Our first kiss was passionate and fun, but thiswas different. It felt almost sacred. Like I was slowly putting his whole world back together, just like he was doing to mine. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him tighter.
“I have missed you,” he whispered against my neck. “I love you, Emma.”
“I love you, Grant.” I felt like I was melting and flying all at the same time.
Maybe real love isn’t about grand romantic gestures like in the movies, but about choosing each other every day, to apologize and try again, in the messy moments of everyday life.
Looked like my mother was quite wrong about one thing. Some very good things can come from staying home in my pj’s and ordering takeout.
THE END
Epilogue
One YearLater
I checked my hair in the visor mirror of my yellow Bug, tying half of it back with a blue silk ribbon that matched my dress. I swiped on a quick layer of pink lip gloss, took a deep breath, and grabbed my purse.
As I crossed the parking lot of The Brick House, butterflies swarmed my stomach. The same teenager stood at the entrance, that I had snuck past before, popping her bubblegum and scanning tickets. Only this time, it wasn’t an event for the fifty-plus crowd.
Grant had come up with the idea to host a vintage movie night for the community and suggested The Bees Knees be the sponsor. Our first—of hopefully many—joint projects.
“Hey, Kelsey.”
She waved me by without much acknowledgment. I chuckled, climbed the concrete steps, and walked inside the building.
The air smelled like popcorn, salt, and butter. My eyes immediately found my Mr. Muscles behind the bar, handing out bottled sodas, licorice ropes, and popcorn to eager kids.
I resisted the urge to skip as I hurried past the mingling crowd, making my way to Grant. Relief settled in my chest—people had actually showed up. For a while, I was worried it would be just Grant and me. Though, honestly, that didn’t sound like a bad night either.
When I was almost at his side, I saw it—the exact moment he spotted me. His brown eyes lit up, his dimple appeared, and just like that, the butterflies in my stomach settled.
He stepped away from the counter, leaving the others to fill orders, and met me halfway.
“You’re gorgeous,” he murmured, pulling me into his arms and wrapping me in the scent of leather and earth.
My head tipped back, my cheeks aching from smiling. “Look at this.” I gestured around the lobby. “I wasn’t sure other people would even come.”
His thumb brushed my cheek. “Of course they would. It was my idea.”
I rolled my eyes. “Uh, my store is the sponsor, so I think it’s a we event.”
“You’ll never hear me argue against anything we.” He grinned, glancing at the black-and-white movie posters hanging throughout the lobby. “Just think—if it weren’t for old movie reels, I never would’ve found you.” His hand slid to my hip, pulling me closer, his grin turning delicious.
And then he kissed me, right there in the middle of the lobby.
The world melted away.
This man was everything. He made me believe in myself. He made me feel beautiful. Seen. Loved—in a way no one ever had.
When the kiss ended, he laced his fingers through mine.
“All right, we can’t be late to our Cary Grant movie date.” He raised a brow and nodded toward the ballroom. “Have you ever seenMy Favorite Wife?”
“Oh, that sounds familiar, but I’m not sure.”
I kissed him on my favorite dimple, and then caught a glimpse of someone across the lobby. Was that Peter from Leo’s with, I guessed, his wife? I couldn’t believe he was here. He gave me an excited wave.
Next to him, other familiar people. My mouth dropped open. What?
