“Forget the drink. Let’s go home.”
His lips broke into that big grin, and I was probably looking at him like a lovesick puppy, but I didn’t care. We had a lot of good night left, and I didn’t want to spend it with him in a rowdy bar. I wanted him all to myself.
One of my dad’s,and my, favorite movies growing up wasSleepless in Seattle. There’s a part at the end when they finally meet at the top of the Empire State Building. In that scene, I wasn’t sure at first if they’d leave together, but Sam holds out his hand and says, “Shall we?” She takes his hand, and as theywalk away together, his little boy leads them as they get into the elevator. The whole time, they’re staring at each other like they can’t take their eyes off one another. Like if they looked away for even one second, the other would cease to exist.
That’s what it felt like walking hand in hand through the dark camp to our trailer. If not for watching where I was stepping, my eyes were glued on Reed. It was as though something had shifted. Everything in my life had lined up for this one pivotal moment, and if I looked away for any reason, I’d miss something important.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” I asked him. I wasn’t scared to hear his answer. I was genuinely curious. I wanted to know.
He led us around a corner as we headed down the lane to our campsite.
His eyes barely strayed from mine, some knowing look flitting across them while a soft smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Heat washed over me, wondering if I shouldn’t have asked. Was this another moment where my filter wasn’t working? “What’s that look for?”
“You asked me that once before.”
“Shit! I did? When?” I gulped, suddenly feeling self-conscious, my mind racing to remember when I’d said it. The muscles at his jaw ticked, and that was enough to give me the answer. “It was … it was that night you found me being dragged away from the bar.” I still hated to think of that night, let alone talk about it. Anything could have happened if Reed hadn’t found me.
“Hey, baby.” He stopped us, shifting to look at me. “It’s okay. It was always going to be okay.”
“He stole that moment from me. I don’t even remember saying that.” Tears welled in my eyes, but his warm, solid hand squeezed mine affectionately.
Reed shook his head, gritting his teeth while his brown eyes reassured me. “He has no place here in this moment because I can tell you now that I never thought I believed in love at first sight—until I met you.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I felt a sting behind my nose at his declaration. I cleared my throat. “You felt it, too? When we first saw each other?” A surge of hope washed over me. The lump grew despite my attempt to swallow.
“Lina, it was as if my whole world tilted on its axis the moment I saw you. I haven’t been the same since.”
My vision blurred, but I trusted him to make sure I didn’t stumble as he continued to lead us to our campsite. We reached our fifth wheel, pausing in front of the parked trucks and horse trailer, when the first tears broke free, slipping silently down my cheeks. I tipped my head back to peer up at the stars. My watery vision was like a kaleidoscope of light, while I attempted to hold them back. But there was no use. They were already falling.
Reed stepped into me, reaching up to wipe the tears from my cheeks. “It was you. It’s always been you.” His own voice broke. “It’s you for a reason.”
“God, Reed.” I shook my head, my chest tightening hearing him say those words.
“Look at me, sweetheart.”
I lowered my chin, catching his own glassy gaze. Fresh tears sprang to my eyes seeing the emotion in his. My face scrunched, two seconds away from an ugly cry.
Cradling my face, his thumbs continued to swipe across my cheeks. I couldn’t help leaning into those big hands, wanting to feel the heat and roughness, to ground me and comfort me.
“I honestly believe you were put into my life for a reason.” His brow furrowed as if he, too, were holding back the tears. “Put into my life … and Penn’s.”
“I thought you broke my heart, but here you’ve been piecing it back together this whole time.” My voice broke on a sob.
“Oh, baby, if I could go back …” He sniffed. “I’d do anything to protect you. Even if it meant protecting you from me. I should’ve never hurt you the way I did. I was a mess when you found me. But you were the one thing I needed most. And I screwed up. If I have to make it up to you every day for the rest of my life, I will. I’ll do anything I have to do, Lina, if it means I get to love you.”
“Goddamn you! You have me ugly crying now,” I wailed.
A deep laugh rumbled quietly in his chest. “I know. I’m an asshole.”
I gave him a watery huff. “Well, I’ve been no walk in the park, either, cowboy.” There was no stopping the tears as they streamed down my face, soaking his hands where they still held me. “I’m in love with you, Reed.” I shrugged, unable to help how I felt. “I’ve been in love with you from the start.”
Tears welled up in his eyes, and I sobbed. I couldn’t bear seeing him cry. It broke me.
“Lina, I’ve been falling for you for 435 days now. I’m so in love with you. There’s no life without you in it.”
His lips tenderly pressed to mine, our tongues softly stroking, the salt of my tears mingling. I closed my eyes, absorbing the feeling. The warm summer night, the crickets chirping, his kisses, and his hands taking care of me. His fingers brushed the hair behind my ears, trailing down my neck, my shoulders, my arms. A caress so light, it felt like a breeze on my heated skin.
