But that guy is off my property now, cruising into custody.
There are still too many people here though—Chris and Daveed, Haven and Wanda, Grandma and Vega—when I only want to be with the man holding me.
So I can tell him how I feel.
I’ve hardly had a chance to think about what it means that he’sstill here. But he called me his girlfriend, and I can’t help but love that. Even so, I’m going to say my piece as soon as I get a second alone with him.
Grandma hugs me one more time, making sure I’m okay, then Haven clears her throat and says, “Everyone leave.”
I blink. Whoa. “Someone’s bossy.”
“Yes, that was the whole point of my coming here. Go and enjoy your midnight picnic,” she tells me.
Right, the picnic. I’d forgotten about that, but Chris and Daveed picked up the food in the maze that Hudson didn’t eat. I’m not hungry, though, so Haven thrusts the picnic basket at Grandma, and Banks says to me, “Your sister makes a good point. We should enjoy this.”
And I do want to be alone with him desperately, but still, I ask Haven, “What did you mean—why you’re here?”
But she waves me off and heads to Wanda’s car. Another switcheroo.
I don’t bother with the hostess thing and say good night. I just wave and head to the cottage with the man and the dog.
Banks keeps his arm around me the whole time, his fingers running along my arm like he can’t bearnotto touch me.
When we reach the cottage, I say, “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“There’s something I want to tell you too,” he says, reaching for the doorknob.
“You go first,” we say in unison, then laugh.
He opens the door, holding it for my dog and me. I’m aboutto sayI’m in love with youwhen my gaze lands on a sea of origami on the bed.
My hand flies to my mouth. “What is that?” I ask, breathless, full of wonder.
“It’s for you.” He sounds nervous but hopeful—the opposite of how he was thirty minutes ago in the maze when he was tough and terrifying.
I love all sides of him, including this tender, romantic one.
“I enlisted your sister’s help to keep you busy so I could do this,” he explains.
So that’s what Haven meant.
I walk slowly to the bed, in awe of the gorgeous array of pink, red, and white folded letters of the alphabet.
I pick up the first one. It’s the letterI. Then I read the others, neatly arranged on the bed.
I’m sorry.
I love you.
Let’s try again.
So simple. So…everything.
I can’t believe he professed his love to me in origami. Emotions swim up my chest, filling me with joy and happiness, with possibility and soul-deep love. I spin around, my throat tight as I say, “I love you too. So much.”
Banks crosses the room in a flash, lifts me in his arms, and holds me close. “I’m so glad you’re okay. When I saw that guy with his hands on you, all I could think was I can’t let him hurt the love of my life.”
The intensity of those words echoes like a loud, bright bell. “The love of your life?” I ask, looking back at him.
