Worth the Wait (6 page)

Vivi mouthed “sorry.” Cat waved her away, already focused on defending herself to Justin.

Defeated and feeling guilty, Vivi left Cat behind. When she returned to the living room, she found David waiting for her. His obsidian eyes held her gaze.
Just what I need now.

“That camera is as big as you.” His shy grin distracted her. “Can you hike with it?”

“Hank can carry it for me.”

“Of course.” David’s ghost of a smile vanished. “Does your invitation extend to Laney and me?”

“Oh.” Vivi blinked.
No!
“Laney hikes? Er, I mean, it doesn’t seem like her kind of thing.”

“You’re right. It’s not.” He shrugged. “You know, I only invited Laney because Cat said she was bringing Justin. If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve come alone so we could’ve spent time together like normal.” He shook his head and placed his hands on his hips. “I’m trying,
Muñequita
. I’m truly sorry about my behavior last night. Please tell me you don’t hate me.”

He’d have come without Laney?
She kept the unspoken sentiment bubbling inside her, bottled up. Those types of remarks and that pet name were exactly the kinds of things that had kept her pining for him her whole life.

“I don’t hate you.” She lowered her voice. “But sometimes I wish I could.”

David’s eyes blinked in surprise. Before he could respond, Hank raced up the stairs. Another snug, well-worn T-shirt molded to his muscular chest and shoulders. Man, he was easy on the eyes. Why couldn’t she be attracted to him? Seemed her head and heart never inhabited the same space. Maybe that was Cat’s problem, too, she speculated.

“At your service, Vivienne.” Hank lifted the heavy pouch from her shoulder. “Shall we go?”

“Thanks.” Vivi glanced back over her shoulder at David. “See you in a while. Have fun.”

David tilted his head, looking as if he’d completely forgotten how to have fun. Ignoring the pinch in her heart and instinct to shake him, she turned away and followed Hank out the front door.

They sauntered along the long gravel driveway leading to Mohegan Trail.

“Thanks for rescuing me again.” Vivi squeezed Hank’s forearm, then released it. “You’ve been a savior.”

“No thanks needed. I enjoy your company.” Lowered brows replaced his adorable smile. “Although, I’ve got to ask, why David? He doesn’t seem like your type.”

“Why not? Because he’s so sophisticated and I’m so, well . . . me?” She grinned. Deep down she knew it was true. Vivi liked herself well enough. She didn’t want to change. Yet her folksy personality made her different from most women David knew.

“No.” Hank’s confused scowl made Vivi grimace. “You’re open and enthusiastic.” He paused. “But he strikes me as stiff and cold. I can’t imagine you two together.”

“Well, apparently neither can he!” She chuckled with a shrug. “David’s not cold. He’s just reserved. Although he’s been more closed off since his mother died, he has a tender side. That’s what I love most.”

“Tender?”

“You should’ve seen how he adored his mother. And it couldn’t have been fun having his sister’s friend follow him around like a puppy when we were kids, but he always made time for me. He’d compliment my art, and he never teased me about my clothes and hairstyles. And let me tell you, I was a walking, talking
Glamour
‘Don’t’ back then.” Vivi snorted at her own memories. “I lived alone with my dad, a belligerent drunk who never stopped grieving what he lost long enough to pay attention to me. Cat’s friendship gave me a sister. David’s gave me more confidence and hope.”

“And he doesn’t bore you?” Hank’s frank tone surprised her, and for some inexplicable reason, she sensed a hidden agenda.

“Never.” She frowned. Boring?

David’s photographic memory enabled him to talk endlessly about any topic. He’d even been able to make history exciting for her. No small feat!

“If anything, his reserve is comforting.” She kicked some pebbles on the side of the road. “Until his mother died, he’d been my rock.”

Hank stared at her. “I’m surprised your feelings haven’t affected your relationship with Catalina. It must be awkward for her.”

“I’ve never put her in the middle. Our friendships are separate.”

“That’s a lot of juggling. Must be hard this week, with Laney here.” His eyes met hers. “You’re hiding your feelings well.”

“Watching him with her physically hurts, but I’m determined to push past it.” Vivi paused. “That said, I can’t believe he loves her. Not that he loves me, of course.” She peered at Hank from beneath her lashes. “You think I’m crazy.”

“Not crazy. Maybe disillusioned.” He grinned at her before shoving his hands into his pockets. “Why do you doubt his feelings for Laney?”

“Laney seems nice enough, but I
know
him. He couldn’t love someone so . . . dry.” Vivi noted Hank’s dubious expression and knew he disagreed. “Lust after her body, yes. Admire her ambition and intelligence, sure. Love? I don’t think so.”

The sound of hurried footsteps scattering the gravel behind them interrupted their conversation. Within an instant, David caught up to them. Heat rushed to Vivi’s face. She hoped he hadn’t heard.

“Laney took a conference call, so I can come after all.” His hands rested on his hips and he nodded at Hank. Shifting his gaze to Vivi, he smiled. “Let’s go to Rodman’s Hollow, for old time’s sake.”

“Sure,” she answered. She smiled in spite of the uneasiness wrestling her body. Had David or Hank detected the catch in her voice? “Let’s go.”

