a good sign.
When he slowly pulled away, I groaned in disappointment, and he brushed a chaste kiss across my lips. I looked into his fern green eyes, and in the space of that moment, I knew I was screwed. My already thundering pulse hitched and scrambled to correct itself.
“You about ready,” he said, bringing our foreheads together.
I couldn’t talk, so I just nodded. He reluctantly sat back in the driver’s seat and started the car. As we got back on the road, I sang along with the radio and pulled out my phone.
Me: I just wanted to say I’m sorry for all the times I road your ass about being THAT jealous girlfriend. I think I get it now. I don’t like it, but I get it.
Jennifer: Lol what’s this all about?
Me: Nothing I just understand why you were so jealous over Brad when you two were together. I’m sorry for giving you such a hard time.
Jennifer: It’s okay, you were right, you know. It was my own damn fault that he left me. If the roles had been reversed, I would have probably done the same.
Jennifer: Hey, Eden?
Me: Yeah?
Jennifer: Girl…You’re in love. Don’t even try to deny it.
I sighed, and Drew glanced at me, “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m just texting back and forth with Jennifer.”
He chuckled, “Oh yeah, that explains it.”
Jennifer: Well?
Me: Don’t start, Jennifer!
Jennifer: LOL!!! Yeah, that’s what I thought! You ain’t got shit to say.
Chapter Fifteen
The Secret Box
I promised Drew I wouldn’t open it without him, but I’d be lying if I said that damn box wasn’t calling to me from the closet. I’d thrown back the carpet last night when Dad and I finally got home. There it was underneath the floorboard in the back left corner covered with a layer of dust almost two decades old. I was wondering on the drive home if it would be there, had hoped it would. I was beyond relieved when I saw that it was real and not just a figment of my imagination. I paced around my bedroom and glanced in the closet’s direction every couple of steps. The curiosity was killing me, but I wasn’t the only one anxious about the box.
Eden, the things in that box are precious to me—and personal. Echo’s tone was defensive and nothing short of resentful. “If you never listen to anything I ever say again, please, this once just let it be.
I sighed. She’d never sounded so desperate, scared, or helpless. I didn’t want to invade her privacy, but she’d left me with no choice. My need for answers outweighed any possibility of me leaving that box alone. The chance that I may learn who my father was, and the possibility of getting the answers I’d craved my whole life was something I couldn’t ignore.
When I heard the stairs creak, I flew across my shadow shrouded room and jumped in bed pulling the covers up to my chin. The door to my room screeched on its old hinges as Dad poked his head in.
“Honey Bear are you awake,” Dad asked as I slowly turned over and stretched.
“No,” I grumbled, “What time is it?”
I peeked over the top of the comforter to see Dad glance down at his watch.
“It’s ten past five,” he told me, “Listen, I have to head off to work. I’m already running late. As it is, I’m barely going to get there by seven. I’ll see you tonight when I get home. I set out some ground beef, and if you could make spaghetti for dinner, I’d be forever grateful.”
I rolled back over, feigning a yawn, “Okay, Dad, have a good day at work.”
He chuckled, “You know that’s not a thing, Eden. Love you, Honey Bear.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
He left my door, and I listened as he walked downstairs. I didn’t move, even when I heard the interior door to
