“And he said…” Harlon's voice goes soft. “He said if being together makes us happy, he'd never stand in the way. That life's too short to let other people dictate who you love, even your own brother.” His eyes search mine.
Tears prick my eyes. "Really?"
"Really." Harlon pulls me closer, and I'm basically in his lap now, his arms wrapped around me. "Piper, I need you to know something."
"Okay," I breathe.
"I do love you." The words are steady, certain. "I fought it every single day because I thought it was wrong. But being with you these past few days—" His voice roughens. "I can't go back to pretending I don’t want you with all my heart."
Joy explodes in my chest, so intense I can barely contain it. "I love you too." The words come out on a laugh that might also be a sob. "I've loved you for just as long, Harlon. I just wouldn’t let myself admit it."
His hand slides over my cheek, and he brushes away a tear that escapes. "You're sure? Because the our age difference, the family situation?—"
"I'm sure." I lean into his touch, and then he's kissing me, and it's like sunshine on a cold day.
A promise.
A beginning.
When he pulls back, I'm breathless and grinning like an idiot.
He settles me more comfortably in his lap and I lace my fingers with his again. “What about the fact that I live in Denver and you live in Wyoming?”
"My ranger station's pretty isolated," he admits. "But the internet's decent. Better than you'd think."
"Oh?" I smile at him. "And why would the internet quality matter?"
His smile is achingly sweet. "Well, I hear there's this talented app developer who works remotely. Could work from anywhere, really." His arms tighten around me. "Especially if that developer wasn't taking some corporate job that would make her miserable."
"Funny you should mention that." I touch his lips with my fingers. "I declined the TechFlow offer this morning."
His sharp intake of breath makes me smile. "You did?"
"I also had an idea for a new app." I trace his jawline. "One that helps people find emergency shelters and cabins on mountain roads…offline maps, weather integration, real-time conditions. Maybe I could help prevent some near-death experiences in blizzards."
His eyes are warm with affection and something deeper.
I bite my lip. "Think there's a market for it?"
"I think," he says, pulling me closer, "that you're amazing, and that you should absolutely build it."
"From Wyoming?"
"If that's what you want." He holds my gaze. "I'm not asking you to give up your life in Denver, Piper. We can figure out visiting schedules, splitting time?—"
“But I want to be with you.” The truth is simple, clear as day. “Denver's just a city. My parents are never there anyway. And everything I need for work fits in a laptop bag.” I love feeling the rough stubble against my palm. “Plus, I hear Wyoming has excellent hiking trails. Might need a park ranger to show me around.”
"I know a guy." He winks. "And he's pretty into you."
"Yeah?" I'm grinning now, too. "How into me?"
"Embarrassingly so." He kisses me again, softly. "Fair warning: I'm going to be the annoying boyfriend who wants to share a sleeping bag and point out constellations."
"I can’t wait."
His laugh rumbles through both of us. "We're going to be disgustingly happy, aren't we?"
"You better believe it." I remember the ornament in my pocket and pull it out. "I almost forgot. I got you something."
