Kelsey hasn’t pulled her hand away, so that’s good, right? Is it possible that maybe she likes me a little? A lot?

No, not a lot. We still have a history to repair, but I think we’re making good progress.

The other guys think a lot of Kelsey, and did when we were in school, but I was too blinded with anger to see anything good about her. I think Ryan and Christian also had crushes on her back then. Not that any of us were allowed to date or anything. But, we were still high school guys with raging hormones. Crushes and unrequited lust were bound to happen. It was the nature of things.

But, we aren’t in high school anymore, and I’ve seen how the guys look at her. They still admire and like her, and I’m afraid if I let go of her hand, one of them will take it and keep it.

They already have a great history with her and mine is shitty. That’s what I need to make up for. I need Kelsey to see me differently than the douche I was back then. Yes, I was well aware that she called me Alex Douche far more than she ever called me Alex Dosek, and usually, she just addressed me as Douche.

I deserved it, and more. But that was then and this is now. I admire her, and I’m so fucking attracted to her I can’t think about anything else. It’s only been twenty-four hours since we reconnected, but I feel stuff I haven’t felt in a long time. Now to figure out what all that is and get to know her. Hell, who knows what could happen, but I sure as hell am not going to give up her hand until I’m forced to, and not to any of my roommates.

When we reach the town square, we stop to take it in, or maybe decide where to start. Tables and booth fill the large area with more tables lining the sidewalk on each side of the street. From what I can tell, they are all craft items. Things made by hand from jewelry to wooden toys and needlework and embroidered shirts to ornaments.

“Oh, look.” Kelsey points to a table of painted scarves and walks over, pulling her hand from mine.

Shit!

I follow and stand by her as she holds different ones up, admiring the watercolor prints on the silk. They’d look beautiful on her.

She checks the little price tags hanging from them and smiles sadly. “They are beautiful,” she finally says and walks away.

I glance down. They are only twenty dollars. Not that I throw money around, because I don’t have money to throw around, but twenty for a hand painted silk scarf is cheap. And, she really wants one, I can tell.

Kelsey wanders over to another booth of soaps and creams as I study the scarves. There is one with blues, yellows, creams and oranges that reminds me of Renoir’s Sunset at Sea. It would look beautiful on Kelsey and compliment her coloring. I fish out my wallet and pay for it. The woman behind the table bags it and hands it to me. I quickly shove it into a pocket on the inside of my coat before Kelsey sees me. I don’t know when I’ll give it to her, but someday I will. Maybe at Christmas since it’s within the allotted budget for each of us. I’ll just have to make sure the guys let me have her name.

One day, and I’m already planning Christmas. Then again, it is only a month away, but I want her to stay around. I don’t want this to be just a few days that she is in our life, my life, and gone again for five years.

“What did you just buy?” Christian asks as he comes up to me.

Kelsey’s back is turned and she’s looking at stained glass items with Sean. “A scarf. Kelsey really liked them, but didn’t want to spend the money, or couldn’t spend it. I didn’t ask.” Even though she gave fifty to a family yesterday didn’t mean she actually had money to spend. I don’t know her well enough to ask, but she is a student on scholarship and aid, so unless she hit the lottery since leaving school, her money is tight.

Christian hitches an eyebrow. “Are the two of you becoming a thing?”

“What? I just saw her for the first time yesterday in five years.”

“And, you were holding hands.”

I shrug. “She’s nervous about the interview.”

“So you bought her a scarf.”

Christian is not going to let this go. “Look, I’m not sure what I think or feel. I like her, okay.”

“Just don’t screw it up this time.”

“As if I could screw up worse than I did in high school.”

“True.” He straightens. “Hey, if Kelsey is still around at Christmas…”

“We’ll have even numbers again. I’ve already thought of that.”

“Great. I was so not looking forward to tossing all of our names in a hat. I didn’t want to get one of you jerks.”

“As long as I get Kelsey’s, it’ll work out.” I pat my coat. “I already got her gift.”

Christian laughs. “I’ll let you take that up with the rest of the guys.”

We start following Kelsey and Sean who are looking at what the different booths are selling. I want to take my friend’s place, but don’t want to be pushy. Besides, I kind of like watching her ass while she walks. Perfectly rounded and those cheeks would fit nicely in my hands. I also wouldn’t mind those legs wrapped around my hips.

What the hell am I thinking? We’ve got a long way to go before I can even think about touching Kelsey’s pussy, let alone doing anything with it.