Together the threesome continued alongside the paved road. David’s words and actions confirmed he wanted to reconnect with her, if only as a friend. Why didn’t she feel happier?

Hank broke the uncomfortable silence settling over them. “So, how long have you been coming here, David?”

“Fifteen years.” His stride matched Hank’s, while Vivi trailed two steps behind them. “It’s your first time, right? How do you like the island?”

“It’s a more rustic version of Nantucket.”

“Yes, there are similarities. I like the quiet here.” David rubbed his neck. “It’s named for the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, but the Native Americans called it
Manisses
, meaning ‘God’s little island.’ Whatever its name, I’m glad my mother won this battle.”

“Battle?” Hank asked.

“Initially, my dad refused to buy property here because it didn’t make financial sense. My mom had argued that value couldn’t always be measured on a balance sheet, and time spent together here would be priceless.” David clasped his hands behind his back. “Anyway, she wore him down, although he’s never really taken to the place.”

“Why hasn’t he put it up for sale?” Vivi piped in.

David’s shocked expression revealed he’d never before considered the possibility. “He’d probably love to sell it and reinvest the money elsewhere.” A joyless chuckle punctuated his remark. “But Cat would kill him. He’d never risk it.”

Vivi giggled. “No one wants to suffer her wrath, do they?”

“No.” David shuddered with exaggeration. “No, they don’t.”

Hank’s odd expression aroused Vivi’s curiosity about the prickly vibe between Cat and him. Maybe she should scuttle her matchmaking plans.

They meandered down Cherry Hill Road, avoiding the occasional car or bike that passed by. Vivi concentrated on the rhythmic scuffing of their feet against the pavement to keep her thoughts off David. Awkward minutes stretched like hours until Vivi spied the hollow’s entrance near Cooneymus Road.

“So, what is this place, anyway?” Hank asked as they descended into the wooded reserve.

“About twenty thousand years ago, glacial meltwater eroded the southern end of the island, leaving three large kettle holes.” David’s hands gestured as he spoke, and Vivi noted the gleam in his eye. “Most of the hundreds of depressions on the island have clay bottoms and hold water, but here the bottom is porous. Those who think parts of the hollow sit below sea level are wrong. The actual bottom of the deepest kettle hole is about twenty feet above sea level. It’s also—”

“Geek!” interjected Vivi, waving her hands in the air. “Hank, we’re roaming along dirt paths in the wilderness where everything is nice and quiet. Ignore him or he’ll try to scare you with a story of some weird rodent—”

“The small-mouth Block Island meadow vole, found only here—” David began.

“Whatever.” She grinned after cutting him off a second time. David playfully nudged her, but she persisted. “To listen to him, you’d think the place were infested.”

“I recall a certain someone running away squealing after we found a nest.” David flashed a triumphant smile.

“Yeah, and I’ve got the scar to prove it.” She pointed to a noticeable, half-inch-long white stripe on her shin.

“Don’t whine.” He placed his hand around the nape of her neck and stroked it with his thumb, sending a frisson of energy along her nerves. “I’m the one who got a hernia carrying you all the way back to the house.”

His warm gaze made her forget everything except how much he’d always meant to her. Old feelings stretched her heart open. She knew her radiant smile projected the feelings she’d been trying to conceal, and she didn’t care.

“So, when do you need to get back to Laney?” Hank’s ice-water reminder doused her momentary happiness.

“Forty-five minutes or so.” David removed his hand from Vivi’s neck, leaving a chill in its wake.

She frowned. Oh
God,
how she turned into a puddle over any attention from him. Pathetic. Rallying her willpower, she stopped suddenly on a wide area of the path surrounded by lush greenery.

“This looks like a nice spot for photos.”

“You’ve got a good eye, Vivi.” Hank stood under the canopy of a shadbush tree and admired the scenery. Dappled sunlight glinted off his golden hair.

“Thanks.” She inhaled the wooded scent of the reserve. “Don’t move.” She snapped several quick shots of him and the tree. Its multistemmed trunk reached up behind him like fingers extending from a palm.

“Enough!” Hank’s hand blocked her from taking additional photos.

“Come on, don’t play coy, Hank. You love showing off your hot body in those formfitting T-shirts.”

He tossed his head with a short laugh.
Gorgeous
. Vivi snapped two more shots of him and his twinkling eyes before he moved away from the tree.

“Hey, I came to keep you company.” He wagged his finger in mock anger. “Not to be the subject of your pictures.”

“If you want to spend time with Vivi,” David interjected, “you’ll learn to tolerate the photos.” He dug his toe into the dirt. Was he angry with her for taking pictures of Hank?

“Tolerate?” She pivoted toward him. “Interesting. Here I’d always thought you were a willing participant in my photo journals.” Then she twisted her wrist dismissively. “Guess it’s good for both of us I’ve found a new subject.”

David glanced away before he softly uttered, “Perhaps you’re right.”

Vivi resisted the urge to stick out her tongue, but it was darn hard. She settled for shooting close-ups of the Northern Arrowwood shrubs. Several minutes later, she replaced the lens cap. “We should head back. Cat’s probably awake and getting bored.”

