18 Hours To Us
Page 20
He let go of her hands, his fingertips skimming along her arms on their way to her face.
A delightful warmth took over her body as his fingers moved along each side of her neck and slid into her hair, his thumbs softly brushing her cheeks. “Will you ride home with me?”
His smile melted her heart. She hadn’t expected him to ask, but part of her had hoped he would. But before she could answer, there was something she knew she had to do.
“I have to tell my dad.”
“I already did,” he replied.
“You talked to my dad?” This was a twist.
“I apologized for the accident and for my part in getting you to take the road trip down here with me.”
“What did he say?”
“He seemed angry at first, but when I told him what I just told you about the accident, he calmed down, and we had a good talk about faith and stuff.”
Natalie let out a sigh of relief.
“I also asked if I could drive you home.”
“You did? What did he say to that?” She knew what the answer probably was.
Colton let go of her face, pulled his phone from his back pocket, and made a call. “Hello, sir … yes, she’s right here.” He held the phone out to Natalie.
She took it hesitantly. “Hello?”
“I’m sorry we fought, Natty,” her dad said.
Her heart squeezed. “Me too, Daddy.”
“It’s hard for a father to let go of his precious girl, you know. I was afraid you lying to me was a sign that you were on the wrong path, that maybe nothing I had ever taught you had sunk in.”
“I know. I made a mistake.”
“But you told me the truth, and I’m proud of you for that. And I want you to know that I do trust you. I trust you to make your own decisions. You’re a smart girl, and I know you would never put yourself at risk. But I worry. That’s what parents do. You’re going to be on your own soon, and I guess I need to start working on this whole letting go thing.”
Tears sprang to Natalie’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, Dad. I’ll never lie to you again.”
“I know you won’t.”
Her father rarely cried in front of her, but she could’ve sworn she heard a sniffle on his end of the line.
“Be safe,” he said. “Don’t let him drive too fast, and no staying in the same hotel room together.”
She was so happy that she thought her heart might burst. “We’re friends, Dad.”
He snickered. “Have you told him that?”
“Dad.”
“Just remember what you’ve been taught. Remember what I wrote in your birthday gift.”
“I will. Thank you for that, by the way. It’s beautiful, and I love it.” She couldn’t wait to see him, so she could give him a huge hug and tell him to his face how much the gift meant to her.
“I hope you’ll take it with you to Arizona, and let it be your guide.”
“I will.”
“Happy birthday, sweet girl.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too.”
She was crying as the call ended, and she handed the phone back to Colton. He tucked it in his back pocket and wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry until the tears subsided.
“Your dad seems great.” Colton took her face in his hands again and wiped away her tears with his thumbs.
“He’s the best.” She sniffled.
“So what do you say? Will you go with me?” He gazed into her eyes. “There’s no one else I’d rather travel eighteen hours with than you.”
A smile spread across Natalie’s face, and she nodded slightly.
“Is that a yes?” His eyebrows raised hopefully.
“Yes.”
Colton brought her into his arms and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Awesome.”
She giggled at that.
He leaned back and gazed into her eyes.
She knew what was coming next, and her stomach fluttered in anticipation.
Colton leaned forward and touched his lips to hers for several soft kisses, smiling against her lips between each one.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since the day we got here,” he whispered in that intimate way she loved.
“I’ve been wanting you to.”
He leaned in for more, kissing her like a guy who’d been holding back for a week.
Natalie tightened her arms around his waist and melted into him, returning his kisses, letting him know there was nowhere else in the world she’d rather be.
His kisses slowed, turning soft and tender again, and she clung to him, afraid her knees might give out when he stopped.
She couldn’t stop smiling, and neither could he.
“This is what you wished for, isn’t it?” he asked with that signature confidence of his.
“I can’t tell you.”
He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Yeah, you can.”
“Actually, I wished that no matter what happened, no matter where we both went after this week and after graduation, that you would find your happiness.”
His smile turned to a disapproving look. “You’re supposed to wish for something for yourself.”
“Says who?”
