Page 90 of Rumor Has It

He opens my door and helps me in. I spin in the seat and check on Rumor. “Did you buckle up?”

“Mom, I’m almost ten. I’ve got this.” She rolls her eyes as Boone gets seated. I turn to him, and he’s rolling his eyes.

“I’m never gonna win another argument, am I?” I huff.

He grins at me. “She is ten.”

“Y’all don’t even talk to me until we get there.”

They giggle, making my heart flutter. I can’t help but worry, this is big. I haven’t seen them since the month after Boone left for Stanford, and Rumor has no idea who they are other than his parents.

“You’d never allow that.” He winks at me, sending the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy.

I pick at an imaginary piece of lint on my leg. “I know, I’m all nerves.”

“I appreciate you agreeing to go with me.” He takes my hand, laying it on his thigh.

“Please, like I’d say no.”

He lifts my hand and presses his lips to the back of it. “You’re still the girl who means the most to me, nothing’s changed.”

“Well, there’s one minor change.” I jerk my head to the back seat.

His grin spreads wide into a full on beam. “That’s not a change; she’s a special addition.”

“Boone.” My breath hitches, emotion swallowing me whole.

He tugs on my fingers, smiling boyishly. “Kenzie?”

“I-I … thank you.” I want to tell him so much, things I should’ve already said. I sit here, gazing at such an amazing individual with every chance of making him mine forever. I have to be thankful.

He squeezes my hand. “You’re welcome, but for what?”

“Second chances.”

The gleam in his eyes speak volumes to me and my heart. I dreamed of this, him, us, but it was never this good. It’s Boone. He makes all the difference. He’s been like this for as long as I can remember.

“Always,” he says, kissing my hand.