“Lead the way.” Hank carried the camera bag for her.

David trailed behind them, his head bowed. Vivi tried not to speculate about his mood swing. She’d already frittered away years of misreading his intentions.

Twigs snapping under the crush of footsteps pierced the silence. Her stomach knotted; she hated conflict and tension.

“Let’s play a game. Something easy, like the ABC game.” Vivi’s eyes scoured the path. “Aha! Ants. I got the
A
. David, find us a
B
.”

“Bark.” He pointed to a nearby tree.

“Cloud,” Hank offered, looking up at the cottony splotch in the otherwise blue sky.

Behind her, Vivi heard David mumble, “ABC game.” Her quick glance caught him grinning despite his downcast eyes.

Once they arrived at the house, Hank excused himself to search for Jackson. David stopped on the front steps and gazed at the side yard, apparently lost in thought. He turned to Vivi, cocking his head. “There is no going back, is there? No matter how badly I want to.” His shoulders slumped as he turned to go inside without waiting for an answer.

Alone on the steps, Vivi congratulated herself for surviving another round with David, and tried to ignore the heaviness settling in her chest. With Hank’s help, she just might make it through the week.

C
HAPTER
F
IVE

Georgetown University

Twelve Years Ago

A
lone in his cramped dorm room, David pushed back from his desk to hunt for his red pen. He thought he’d left it in the pencil cup. Apparently not. After turning his backpack inside out, he slouched onto his bed with his computer case and began methodically digging through each pocket. He didn’t find the missing pen, but his fingers discovered a folded note wedged between two interior partitions.

Curiosity pricked him upon finding the unfamiliar letter. A faint vanilla aroma reached his nose when he unfolded the missive. He then smiled, immediately recognizing the girlish cursive handwriting, scrawled in purple ink.

Dear David,

Cat is so excited to start high school next week, but all I can think about is how you’ll be off at Georgetown. I hope you don’t find this note for a couple of weeks so I can have fun wondering about when it will happen, and if it will make you smile. I only wish I’d have had the guts to tell you all of this in person.

I guess a good friend would be proud to see you go off to such an amazing college. All I can think about is how much I’ll miss hanging out with you in your kitchen or yard.

I’ll also miss the way you talk to me like I’m mature even though I’m a lot younger than you. Most guys your age (and mine) find me weird, but you’re not most guys—thank God.

A third thing I’ll miss is watching you and your mom together when no one is paying attention. That’s when you ditch your overachieving, perfectionist habits and relax. I like seeing that side of you.

Basically, I’ll miss almost everything about you. Cat’s friendship and your family mean everything to me. I love her, Jackson, and your mom (your dad still scares me), but mostly I love you.

I know I’m too young now, but when I’m grown up, I’ll find a way to own your heart just the way you’ll always own mine.

XOXO,

Vivi

P.S. Write to me if you ever get bored: [email protected].

David reread her letter twice, smiling.
Jesus, she’s brave
. He’d been aware of her crush from the beginning, but this bold declaration surprised him. He leaned against his headboard and glanced at his watch. Three thirty.

Closing his eyes, he imagined the scene in his mother’s kitchen at that moment. Jackson and Cat would be arriving home from school, probably with Vivi tagging along. He could almost smell the
patatas
and
salsa brava
his mom might have put out as a snack. Thinking of them gathered around the table, laughing about their day, made him homesick.

So far college had proven to be both challenging and exciting. Although he’d already made a few new friends, he missed the comfort of his family and old friends.

Funny that a love letter from a fourteen-year-old girl could lift his spirits. He suspected most guys would be annoyed or embarrassed by her affection. No doubt his roommates would ridicule him if they found the note.

Sometimes Vivi’s attention made him uncomfortable. Mostly he marveled at her courage. She seemed to accept the futility of her crush but persist in spite of it, as if it were too big to bother hiding.

Sadly, her guileless nature also made her a target, which always made him want to punch something or someone. But high school should give her the chance to meet more people like her, especially in the fine arts department.

In any case, she deserved a response. He opened his laptop and added her e-mail address to his contacts.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: I Found It

Vivi,

I just finished reading the letter you stowed in my computer case. I wonder when you were able to sneak into my room to hide it . . . and what else you did while you were in there. Will I be finding more surprises in the future?

Thank you for the kind thoughts, which did make me smile. I miss everyone as well. I’ll always be here for you to talk to, but high school is an opportunity to make new friends, so don’t waste your time thinking of me. Be yourself and others will like you just as I do. In fact, I bet by the time I return, you’ll have forgotten all about me.

Until then, I’ll be busy honing my perfectionist, overachieving habits. I expect you’ll be spending lots of time in the art department. Maybe you could send me something new since all I have of yours is that portrait of me you drew last year.

Fondly,

David

He hit Send, closed the computer, and tried to envision a grown-up Vivi. He could picture only her tiny, skinny little body and face; with her oddly cut, wavy blond hair streaked with pink, blue, or whatever other color was her temporary favorite; and her clothes stained with all manner of art supplies. He hoped, when she did grow up, she retained her endearing optimism and energy. Would he still know her? Only time would tell.