Nat let out a teary snort as she bent down to pick up the little frog. Her face lit up as she dangled the charm in front of my face. “I didn’t realize you had a stowaway.”
“Bernice wanted to come. And I knew I’d need all the luck I could get for this.”
Nat’s body softened, and she met my eyes. A wave of emotions slammed into me, but I took a breath. I had to get it all out.
“Listen, I’m so sorry I pushed you away. The truth is, I was scared. Scared to risk everything again. I thought love and I were not compatible, and each of my failed relationships only proved that. After Gia, I convinced myself that it was better to avoid it altogether. I just thought there was no way I was going to put myself on the line for love again, but you made me realize that you’re worth risking it all for. You’re the one I want to be good enough for. No, not just good enough. I want to be worthy of you. I want to put my all into each day to prove to you over and over again that I can be the man you deserve.”
I grabbed Nat’s hand and brought it to my lips, kissing it gently. Her nails were newly polished in a subdued pink color, instead of a bright one, like she usually wore. It wasn’t her. None of this was.
“I was wrong. You picked the right person. And I’m so sorry, princess. I’m sorry I froze that night. I’m sorry I didn’t hold you and kiss you and say it back. Because I do love you, Natalie. I’m so in love with you it hurts. And I want you to move in with me for real, if you want. Maybe that’s too fast?” I pushed on before she could answer me. I hadn’t meant to blurt that one out, even if it was true. “What I’m trying to say is, I’m all in. I want to be your person, because you’re already mine. I want to be your landing place. And I’m not going to fight this anymore.”
Now it was Nat’s turn to make me wait an agonizingly long time, during which I nearly turned tail and ran, until suddenly she was in my arms.
“You love me?” Her voice wavered as she stared into my eyes. She knew how to break me apart and put me back together with one look. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. It pained me that she’d question it and that it had taken me so long to come to this conclusion when it was so obvious. But I never shied away from hard work, and if Nat needed more, I’d prove it to her every single day.
“Yeah, Nat, I’m sure. I know what I need now. And it’s you.”
She smiled, and it filled me with hope. “Even when I ruin a good song by playing it to death?” She threw my words back at me, but there was no heat in them.
“Silence is overrated.”
“What about when I can’t go to sleep until our space is cleaned?”
“Well, you know I have insomnia, so I won’t be going to bed until then, anyway. We can do it together.”
“That’s the hottest thing you’ve ever?—”
Our lips found each other, our bodies melding as if we were two magnets finally coming together. I ran my fingers up the side of her face and clung to her as she tightened her hold around my neck. I never wanted to let her go. She gave me one more kiss and held onto me, as I looked deep into her eyes.
“I’m not moving in with you. Pretty sure it’s too soon for us to live together.”
I loved that her attitude was back. That teasing tone I wanted to hear forever.
I pulled back and looked at her face. All her tears had dried up. She was so beautiful. My thumb glided across the apple of her cheek.Nat loves me.She wanted this, too. The thoughtfilled the aching chasm in my chest, making me feel secure. Everything clicked into place. I never wanted to let her go.
She’d been right all along. This was worth fighting for, and I’d spend my days proving that to her.
“As long as you’re coming back to Starlight, I’ll be happy.” I tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. “You’ll always have family there, and you’ll always have me.” I kissed her softly before taking her hand. “Come on, princess, let’s go home.”
Epilogue
JACK
One week later
I’d woken Nat up with hot chocolate every morning this week.
We still had a little over two months of the camp season left, and it’d been a little strange at first, with the competition being over, but we hadn’t fully let go of our tenacious natures. We’d do dumb shit like race to see who could get the mail from Hazel first. Or we’d casually practice archery together, and even though she always kicked my ass, I still believed I’d get her one of these days. And there was the ongoing swimming rematch we’d never let go. Autumn was getting fed up with us taking her lake and growing tired of judging our dumb swimming competitions. Our races were always closer than I’d like to admit.
Every day with Nat was simply fun. She lit up my world with her presence. She sang in the shower and danced when we made dinner together. Some days she’d even wake up to go bird-watching with me.
She knew that it would take work to help her through her baggage. She’d had a virtual therapy appointment yesterday and planned to keep up with it because, as she put it, she’d beenslacking. After seeing Nat taking steps to get back into therapy, I decided to start going as well. So just last night, I’d researched local Wildwood doctors since I preferred to meet face to face.
Every night this week, I’d held her at the campfire. Sometimes Autumn and Jamie would hang out with us, but Hazel and Leo were the ones who put up with our antics the most.
Today, however, I was owning up to my defeat.
