“You might not know about my fam—“ Her fingers touched my lips to get me to shut up, but I simply kissed the tips.
“I know. I’ve heard. I mean…” Her shoulder rose and fell. “I was born and raised in Moonlit, Austin. I don’t think there is a resident who hasn’t heard some kind of hushed whisper about the cursed Hart men.” A muscle on my jaw twitched. Her hands took my face in their hold, and I swallowed. “Curses aren’t real.”
“Angel—”
“They’re not,” she cut me off. Her tone matched the fierceness in her gaze. “Curses aren’t real. We make our own fate. Sure, sometimes shit happens, but that’s life.” She licked her lips. “Last year…” she started the stopped, and something in the way her fingers trembled made me frown.
“Last year, I was at my sister Alejandra’s place. Jackie and I were getting ready, and I told her…” Her voice cracked, and her eyes turned slightly glassy. “I told her she should move in with me because there was no way her apartment building was safe. I’d noticed some loose wiring and told her it could burn down. And that same night, it did.”
“Lizzy baby, that wasn’t?—”
“My sister’s apartment burnt down after I said that out loud,” she hissed. I carried her closer to the couch, not because I was tired of carrying her but because I had a feeling she needed me to be closer. I sat us down on her couch, keeping her against me, straddling my thighs.
“Listen to me, Elizabeth. You didn’t manifest that shit.”
“I know,” she whispered, but her lips trembled. “Logically, I know I didn’t manifest it. I didn’t do anything. Not any more than someone cursed the men in your family.”
“It’s not that easy?—“
“I get that. But I can understand believing that maybe you might have somehow put something out into the universe to tip things in the wrong direction. But… sometimes… sometimes, shit just happens, Austin.” I coughed away a chuckle because I didn’t want my woman to think I was laughing at her. “It does.” She pouted adorably. I ran my fingers through her hair, tucking a couple of silky strands behind her ear.
“Sometimes, shit just happens,” I repeated in a deep tone. Elizabeth nodded, her eyes wide and set on me. “And sometimes, life smiles down on you and puts a woman in your path who shows you what feeling alive actually means.” Her eyes widened with surprise. “Sometimes, life reminds you with said woman that love is possible.”
“Love?” she whispered, her hands freezing in place as she held my face.
“Love,” I repeated because it was suddenly really fucking important for me that she knew exactly where I stood.
“Love,” she repeated. I nodded then pressed my forehead against hers, probably crowding her but unable to help myself. She was already on my lap. The weight of her body on mine felt sweet, comforting even, but nowhere enough of what I needed. “Love’s pretty big stuff seeing as we only just kissed for the first time.”
“Elizabeth, I knew you were the one when I followed you that first night to make sure you got home safe.”
8
elizabeth
Elizabeth, I knew you were the one when I followed you that first night to make sure you got home safe.
The one.
I was the one.
For him.
For Austin Hart!?
For a split second, it felt like I’d entered some kind ofTwilight Zoneepisode or was the butt of some really bad joke, getting pranked on some kind of reality show. Austin Hart, the guy whom I’d had a crush on from afar in high school turned into the most eligible bachelor of our small mountain town, was talking about not just me being the one but about love.
Love.My eyes widened as his head nudged mine with a soft nod. The gesture made me realize I’d said the words out loud.
“I love you, Elizabeth.” I blinked slowly. Once. Twice. Three times. My brain couldn’t seem to process what he’d just said. What his words really meant. No one other than family had ever said that to me. I’d never been in a relationship serious enoughfor those three little words. “I love you, angel.” My hands shook. And my heart? My heart melted.
“You love me?” I repeated, the shock and awe clear in my voice. I didn’t even bother to act like I didn’t care. I didn’t have it in me. “After one innocent, little kiss?” I questioned. A voice inside my head shouted at me to shut the hell up.Why are you questioning him?! He might change his mind!
“Beautiful, there was nothing innocent about that kiss, nor was there anything innocent about all the dances we’ve shared.”
“But—“
“No buts,” he cut me off. “That kiss only made me realize just how fucking stupid I’ve been this last month,” he said with determination I would have found almost scary had it not been for the fact I thought I felt the same way about him. Holy shit! I loved Austin Hart. I was in love with him. “I’m done with hiding in the shadows, following you around?—“
