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Her chest is heaving as she breathes, “I love you, Drew.”

I duck down and pull her into a hug, which leaves half of my body awkwardly hanging out of the vehicle, But I don’t care, I have to touch her. She returns the embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck, then kisses me, hard. Like she’s desperate and this could be her last chance to kiss me.

We’re cold and wet and there’s a storm brewing all around us, but I’m completely oblivious to anything but the warmth of her lips on mine. The sky might be grey and cold, but my body is all sunshine and rainbows.

I pull away and put my hands on both sides of her face. “I love you too, Sophie.”

She smiles and her chin quivers. Her face is already so wet I can’t tell if she’s crying or not. A sharp crack of lightning in the sky brings us back to our surroundings.

“Would you two get in the pickup already!” Conner yells.

We look over and see his head peeking out of the passenger window. Effortlessly, I pick Sophie up and carry her in my arms as I wade back through the water. Conner has moved to the front seat so I open the backdoor and Sophie and I pile in.

Her teeth are chattering and her body shakes with a shiver. I grab my sleeping bag from the seat next to her, unravel it and wrap it around both of us. Sophie raises her chin, and her eyes meet mine. I smile at her before going in for another kiss. She kisses me back without restraint.

We hear someone clear their throat from the front seat and I glance up to see James in the rearview mirror.

“You guys realize we’re still here, right?” He asks.

Conner punches him in the arm. “Leave them alone, they’re in love, man.”

Once we make it back to James’s house, I give Sophie a pair of dry sweats and a t-shirt to change into. They’re going to be gigantic on her, but she was freezing in her soaked sundress. I change into some sports shorts and a hoodie in one of the guest rooms, and then walk back into the upstairs living room.

Conner and James have made themselves scarce, probably retreating to the basement to play video games.

I sit on James’s plush grey sofa and wait for Sophie. She comes out of the bathroom in the hallway with her wet hair pulled up into a messy bun and wearing my clothes. I swear I could drop down and propose to her in that instant. Something about seeing a woman wearing your clothes brings out the primal urge to wife her up.

Sophie smiles as she walks into the room. She doesn’t even bother sitting next to me. Instead, she drops down right into my lap. And I’m definitely not complaining.

“I’m so sorry for not telling you about Penny.” I nuzzle my face into the side of her neck.

She smells amazing, like flowers mixed with how I imagine a rainforest would smell.

“I’m sorry for not listening.” She leans back so she can see my face. “Emily came over last night. She told me everything.”

My eyes widen. I wasn’t sure when Emily would be willing to talk to her, or if she would end up deciding not to open up about it. She hasn’t even been willing to talk to me about what happened. Her therapist must really be helping.

“Really, she did?”

“You’re such a wonderful man, Drew. I think it’s amazing that you adopted Penny. And that Emily still gets to be in her life.”

My eyes fill with tears, but I blink them away. “It means so much to me to hear you say that.”

“I mean it. You lost your parents and then stepped in to raise your sister, and then Penny. All without complaint. I see how much you love them, and how well you’ve taken care of them.” She smooths her hand down the side of my face. “I’m so lucky to be loved by you.”

I lean in so our foreheads rest against each other. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too. So, no more secrets, right?”

I kiss her again. “No more secrets.”