“No one is perfect, Cam. Not even Mimi. This time she got it wrong. You and me, I think it was always meant to turn out this way.” He sounds so sure, so confident, that it takes me a minute to fully process his words.
“Wait. What are you saying, Ben?”
“I don’t want to say it, at least not until we know more about what’s going to happen.” His grip tightens on my fingers. “But it’s there, Cam. I wouldn’t be putting our return home at risk if I wasn’t completely sure. God, I feel like I’ve been holding back from you for so long, trying to let you fall for someone you were supposed to be with.”
It’s a foreign feeling, this open and honest communication. One I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced with anyone in my life, ever.
It makes me want to be open and honest as well, but Ben is right. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, how this magical little hell hole might react to us going completely off script.
“I’ve been fighting it too.” I place a hand on his cheek, my thumb stroking along the strong edge of his jaw. “I wouldn’t have thrown away my best chance of getting out of here if I wasn’t sure too.”
Ben rises up on his knees, bringing us level and pressing his lips to mine. The kiss deepens, but he pulls away after a second. “I would very much love for this to continue, but I think it might be best if I head back to my place.”
I pout, though I know he’s right. His kisses reach deep down inside me, stoking flames in both my heart and my pants. If we were to even cross the threshold into my bedroom, I don’t think either of us would be able to resist the natural next step. “What if I wake up in the morning and I’m not here? What if we both wake up at home and have no memory of ever being here?” Somehow, I don’t think it’s physically possible for me to forget Ben, he’s so deeply ingrained on my soul, but nothing about Heart Springs makes sense.
He stands, leaning down to drop a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll find you. Wherever we end up, I promise, I will find you. You, Campbell Andrews, are unforgettable.”
I stand, tucking myself into his arms because I’m not quite ready to let him go yet. “That was the sappiest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
The rumble of his laugh vibrates against my cheek. “Something tells me that’s not an especially high bar.”
“I don’t deal well with sap.”
“Well, you’re going to have to get used to it.”
“You lured me in with all your sarcasm and banter. I feel like I’ve been deceived!” I tug myself out of his embrace, missing the warmth of him instantly.
He leans down and kisses me. “I promise to still be plenty sarcastic, sweetheart.”
This time I pull away from the kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
He nods, sure enough for the both of us.“Tomorrow.”
23
I keep my eyes screwed closed for several minutes when I wake up the morning after the fundraiser. The morning after I kissed Ben. The morning after Ben showed me exactly what that smart mouth of his can get up to.
I finally open just one eye, just a sliver. Just enough to check for sunshine and lace and a mountain of throw pillows piled in the corner of the room, where I ceremoniously toss them every night, where I leave them every morning, yet somehow by the time I’m ready to go to sleep, they’ve made their way back to the bed.
My vision catches on the sunshine first. It’s bright, beckoning through the sheer white curtains. The light somehow seems more blinding this morning, and I wonder if I’ve just fallen into some kind of love bubble where the flowers smell sweeter and the sun burns brighter.
A wave of relief washes over me when I open both eyes, take in all the details, and realize I’m still in my bedroom in Heart Springs. Still warm and cozy yet cool enough to sleep under the butter yellow covers. Still hair and makeup ready despite sleeping like the dead the night before.
I don’t stop to think about why I’m happy to still be here, despite the previous night with Ben all but fulfilling my final task.
The only noticeable change is in my wardrobe. When I throw open the doors of the closet, I’m faced once again with a brand new set of clothes. Everything hanging in the closet is in shades of red and green, a couple of gold sweaters and spangly silver dresses tucked in among the holiday spread.
I dart into the living room, which has been transformed overnight. A huge Christmas tree, reaching the ceiling, stands in one corner, already decorated with blinking white lights and a flurry of ornaments. Presents I definitely didn’t buy or wrap stand ready under the tree and the whole house smells like cinnamon and pine.
It sort of reminds me of Ben’s scent.
Just the thought of him brings a smile to my face.
And apparently just the thought of him brings the real him to my door.
I answer the knock, taking in a sleep-rumpled Ben with a grin. His eyes look tired but bright, and he offers me a mug of coffee in case I didn’t already think he was the greatest person in the world.
“You’re still here.” He says it with a relief that lets me know his confidence the night before wasn’t totally legit.
