The culture, a culture I never knew was instilled in me until I came here.
And this man, someone who has my back, who fills an empty void I’ve been missing all these years.
I want to make him proud. I want to do the right thing, to show him that I’m more than the girl he first met, that this country means just as much to me as it does to him. Because it truly does, I’ve realized during the last few days, and it feels like home here.
I know it for sure.
Keller walks back into the room with a glass of water and medicine in his palm. Once I swallow the pills and take an extra sip of water, he retrieves the glass from me and sets it on the night table.
When he turns back to me on the bed, he cups my cheek as he speaks sincerely. “Let’s get you some rest.”
At the edge of the bed, he removes his shorts, and then he climbs under the covers, joining me. I curl into him, resting my head on his shoulder, as his arm that’s around me rests along my back, keeping me close.
“Comfortable?” he asks.
“Very,” I answer.
His thumb dances over my hip while he asks, “You’d tell me if I hurt you?”
“I would. And I promise, you didn’t.” I kiss his jaw. “I’ve never felt more cared for than when I’m in your arms.”
“Good,” he answers and then goes silent.
“Hey, Keller?”
“Hmm?”
“Can I talk to you about something?”
“You can talk to me about anything,” he says.
I raise up and change my position so I’m leaning across his chest, looking down at him, face to face. “I want to say something to you but I don’t want you to think it’s spur of the moment, or because we just had sex or anything like that. I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
“Okay.” His hand falls on my bare hip.
“I... I wanted to tell you that I’ve made my decision.”
“Your decision?” he asks, looking confused.
“About whether I’m going to stay or go back to Miami.”
His eyes widen. “Oh, that. But I thought you would wait until you got to Strombly to make that decision. Lilly, I know it’s been rough here, but at least give us a chance to show you the other side.”
I press my hand to his rapidly beating heart. “I’m not leaving, Keller. I’m going to stay.”
“Wait... what?” He sits up now. “Really? You’re going to stay?”
“Yes.” I smile. “I’m not sure what’ll happen when I reach Strombly or when I’m introduced to the public, but I keep feeling as if this is what I was supposed to do. I feel like I belong here, like that piece of me that’s been missing all this time has been found.”
“Jesus, you’re serious?” he asks, his expression so adorably shocked that I lean forward and press my forehead against his.
“Yes, I’m serious.”
“Holy... holy fuck, Lilly.” He scoops me up and lays me flat against the mattress, where he cups my cheek gently and stares into my eyes. “You’re really going to stay?”
“Yes, as long as that doesn’t change anything between us.”
“What do you mean?”
