"When I saw you again, it was like a bucket of cold water. All my feelings I had for you came rushing back, but stronger. After you left for college, I convinced myself that what I felt was just remorse for being an asshole to you. I tried to tell myself that there's no way I could have fallen in love at eighteen and not with someone that I treated appallingly."
My mind focused on one sentence—fallen in love?Love? Harrison loved me? Oh, my God.
"But just one look at you in the grocers, I knew I had been kidding myself. When I asked whether you were happy and you smugly told me yes, I knew I needed to get on your level before you even considered including me in your life again. So I sat Dad and Ryan down and had that heart-to-heart with them. I enrolled in college, and you know the rest. What you don't know is that I did that all for you. I did it because of you."
"Harrison..."
I couldn't speak. Tears streamed down my face. What he was saying was so beautiful. It was everything I ever wanted to hear and didn't know I did. This beautiful man had changed his life, not just because of me butforme, without me asking and without him knowing whether he would be a part of my life in the future.
"I don't know what to say," I sniffed.
Without thinking, I lunged into his arms and buried my head in his chest. He wrapped me tight and rested his cheek against my soft hair. Peace and contentment flowed through me—as well as another more powerful emotion that I was finally ready to accept.
Harrison placed a kiss on top of my head and pulled back, framing my face with his hands.
"This whole reunion was for you. It was a way to make up for not asking you to prom, to make up for all the shit I put you through, and a way to worm my way back into your life. Amelia, Liam, James, and Ruth were in on it. I told them not to show up for the last few meetings."
"Cheeky," I laughed, although I had already suspected. "Amelia told me you had some convincing to do with her." I glanced down shyly. "That you stopped, erm, hooking up with women for a while."
Harrison smiled at me tenderly. "I didn't do that to prove anything to Amelia. I was sick of meaningless flings and one-night stands, especially after I saw you again. I just had no interest in going out and getting shit-faced and waking up with some nameless female. But I didn't realize that Amelia was watching me like a hawk and that my change in behavior was what got her on my side."
Acting impulsively, I reached up, clutched Harrison's face, and planted my lips against his. I was done with talking.
He paused in surprise before sinking into my kiss with a groan. He reached around and circled my waist with his hands, pulling my body flush against his. I felt his desire grow against me, and I wantonly rubbed up to him.
"Grace," he groaned, pulling away.
Frustrated, I tried to follow his step, desperate to feel his mouth on mine again, his tongue sliding against my own.
"Wait, Gracie,"
"Why?" I pouted. "I believe you; I forgive you. Penis, please." I reached down to unbutton his pants when he stopped me again.
"Gracie…I just need to say one thing."
'What?" I impatiently demanded. I needed to feel him against me, inside me. The feelings he expressed overwhelmed me. Thrilled me. Pleased me. I wanted to reciprocate how I was feeling in the most sensual way possible.
And I needed to do it now.
"I love you."
CHAPTER 16
Myplumplipspartedin surprise. Even though Harrison had said he loved me back then, hearing those words in the present tense gave me an overwhelming sense of joy.
"Harrison," I whispered, a dreamy smile forming.
"I don't expect you to say it back. I know my feelings aren't as new as yours, especially since you spent a good chunk of your life hating me. But I've wasted enough time keeping my feelings to myself." He shook his head in self-reprove. "I can't go a day longer without you knowing how I feel about you. I love you, and I want to be with you. You're it for me, baby."
"Oh, Harry." Tears blurred my vision as I tiptoed up and brushed my lips against his. "You know how they say that hate is akin to love?"
A flash of hope crossed his face. He tried and failed not to curve his lips.
"You mean…?"
I stroked his jaw; the roughness of his stubble tickled my palm. "I always had a thing for you when we were kids. I thought you were cute, kind, sweet–"
He rolled his eyes, "Babe, no guy wants to be calledcute and sweet."
