Page 76 of No More Hiding

“So she wanted you to have someone to hopefully coax you out of the apartment. What did Melanie say, that Callie had such high hopes?”

Shit. He’d never thought of that. “See? It’s things like that. You’re probably right. It was in front of me and I never saw until you just said it.”

She laughed. “I guess I’m happy I don’t have the same relationship as you had with her.”

“No,” he said. “Not even close.” He reached for her hand. “What we’ve got, it’s not something I’ve looked for or thought I’d get and then—bam, there it is in my face.”

“I might know that feeling well,” she said quietly.

“I know there are things you are private about,” he said. “I’ve got things too.”

“I’m sure you do,” she said.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that not only is our relationship not the same as what I had with Callie, but with no one else in my past either. I’m not good with words.”

She laughed. “We know that.”

“But sometimes being simple is the easiest way to do it. I’m going to say this because I feel it. Because I think maybe you feel it too though I just admitted I don’t often see things right in my face.”

“You can say it,” she said with a grin.

“I love you, Vivian. I think I do. I’ve never felt this for another person and I can’t imagine what it could be other than love.”

“Wow. You started so well and then said you think you do, but I understand what you are saying too. I’ve been in the same boat. I’ve been told recently by Cat that I don’t let myself go or feel enough because I’m afraid someone is going to leave me.”

“Oh yeah,” he said. “See, right in front of my face. I guess I’m guilty of that too.”

She reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together. “I bet we are guilty of a lot of the same things. Maybe that is why I love you too.”

He was going to push off the comment of them both being guilty of the same things. He felt like she was keeping things from him, but he’d asked. And he got answers that he was satisfied with.

“Now that we declared our feelings, we might need to get back to my parents. Tyler is going to be pissed if the ice cream is melted.”

Hours later, after dinner was done and cleaned up, dessert being served, his mother asked Vivian, “Do you like shopping on Black Friday?”

“Not really. I don’t like people as much when I’m not at work.”

His father laughed. “It’s sad that you are so much like Brent. I guess that is why you get along.”

“I’d like to think so,” she said.

“I’m going to do some shopping online later tonight and tomorrow,” his mother said. “That’s good enough for me to get deals.”

“I was thinking about it too,” Vivian said, “but my computer is slow. I’m not sure why when it’s only two years old. I’ve had to reboot it a few times when it locks up. I guess I should see if I can get someone to look at it.”

“Hello,” his father said. “I could have done it if you’d brought it, but there is no reason Brent can’t. Geez, Brent, don’t you know when your girlfriend needs your help?”

He smirked. “We’ve come to the understanding that I don’t know much unless someone tells me. So this is the first I’ve heard it. I’ve never seen you on your computer and don’t know what you’ve got.”

“Just a PC,” she said.

“Then bring it over later and I can look at it if you want. You might have malware or a virus on it. I know you think I only analyze data, but I’m pretty good at finding things and fixing them.”

Tongue in cheek there, but no one had to know that.

“Aw, if that isn’t love, I’m not sure what is,” Tyler said. “Brent is going to fix your computer for you. You can bond over it.”

He laughed. “Yeah, guess that’s love,” Brent said, looking at Vivian and winking at her.