“What happened to the speech?” I ask her.
“I think it will be better if you improvise,” she says.
Avery walks past me. In a warning voice, she says, “This better be good.”
And then Hallie’s here, in front of me.
“You should put your leg up, Greyson. The doctor said to keep it elevated.”
“I will,” I say. “After I tell you what I need to say.”
She stands a few feet away from me, just out of reach.
“If Zach were here …” I shake my head, at a loss for words. “What I mean is …” I clear my throat, looking her in the eyes.
She takes a step closer. “What is it, Greyson?”
I search her face. Then I take a breath and say, “I choose you.”
“You … ?” Her brows lift and her eyes soften.
“I choose you,” I repeat myself.
I’ll tell her every day if she needs me to.
“Remember when I told you about DC and you said you wouldn’t be the reason I stayed?”
She nods. Her voice is soft and careful. “Yes.”
“What if you were?” I ask. “What if being with you and Mia is enough to keep me here in Waterford?”
She takes another step. She’s close enough that I could reach out to touch her, but I don’t. Not yet.
“What about the risk?” she asks, her voice thick with emotion.
“Life is risk, Hallie. Someone told me that recently. Just today, actually. Love is risk.”
I reach out, running my hand through her hair. “And I love you.”
“You …” She tilts her head, resting it in my palm. “I love you too, Greyson.”
I brush my thumb down her cheek and the tension in my body bleeds away.
I lean on my crutches, propelling myself toward her. I wobble slightly and she reaches out to grasp my elbow. I stabilize my crutches and pull Hallie into my arms, breathing her in and holding her close.
She tilts her face up and I kiss her, softly brushing my lips over hers.
This isn’t a kiss full of desire or chemistry. It’s a reunion and a promise.
She carefully loops her arms around my neck, holding on and kissing me.
Hallie pulls back, whispering my name, “Greyson.”
I rest my forehead on hers. “Hallie.”
She sighs and a soft smile takes over her face.
“I was such an idiot,” I say. “I meant to lead with that.”
