Imove my hands to grasp both sides of her face. “You do?” I smile, feeling my soul hum to life again.
When I heard that rumor in the coffee shop earlier today, it gutted me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go after her or sit with my feelings. Thankfully, Henry talked me down because if I had gone to New York, we wouldn’t be here now.
“Yes,” she breathes, tears beading in the corners of her eyes.
“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear you say that. Well, say it again,” I admit, thinking back to the first time she told me that eight years ago.
Her laugh gurgles up between a quiet sob. Her entire body is shaking, but I barely notice because I’m keeping us both rock solid. “I meant it then, and I mean it now.”
Unable to hold back, I let my laughter mix with hers. But it feels like more than that. It feels like the first real breath I’ve taken in years. “Are you sure you’re ready for this, Bambi? Because I meant what I said. I’m not letting you go again.”
She nods, letting her arms drape around my body and pulling me flush against her. “That’s good because I’m donefighting you. Us. I’m ready to stop pretending that loving you is a mistake.”
“I’m pretty sure you said something similar when you swore you hated me at the beginning of the summer,” I chuckle, remembering that even though the scowl had disappeared, there was always bright, burning passion behind those vibrant green pupils.
She laughs again, causing one of the tears to trickle down her face. I catch it with my thumb and swipe it across her cheek.
“I’m baring my soul here and you still want to make jokes.”
“That’s our thing, baby,” I smirk, my eyes dipping to her mouth.
“That’s your thing,” she murmurs, fighting the smile cresting on her lips. “I can’t believe I almost took Eve’s advice.”
“And what was that?” I ask, quirking one brow.
Her lips curl into a nervous grin. “She wanted me to do the scene from the movie,Say Anything. She’s a sucker for that kind of thing.”
I peek around her, looking into the cab of the truck. “I don’t see a boom box, Bambi.”
She closes her eyes, blinking away more stray tears. I catch every single one. “I was pressed for time, so I was going to use a mini speaker.”
I scoff with a smile flaring on my face. “You can’t take shortcuts when it comes to romantic gestures.”
“Oh, please,” she smiles, leaning into my touch, “we both know you would’ve ate it up.”
She’s right. “Show me.”
“What?” she asks, the humor slipping from her face. It’s replaced with a red and fiery blush painted all over her cheeks.
“I want to see what you were going to do. Let’s pretend like this never happened. I’m going to go up to my place, and you do your thing.”
I take one big step before she grabs my forearm with a pleading look. “Come on, Knox. This is silly.”
“Wow!” I exclaim. “You think our love is silly?”
She giggles, dropping her hold. “God, you ruin everything.”
“That’s right, Bambi. And later I’m going to ruin you…after you woo me with a cheesy display of affection.”
Emery’s cheeks flare up more, which makes me want to skip the theatrics and throw her over my shoulder. Then again, we have the rest of our lives to make up for lost time. “Fine. If that’s what you want, then let’s do this. But you’re staying down here.”
“So bossy,” I hum, crossing my arms. “I like it when you tell me what to do.”
“Good,” she smiles, “get used to it.”
Excitement gathers in my chest, and a feeling close to contentment settles there. I take a few steps back, giving her time to get set up. Amusement vibrates through me as she holds the tiny blue speaker over her head.
I’m not sure what I’m expecting to hear, but it isnotthe song I used to make her smile that night at the Rustic Inn.
