Char’s eyes filled up with tears. “Like a squirrel?”
“Like a damn squirrel.” Jake laughed. “Until one day, no more Twinkies. You see, sometimes little boys grow up to be complete and total idiots. They think that because they grow a hair on their chin, or discover a muscle in their arms, that suddenly, they don’t need girls with Twinkies anymore. They think that they should have lots of girls, not just one. So they mess up. I…” He turned to her and swallowed. “I messed up so many times with you. I had the biggest crush on you when we were in junior high and then all of a sudden it was as if neither of us tried anymore. It was the first time I walked away from you, my first mistake…”
Char blinked back tears. “And your second mistake?”
“Leaving you again, the night I selfishly used you in order to feel better about myself.” He sighed. “And the third and final mistake in my tragic story…”
“What?”
“Not kissing you the first time I saw you again, and not apologizing for leaving you… for abandoning you when I think, deep down in my heart, I knew it had always been you, Char.”
She wiped away some of the tears as they streamed down her face.
“But what about Kacey? I mean you and her were—”
“It was never like this.” Jake shook his head. “Never.” His eyes turned serious as he tilted her chin toward his lips. “This is indescribable.”
“Oh.”
“Wow? After all of that, you say ‘oh’?”
Char grinned and leaned her head on his shoulder again. “Yeah, well, I’m a little tired after Charades.”
“Pity.” Jake snorted. “I had a few more games up my sleeve.”
“Sure you did, Tiger.”
Noise clattered from below the tree house. Motioning for her to be quiet, Jake looked over the edge and saw Grandma making her way across the lawn to the neighbor’s house.
“What’s she doing?” Char whispered.
“Looks like she’s going for a midnight… play date?” He offered.
“With?”
“Neighbor, crazy old man who only wears Hawaiian shirts and actually pinches Grandma’s ass during family dinner. He loves her. He’s obsessed. He plans his schedule around her morning walk routines.”
“Wow, dedicated.”
“Clearly she’s doing something right.”
Char laughed. “She is a Titus.”
“Well said.” Licking his lips, Jake pulled her in for another kiss. “I didn’t kiss her, you know. I didn’t want to. I never wanted to.”
“Who?”
“Amy.”
“Oh, her.” Char snorted. “Junior high nemesis and all around mean girl. I know, let it go. I swear I had until I saw her acrylic talons piercing your chest.”
“They hurt.” Jake laughed. “Like hell. And not a good hurt. A hurt that makes a man want to walk away slowly so he doesn’t get eaten.”
The porch lights to Mr. Casbon’s house lit up, with a squeal of laughter Grandma was pulled inside.
“Well.” Jake held out his hand. “You know what that means.”
Char put her hand in his. “We can go back to bed?”