Wait For Me by Lissa Matthews Page A

the one who came in throwing things at my head.” He glanced down and bent to retrieve the photograph that had been in the frame. “You remember the day this was taken? Down at the lake with all our friends? You and me skinny dippin ’ late into the night.”
    It'd been the first time she'd worn a bathing suit in front of him, the first time they'd really spent any time with people since they'd started seeing each other. She'd thought her curves were too much for the suit, but Vin had thought them just right. He'd made her feel like the most beautiful girl, the sexiest girl. “Of course I remember it. You left a week later for boot camp.”
    “It’s my favorite picture of us.”
    “Well, now you can have it back.”
    Vin shook his head. “Don’t need it. This one is yours. I have a copy in my wallet, but thank you for the gesture.”
    “Y-you carry it in your wallet?” Her voice and her heart softened. She didn’t know why his words affected her as much as they did or why the idea even surprised her. He’d been surprising her for years. She should be used to it by now. “Why?”
    “Now who’s answering a question with a question,” he remarked before turning his back to her once more. From her vantage point, she could see he was dismantling a gun on the table. “You know why I carry it. Nothing has changed on my end.”
    Mel closed her eyes as if somehow that could shield her from the power of his statement. Yes, she did know why. “Why didn’t you tell me you were home?” she asked again.
    When he still didn’t respond and kept his back to her, some of her defiance rushed out, leaving her deflated. She clasped her hands together, wringing her fingers around one another, anything to keep from reaching for him. “Vin, please…”
    He sighed and braced his weight on the workbench. She’d spent a lot of time on that surface. It was rough and hard and could hold the weight of two full-grown adults without creaking. She and a few of their friends had helped him build it that same summer before he left. She’d been the only one who helped him christen it, though. “I’ve been home all of an hour, Mel. I’ve barely unpacked anything more than my duffel, and as you can see, I haven’t cleaned myself up either. Kinda figured you deserved better than the grime and grease and road dirt.”
    “That’s it? An hour? But then how could Dane have known before me?” The last was an inquiry more to herself than to him.
    Vin laughed, low and dark and without any humor at all. “I’m gonna guess he saw my bike as I rode through town and couldn’t wait to run over with the news that you’re prodigal lover had returned.. I’m also gonna guess he wanted to see the look on your face, and I wouldn’t put it past him to be waiting just down the lane to see how long it’ll take before you leave here. He’ll want to console you again.”
    “Things aren’t like that between us, aren’t that way. He wouldn’t do that.”
    “Do what? Wait or want to console? He would. He’s not a stupid man, Mel. He gettin ’ it often? He talkin ’ marriage? Kids? Pretty white house with a pretty white picket fence?”
    “Vin—” She started to speak but he cut her off and talked over her.
    “You should take him, baby girl. You should take his ring and his bed and get over me. You clearly want something that I can’t give you yet.”
    “That’s not fair and you’re being mean. He hasn’t offered or asked.” In truth, she didn’t want Dane. Never had. They were friends, of a sort. Nothing more or less to her. Dane had always wanted more, but she belonged to Vin. Always would.
    Vin’s words were meant to sting, to hurt, to drive her away. She wasn’t falling for it. And that little word that he tossed in at the end? Yet. That one gave her hope. “You could have dropped by Mama’s to see me. She wouldn’t have minded.” She was always eager when it came to Vin. Too eager to see, to touch, to talk to him. Being