The Reunion by Jennifer Haymore Read Free Book Online

afford on a teacher’s salary.
    She was right—where had he been these past three years? At Stanford, working his ass off, then at work working his ass off, searching for some kind of happiness and fulfillment that had always been just beyond his reach.
    He wasn’t a generous person, a giver, like Zoey was. He was a materialistic bastard who craved money just like his dad had.
    She’d always been too good for him.
    “I didn’t mean to be judgmental,” he finally said, his voice rough.
    She hesitated, then said quietly, “Okay.” She pulled back a bit, and he sensed her tilting her head up as if to look at him. “It’s so dark tonight.”
    “Do you want me to turn on a light?”
    “No. It’s all right.”
    She moved her head, fitting herself against him once more. She slipped her arm around him and pulled him even closer. Then she gave a low groan. “What are we doing here, Nathan?”
    He gave a low, gruff laugh. “Looks like we’re getting back together.”
    She was silent for a minute. Then, “Do you want that?”
    “Yeah. Do you?”
    “I…” She shook her head. “I don’t know. We live on different coasts. We have lives on opposite ends of the country. I don’t see how this can work. Do you?”
    “Long-distance relationship?”
    “Yeah, right. What are we going to do, see each other once a year here in Sugar Cay? Live like monks for the rest of the year? Somehow I can’t see you doing that.”
    “Hey now,” he said softly.
    “Well, it’s true.”
    “Why do we have to worry about how it’s going to work? It’s working right now, isn’t it?”
    “Because we’re both here .”
    “We can make it happen, Zo. Somehow. You have the summer off, don’t you? You could come stay with me in California. You never know, you might love it there. You might decide to stay.”
    “Whoa, there, cowboy.” She pulled back fully from him. “I have never been that woman, Nathan. The one who gives up her life to follow her man wherever he goes.”
    “Why not?”
    “And why won’t you be the man who follows his woman wherever she decides to go?” she countered.
    “Because I have a great career in San Francisco.”
    “I have a great career in DC.”
    They were both silent. This had always been their stopping point. Their impasse. They both wanted certain things from their lives. He’d always wanted to go to grad school at Stanford; she’d always wanted to teach inner-city kids in the country’s capital. They hadn’t been able to bend, either of them.
    And maybe they still weren’t flexible. Despite the years that had gone by, the itching discontent with his life, Nathan didn’t want to go live in DC. He loved living in San Francisco. Year-round great weather, the people were laidback, and there were never-ending things to do and see in the Bay Area.
    If she’d only try it out… But there he was again, thinking she’d bend.
    She wouldn’t. He should have learned that truth years ago. Stupid hope. He let his eyes sink shut for a moment.
    “Let’s just enjoy our time here, okay?”
    “Nathan…” The word came out as a half sigh, half moan. “I don’t know if I can…because…because it’s not…”
    Hell. He didn’t want to think of what would have to happen a week from now. Not now, with her soft, warm, naked body pressed up against him for the first time in three years.
    He just wanted to be with her. Was that too much to ask?
    He needed to end this talking, this discussion that would only bring both of them down.
    “Shh,” he commanded. He moved his hand up her spine, then cupped the back of her head in his palm and tilted her head up. “Just be with me, Zo. That’s all I ask. Just be with me.”
    And he pressed his lips to hers.
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    Zoey awoke with a jolt. Coming into awareness, she realized Nathan was asleep, his arms wrapped tightly around her. She froze, not wanting to wake him.
    The gray light of dawn had just begun to seep through the gauzy