“She’s great, but that doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing.” I blew out an even breath. As much as I loved Hadley, I struggled daily to be enough for her. I’d never had proper parents. “I thinkI get a lot of grace because I’m the last person who deserves a kid. It was never my dream to have her. I’m not saying she isn’t a blessing. It’s just a lot.”
“What are your dreams?”
“Honestly, my day-to-day life is so crazy. Getting the chance to get caught up, or even ahead, feels like a dream. I’d love to grow my business for Hadley, but our town is so small that I honestly don't see that happening. I think a better long-term goal would be to change careers and do something more in the corporate world. I hate the idea of being a minion but realistically when you think about adult things like insurance, and all that, I need to consider it for Hadley. Those are my immediate goals. Eventually I'd like to get back to writing. When I have time. If I had a better job, I could use my nights to write instead of working bar shifts.”
“That’s a good goal. It doesn’t seem like it would be that hard.”
“What about you? What are you dreaming about these days?”
“Lately . . .” Her voice dropped into a wistful tone as she closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. The night sky above shimmered with the now countless number of stars, their light casting a dreamy glow over her gorgeous face. She let out a contented sigh. “I sort of feel like my dreamsmightbe coming true.”
I was getting used to the way my heart skipped when I touched her, so I could take her hand without holding my breath. “Is this your dream?”
“You already asked me that.”
“No, before I asked if it felt likeadream. Now, I’m asking if thisisyour dream?”
“Ah.” Her lips parted, but she didn’t shift her focus from the stars, her chest rising in a deep inhalation. “It always has been.”
Dropping her hand, I reached for her face and turned it toward mine, leaning in for a kiss. This time, when my heart skipped, itpained in all the best ways. Kissing her was like basking under a July sunset. I didn’t want it to ever end. But I’d promised myself this time I wasn’t going to push too hard. She needed to know this wasn’t just about a physical connection for me. I planned to invest in her heart first. Breaking our kiss before it became anything but sweet, I dropped another kiss on her cheek to seal it off, and smiled, unable to take my eyes off her. “Are you ready to be my girlfriend yet?”
Her lashes fluttered. “I was wondering how long it would take you to ask.”
I gave her my sly smile. “I had to time it just right.”
“Of course, timing. I get it.”
“Well.” I grabbed her hand again, lacing her fingers in mine, playfully dropping kisses on her fingers. “How long are you going to keep me waiting for an answer?”
Tapping her chin with her perfectly manicured finger, she pulled her gaze away. “I need to get the timing right, you know?”
“Stop. I’ve waited ten years to ask you that.” I sat up sharply, unable to take the teasing. I loved flirting with her, but I wasn’t prepared to feel as if she might possibly say no. “You have to say yes right now, or I’ll implode.”
“Oh.” She chuckled as she sat up and tucked her arm into mine, pulling her whole body close to me until she could lean her head on my shoulder. A rush of shivers spiraled through my arm, not stopping until it hit my heart at the same time as her words. “It’s always been yes.”
I was officially done.
I’d dreamed of this moment, of being her boyfriend for so long, and now that fate had pulled this off, it didn’t get any better than this. “I will never take you for granted,” I whispered before I kissed her forehead, promising myself I would do everything possible to make all her dreams come true because she just made mine come true.
thirteen
Elinora
We chatted about life, under the stars until the first light of morning. The sun was already cresting over the horizon and at an angle that made me aware I was already running late for the airport. I wanted so badly to stay with Graham. We’d hardly had any time together. It was not fair. I was going to miss him so much, but I reminded myself that work was paying for my trip, and I had to get back on a plane. If I did my job well, they would pay for another trip next month. Sure, if he asked me to quit this stupid job and move to Vermont, I probably would.
No, definitely.
I’d absolutely quit.
However, we weren’t there yet. Or maybe he wasn’t there yet, because I totally was. From the first summer, I knew he was meant for me. There was no other way to explain how we had been thrown together in our youth, and then accidentally crossing paths now. Oh, and not to mention the butterflies flopping around like tutu-clad walruses. Those helped me tomake this decision, too. Sighing, I leaned over and brushed his cheek. “It’s morning already. I need to leave.”
His dark lashes fluttered as his eyes found their bearings on mine. My heart stilled. The power of his eyes would be studied by scientists one day. His hand snaked over, drawing me into him. “Stay here.”
“I wish I could.” I had spent countless nights yearning to be near him, feeling the weight of his absence like a physical ache in his chest. But our moment was already over. I couldn't shake off the fear that this reunion would only lead to more heartache. Each time we’d spend together would always end with us returning to our separate lives and I hated this. Taking a deep breath, I wrapped my arms back around him. And in our embrace, a flood of emotions rushed through me—hope, remorse, and all my dreams. It was then that I decided he was worth every hard moment of waiting.
“Well, we can’t stayherebecause it’s going to get cold in winter, but you can come back to Vermont with me.”
“Quit torturing me.”
