“You do? You can’t take it back. Don’t take–”
“I’minlove with you, Harlow Madden. I love you, and I’m in love with you,” Larissa told her and wrapped her arms around Harlow’s neck. “I’ve told you that I loved you before, but I wanted to make sure that I was clear: I aminlove with you.”
“I’m in love with you, too,” she said. “So, I’m moving in?”
Larissa laughed and wiped another tear away.
“I would love that. I know it’s a drive for you to get back and forth from work, so maybe we can figure something out where we rent something a little closer to your office that’s not too far from campus for me.”
“We can talk about that later,” Harlow said. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
“Is this because you wanted thatalonetime earlier?”
“Yes. Shut up.” She pulled Larissa, who was her girlfriend now, in closer, kissed her softly, and added, “I love you. I can’t believe I get to say that whenever I want now.”
“I love you, too,” Larissa replied.
Harlow walked them down the hallway and into Larissa’s bedroom, which, she assumed, they’d calltheirbedroom from now on until they decided what to do about their living situation. Then, she removed Larissa’s clothes, took off her own, and climbed on top of her, kissing every inch of Larissa’s gorgeous body before she finally took Larissa with her mouth.
“Harlow!” Larissa yelled when she came. “Yes, baby! Yes!”
Harlow smiled and helped Larissa come down before she climbed back on top of her.
“I get it now,” Larissa told her when their eyes met.
“Get what, beautiful?” she asked, pushing Larissa’s hair away from her face.
“I know why I wanted to write the book everyone kept telling me not to worry about right now.”
“Youdo? Why?”
“Because I was finally ready for this, but I didn’t know it yet. It’s like this book brought us even closer together. We heard people talking about their own love stories, and we realized that we were living one of our own. You worked up the courage to ask me out in part because of it, and I said yes. I think I was supposed to write it because it would bring me to you.”
Harlow smiled down at her and said, “Well, now, youhaveto finish it.”
“Wewill. Co-authors. Written by Harlow Madden and Larissa Hanson. What do you think?”
“Dr. Larissa Hanson? I only date doctors, remember?” she teased.
“I’ll finish that, too. Now, kiss me,” Larissa ordered.
Harlow leaned down and connected their lips. Nothing had ever felt better in her entire life. Larissa was right: they’d been living this love story all along, and it was only just beginning.
EPILOGUE
Two years later
“Happy graduation,” Aggie said.
“Yeah, happy graduation,” Henry added, holding up his champagne glass.
“Thank you,” Harlow replied and held up her own glass while she watched Larissa chase four-year-old Nathan around the room.
“You sure you two don’t want any?” Aggie asked. “My sister seems pretty obsessed with mine right now.”
“No, she’s not!” Larissa yelled. “He took my phone and won’t give it back.”
“Nathan!”