“Says everyone who’s ever blown out their birthday candles.”
“Well, I’m just a more selfless person than everyone else, I guess.”
“Oh, is that so?” He grinned at her.
She nodded.
He reached up and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Your wish came true. I found my happiness when I found you.”
Her heart filled with more love than she had ever known, and she leaned in and kissed him again.
A honk from across the parking lot startled them, and they turned to see Olivia and Trinity exiting their bus.
“Sorry!” Trinity called over her shoulder at the bus driver, who didn’t look happy with her for honking the horn.
The girls giggled as they ran up and wrapped their arms around Natalie and Colton and said their farewells.
“Bye, you two.” Trinity squeezed them hard.
“Have a safe trip,” Olivia said.
“How did you know?” Natalie asked.
“We know you.” Olivia leaned into Natalie and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
The girls waved as they returned to the bus, and Natalie’s heart warmed. There were no two greater friends in the world, and she was lucky to have them as hers.
Colton wound his fingers through hers and grabbed her suitcase with his other hand. “Where to first?” he asked as they walked toward his car.
“I don’t care where we go, really, as long as we’re together.” She smiled sweetly at him.
His smile brought out the dimple she loved so much, but then his face straightened. “I’m not sure I should let you ride in my car again after the terrible name you called her.”
“Well, I may have been a little hasty,” she replied with a wink.
“Oh, really?”
“I’ve decided I don’t hate yellow cars so much after all.”
Acknowledgments
This book was totally inspired by my daughter's class trip to Cedar Point. Waiting for the buses that morning, my mind ran away with itself, wondering what would happen if a couple of the kids missed the bus, thinking about all the teenaged drivers squealing their tires when they pull out of the parking lot at the end of the school day, putting those elements together.
The story came to me pretty quickly, and it was so much fun to write, but it's SO much better because of my critique girls—Anita, Crystal, Franky, Melanie, Rachel, and Vicki. I feel so blessed to know you and so honored that you all took the time to help make my little book the best it could be. You're all so talented and insightful and wonderful. I could just go on and on.
Thanks to my wonderful Launch Team, for reading and sharing and just being there. Your help is so appreciated and I can't thank you enough.
There would be no books if not for my hubby and kids and my mom, who
offer me endless support and love and inspire me.
And thank you, sweet reader friend. I hope you enjoyed Natalie and Colton's road trip and pray their journey touched your heart.
THANK YOU!
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Happy reading!
Krista
-- BOOKS BY KRISTA NOORMAN --
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ROMANCE
• Cornerstone Series •
Goodbye, Magnolia (Book 1)
Hello, Forever (Book 1.5)
Until Then (Book 2)
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
The Truth About Drew
18 Hours to Us
The Truth About Drew
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
At fourteen, Claire Thomas leads the average life of a teenage girl, living in the shadow of her popular older brother, maneuvering her way through family, friendships, and first love. But her childhood best friend, Drew, is not your average teenage boy. In fact, he's downright unusual. Sometimes he disappears, almost before her eyes. He speaks in clichés, quotes and Bible verses, and is always writing in his worn leather notebook.
Drew seems to have the inside track to all things spiritual, but Claire lives in a family that does not go to church, with a mother who hates God. It seems Drew is trying to tell her something important, but she isn't sure what that is. After years of wondering why she is the only person to ever see or speak to him, thinking maybe he isn't real and it's all in her head, she is determined to discover the truth about Drew.
About the Author
KRISTA NOORMAN has spent most of her life scribbling away in journals, documenting her every day life, but it wasn’t until she took part in National Novel Writing Month in 2008, that she found her true calling and turned her pen to fiction.
Krista studied at Cornerstone University, then turned to her love of photography and spent nearly a decade running her own wedding photography business, which was the inspiration for her novel, Goodbye, Magnolia. She is constantly inspired by books and movies, enjoys beautiful Instagram feeds, and loves a great cup of coffee. Krista makes her home in a small town in western Michigan with her husband and two children.
She writes about life, family, faith, and whatever else comes to mind on her blog, bykrista.com.