To most people who come over and see it, it’s nothing more than a random rock I keep on my windowsill. To usthough, it’s a memory preserved in something that will be around longer than either of us ever will be.
We were out at the lake taking a swim together after being let out of school early. It was the last week of junior year and we both had a free afternoon since we didn’t have any exams. By this point we had been dating for almost a year and spent almost every free minute we had together. When she told me she wanted to go for a dip, I happily obliged. Who was I to tell a pretty girl no when it meant I’d get to see her in her swimsuit. We swam around for an hour before I climbed out to dry off. Always finding joy in the smallest things, she brought me the stone she’s currently holding after carefully searching for the one she liked the most on the rocky shore. Looking at me with a smile, hair wet and eyes full of life, I held the small stone in the palm of my hand and told her I loved her. She said it back without hesitation, throwing herself over me and kissing me hard, stone still clutched in my fist. I put the tiny rock in my pocket that day and vowed to carry it with me so long as I was breathing.
I’m still breathing, so I still have it.
I close the space between us and take it from her fingers, looking down at it then back at her.
“Because it’s one of my favorite memories from Evergreen,” I admit easily, leaning over the sink to put it back in its resting spot. “I’m surprised you recognize it at all.”
“Why wouldn’t I recognize it?”
“Why do you?”
“Because it’s one of my favorite memories from Evergreen,” she repeats, moving her eyes from the rock to me. She releases a small sigh and wipes her forehead with the back of her hand. “I’m tired, I think I’m going to go get some rest.”
“Here, let me show you to your room.” I step around her and grab her suitcase that she’s left in the entryway.
“Give that to me, I can take it,” she protests but I’m already moving up the stairs.
“You’re my guest, I carry your bags. Isn’t that how you do it at that inn of yours?” I joke, sending her a smirk from over my shoulder.
“It’s not mine yet,” she mutters as we reach the top of the stairs. She follows me down the hall and into the guest room I keep made up and ready. Setting her bag down at the foot of the bed, I smile at her.
“Well after tomorrow, that won’t be something you have to worry about anymore. We’ll go to the courthouse, sign the papers, grab a couple of rings and bing, bang, boom, we’re husband and wife.Temporarily,of course.”
“Temporarily, of course,” she repeats. She rolls her bottom lip over her teeth and looks at me. “Thank you again, Nick. I know I’m asking you for a lot. You can change your mind, you know. You don’t have to do this.”
Closing the space between us in a few quick strides, I pull her hand into mine. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Noelle. I’m not changing my mind. I’m all in,” I affirm with a closed lip smile and a head nod.
She nods in response before dropping my hand. Knowing she’s tired and wanting to get some rest, I go to leave. Before closing the door behind me, I turn to look at her once more.
“If you need anything, I’m just down the hall. Don’t feel like you’re bothering me if you need something, okay?”
“Okay.” She smiles at me then and it nearly knocks the breath clean out of me. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“See you in the morning.”
Closing the door behind me, I close my eyes and take a steadying breath. Tomorrow I’ll be marrying the girl I’ve been in love with since I was seventeen. Not because she loves me but because she needs me to help her out. I don’t care if she saw this as only temporary, I meant what I told her.
I’m all in on this.
And I’m not going to change my mind this time.
CHAPTER 11
Noelle
“Wakey, wakey, sugar. Time for breakfast.”
I hear Nick call out to me on the other side of my bedroom door. I roll over and reach for my phone to check the time and notice it’s eight in the morning. On a Saturday. Unless I have to get to the inn for some reason, I never wake up on Saturdays before nine. The hope was to sleep in a little longer while we’re in Boston but apparently I’m not getting that luxury.
“Mmm, it’s too early!” I shout back, my words muddling together since I’m still half asleep.
I hear the door push open and his footsteps padding across the old hardwood floor. Opening my eyes, I find him standing at the end of the bed wearing an apron, staring at me. I pop straight up and glare at him.
“Nick! You can’t just come in here, what if I slept naked,” I scoff, pulling the comforter up to my neck as if Iamsleeping naked. I’m not, but I don’t need him to see that I packed my Christmas patterned pajamas with me. They are my favorite pair and I packed them intentionally so they’d bring me a little bit of joy this weekend while we did what had to be done. Istill can’t believe he agreed to this and the low hum of panic joined me as I threw a bunch of stuff into a suitcase so we could make our flight to Boston in time. A trip to Boston which is only happening because he insisted we come here to get married. I told him we could drive to the next town over and get it done back in Vermont but he wouldn’t hear it.
“It wouldn’t be anything I haven’t seen before, sugar,” he says with a wink and a wicked smirk. I throw my pillow at him and scowl.
