“Yes.”
Harper smiles at me. “Do you even remember what you said?”
I nod. “That leaving you was my biggest regret? I remember.”
Resting her hand over my chest, Harper traces the Knights logo there. “It makes me glad I didn’t leave.”
“Why not?”
Harper looks torn. Like she doesn’t know if she should tell me what she’s about to say. I don’t say a word. Whatever it is, I want to hear it.Needto hear it. All I want to hear is how much she wants me to stay.
“Because then you wouldn’t be with me right now.”
That confession has me pressing my lips to hers.
Holy. Fuck.
Every single nerve of mine lights on fire at the soft touch. It’s heaven and hell all at once. Because now that I’ve had the briefest taste of her, I don’t know if I can live without it again.
Before I have the chance to second-guess myself and pull away, she leans into the kiss.
It feels just as right—just as good—as it ever did. It’s tender and sweet and it reminds me of everything that was missing in my life.
Her.
Harper.
Harper Smith was the only woman that ever matteredto me. And with one kiss, every reason why she was the one that mattered most slams into my head.
The way she cared for me. Loved me. Never let my success go to my head. With Harper, everything was easy. Life was good with her.
This kiss has me moving my fingers into her hair to hold her to me. I swallow the soft gasp and swipe my tongue over her bottom lip. She tastes like the strawberry shortcake lip balm she always used to use.
New and familiar all at the same time.
I want to stay here. Relearn everything about Harper that I’ve missed these last seven years. But the school bell ringing brings me back to reality.
Harper pulls back, but doesn’t go far. Her fingers have a tight grip on my wrist that is still cupping her cheek.
Her verypinkcheeks.
What I wouldn’t give to stay here with her for hours. Get lost in her. Learn all the things I’ve missed these last few years.
But I can’t.
“I need to get the girls.”
“Right,” she whispers. She gives my wrist one last squeeze before scooting out from under the desk and standing. I follow her, staying close.
The rain has slowed to a gentle patter against the window. Harper shuffles the papers on her desk, tucking her hair behind her ear. I don’t miss the way she fights the smile playing on her face.
“Looks like the storm passed,” I tell her, backing out of the room. I can’t get enough of her. My eyes stay locked on her beautiful face.
Harper smiles up at me. “Yeah, I guess it did. All storms do, right?”
“Yeah. I guess they do.”
Chapter Nineteen
