I choked out a laugh. “You think?”
He half smiled back at me. “Yeah, but that’s the old version of Harrison. I’d like to introduce you to the new me. If you’ll let me.”
“I feel like I’m already starting to get to know him,” I answered. “You just showing up here is pretty out of character. The only risks you usually take are in business.”
The crowd around us went even quieter now that the monologue was turning into a dialogue, no one wanting to miss a word.
“I was willing to take any risk to get to you and hopefully prove how much I care. Gwen, from this day forward, I hope that you’ll let me keep showing up for you.”
He walked a few steps closer to me, and I heard the crowd behind me shuffle closer as well. Someone muttered “Jetliner Jackass,” which meant that we were fully scoped out now.
I was speechless. I never imagined that not only would Harrison admit that he’d made a mistake but also pledge to change.
At that moment, I finally let my wariness drop. This was real, this was happening—and this, at last, was exactly what I needed from him. The ray of hope became a full sunburst, and I let it drive away my sadness.
“I came here with no guarantees,” he said. “I’m laying my heart on the line and betting everything on this moment.”
Harrison placed the roses down on a table and finally walked to me. Everything else faded away, and it felt like we were the only two people in the area.
“Only a fool refuses to believe what his heart knows is true. You captivated me, Gwen. It was easy to fall in love with you.”
I was so busy studying his beautiful face that I was struggling to keep track of what he was saying.
“Well?” Harrison asked, his expression clouding over.
“Well what?” I asked, wondering how much longer I had to wait to kiss him.
He grasped my arms gently and pulled me closer. “I said I’m in love with you.”
The sensation of his hands on me combined with his confession overwhelmed me.
I stared up at him.
“You…youloveme?” I asked through my tears.
He nodded, a little relieved. “So much. So fucking much.”
I threw myself into his arms and burrowed against his neck, hiding my face because I knew I was now ugly-crying. There were cameras all around us capturing the moment, and a few people broke out in applause.
“Harrison, I love you too,” I murmured through my tears. “I can’t believe this is real.”
He pulled back to stare at me. “You are so fucking beautiful. And amazing. And?—”
We finally kissed, and the crowd around us cheered like someone had just hit a homerun. Harrison’s mouth curled into a smile against mine as the applause echoed through the airport.
I’d started the day with a broken heart and an eye on my future, and now everything had changed.
But…how?
“Harrison, how the hell did you get here so fast? And how did you figure out where I was going to be? And all of those guys with the signs, who are they?”
He slid his hand around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze.
“Let’s get out of here, and I’ll tell you everything.”
33
GWEN
