Page 25 of Love You Still
“What? I’m only saying how I feel.” He chuckles as I make my way around the table and place the flowers on the table in front of Selina.
“There’s no need to be nervous, sweetheart. It’s just dinner, no strings attached,” I say as Selina’s head snaps in my direction, our gazes locking. Our eyes remain glued to each other, the air crackling with energy as I lean toward her and plant a kiss on the top of her head.
“Thank you,” she mumbles before bringing the flowers up to her nose and inhaling.
Leia mouths, “Good job,” over Selina’s head and flashes me a thumbs-up, causing me to chuckle softly before I move toward my place between Allen and Patricia on the other side of the table.
I could’ve taken the seat on the other side of Selina, but something tells me that wouldn’t have gone over very well. Selina seems to be just as nervous as I am about this dinner, hopefully for the same reason. The last thing I want to do is corner her or make her feel uncomfortable in her own home. Sometimes a little space is necessary to ensure you get what you want.
“Selina. Please say grace,” Patricia says as I take my seat between her and Allen.
“Yes, ma’am,” Selina responds as we all bow our heads, and she prays over our meal.
I’ve never been a religious person. Bowing my head at dinner as Allen blessed the food was something I did, but I’ve never once had anything I was particularly thankful for until now. I never wanted Selina to get injured while dancing. But she did, and of all the places she could have gone to rehab, she came home to Tyson’s Creek. I can’t help but wonder if there was someone else pulling the strings, leading the two of us into each other’s path again.
Thank you for a second chance with Selina. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure things work out this time.
“Amen,” we all say in unison before filling our plates with the delicious meal Patricia prepared for us.
In between mouthfuls, we each take turns catching up on what has been happening with everyone since the last time we had dinner. Leia tells us how her dad is doing after his most recent health scare, and Selina and I fill her parents in on how the renovations at the studio are going. We don’t dig into anything heavy until it’s time for dessert.
“So, Vance, are you seeing anyone right now?” Patricia asks as she places an apple pie, judging by the smell, in the center of the table. “I heard there’s a new girl that works at Just the Drip. Maybe you should ask her out.”
“Are you being serious right now, Mom?” Selina groans, clamping her eyes shut tightly before dropping her forehead into her hands.
“You aren’t being very subtle there, Momma G.” Leia snickers, patting Selina on the back as her eyes focus on mine.
I have two choices. I can completely ignore the question because everyone at this table knows Selina holds my heart, or I can take a chance. I’ve hinted to her that I’m still in love with her, but not once have I just come out and said it directly toher. Patricia has given me the perfect opportunity to ensure that Selina has no doubts about where I stand when it comes to her.
“I’m sure whoever the girl you’re talking about is sweet, but there is only one woman who has held my heart since I was five years old. She’s it for me.”
“How can you know how you feel about her after all this time? People change. They grow up and sometimes become completely different people than you knew when you were younger. Maybe that five-year-old little girl isn’t the same person you gave your heart to all those years ago,” Selina mutters, her head still resting in her hands as she continues to avoid looking at me or anyone else in the room.
“No matter who you are right now or the things you’ve done, I’ve never stopped loving you, Selina. I had to let you go to survive. The pain of not being near you consumed me, making it almost unbearable to get out of bed every day. I wrote you that letter saying goodbye so I could move forward, but that doesn’t mean I stopped loving you. I spent every day since you left begging the stars to bring you back to me.”
“Letter? What letter?” Selina’s eyebrows pull down in confusion as she looks at her mother. “Mom. What’s he talking about?”
“The letter I have had sitting in my nightstand drawer since the day he gave it to me. You forbade us from telling you anything about Vance or anyone here in town after Lydia passed away. I was just respecting your wishes, honey. You can have it whenever you want.”
The room fills with tension as Selina stares at her mother; a myriad of emotions flash across her face as she tries to process what her mother just said. I didn’t know that she never gave Selina the letter I wrote to her, but deep down, it makes sense. My heart aches at the missed opportunity, but I can understand it. Lydia told me that Selina was afraid to see me before she leftfor New York after graduation because she knew she’d break. If that was the case, why would she want to get a letter from me, especially one where I pour my heart out to her?
“I want it,” Selina demands as she pushes back from the table and stands. “Leia and I will do the dishes.”
Patricia’s eyes fill with concern as she watches Selina grab her plate off the table and marches into the kitchen. “Okay.”
“Dinner was amazing, Momma G. You outdid yourself.” Leia flashes her a sly smile before grabbing her plate off the table and following Selina into the kitchen.
“I’m sorry for ruining dinner,” I say the moment Leia and Selina are out of sight. “I just wanted to make sure she knew how I felt about her.”
Allen reaches over and gives my shoulder a squeeze. “It’s not your fault, son. I have a feeling Patricia completely forgot about the letter.”
“He’s right, Vance. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
“No need to apologize.” I reach over and squeeze her hand. “I’m going to finish clearing the table and see if I can smooth things over with Selina.”
“Good luck,” Allen says, as I grab the last few plates off the table and make my way into the kitchen.
Selina is elbow-deep in soapy water when I enter the room, Leia standing studiously beside her, waiting for the next dish to dry and put away.