“It was nothing, Emma. You deserve that and so much more,” he says before reaching up to brush my cheek.
I lean into his touch, not wanting him to leave but knowing he had to. “Goodnight, Henry," I whisper.
“Goodnight,Mi Cariño.”
I watch him leave, the door closing quietly behind him, and for a moment, I’m left in the thick silence of the room.
My body aches with the want he left behind and the promises he holds for the future. In this moment, all the questions I’ve been carrying about the future, about what this means for us, seem distant. Because, for once, I’m not thinking about what comes next. I’m just thinking about being with him.
CHAPTER 20
The library was unusually quiet for a Wednesday afternoon. I can hear the clicking sound of each key from my computer ping off the silence. It was a comforting noise. One that was rare inside the home of a single mom. I reveled in it.
Thanks to Henry's help, I was ready to submit my last English paper of the semester. The brightsubmitbutton stood out on the computer screen, taunting me. I hovered my mouse over it, nerves and relief tangling together as I prepared to be done with the class for good.
After a few more seconds, I take a deep breath and rip off the Band-Aid. When a tiny box pops up on my screen, I smile in relief at the confirmation and lean back in my chair. I was done.
No more late-night revisions, no more obsessing over word counts or formatting. Just sweet, sweet freedom—at least until next semester.
Stretching my arms above my head, I let the tension in my shoulders unravel. A sense of accomplishment bloomed in my chest. Sure, it was just one paper, but it felt like climbing a mountain.
My gaze drifts across the library, the familiar rows of books stretching endlessly. My mind wanders to the future like it does most days when I get a moment of peace.
Once the comforting blanket of summer retired into fall, I needed to start thinking about what was next for Milo and me.
Whenever I think about this topic, one thing remains consistent. I need to do what’s best for Milo. Except now, a different face comes to mind—one with a kind smile and thick glasses that seem to see right through me.
I shake my head, a smile tugging at my lips. Henry somehow weaseled his way into my mental equation, slipping into my thoughts in the quiet moments. It wasn’t just how he helped me with my paper or how he listened when I needed to vent—it was something deeper. He made me feel like I wasn’t carrying the weight of the world alone.
But one unanswered question sits in the back of my mind. Something I’ve avoided because I didn’t think our friendship would develop into feelings.
Henry wasn’t a permanent fixture of this town. He was simply passing through, and I knew his time in Honey Grove had an expiration date. He was only here for the summer, and I wasn’t sure what would happen in less than a month. I needed to figure that out before I let myself get too invested.
The sound of light footsteps pulls me from my thoughts. Glancing toward the library entrance, I spot Henry walking through the double doors. His usual satchel is slung over his shoulder, and his hair is slightly mussed as if he’d been running his hands through it.
My heart did that annoying little skip it had learned recently, and I quickly turned back to my screen, pretending to be engrossed in something other than him. Maybe I was already in too deep.
“Pajarito,” his familiar, warm, and casual voice greets me. It makes me think about the last time I saw him, how goodhis hands felt, and how incredibly sweet he was. Thank God I decided to wear blush today.
I count to three before looking up, offering what I hope is a relaxed smile. “Hey, Henry. You’re here early.”
He grinned. It was the kind of smile that made my stomach flip. “Yeah, I am. I guess I couldn’t wait any longer to see you.”
Now, I’m sure my blush isn’t working because my face feels like it’s on fire. I roll my eyes to cover up my pure swooning for this man. “Cute.”
He lets out a small laugh and shakes his head, deciding to move on from his shameless flirting. “How’s the paper? Did you turn it in yet?”
I can’t stop the triumphant smile from spreading across my face. “Submitted. I’m officially done.”
“Look at you,” he sings, his tone laced with pride. “I think this calls for a celebration.”
“Oh, really?” I say, eager to hear his suggestion. “What did you have in mind?”
“Dinner at my place this Friday night. Milo is with his dad that night, right?”
“Yes.” I smile, trying to keep unsavory thoughts from obliterating my mind. My mouth waters at the idea of being alone with Henry.
He opens his mouth to respond, but before he can say anything, a loud sniffle catches our attention. We see Julia sitting at a nearby table with her head bowed, clearly upset.
