32. Miles Day
“Don’t make us late,” Fitz says from the back seat as I pull into Ellie’s driveway. I’ve rented an SUV to drive us all to the airport together so we didn’t have to take separate cars.
“How would I make us late?” I unbuckle my seatbelt and press the button that opens up the trunk.
“You’re in love, and newly in love at that. I don’t want to miss our flight because you two were making out.”
Jada giggles at his words. I roll my eyes.
“We won’t be late.”
I get out of the car and walk up to Ellie’s door. Shades of blue and pink paint the early morning sky. The wind blows the chimes on her porch, creating a peaceful scene that is a balm to my nerves. I’m excited for the tournament this weekend, but it’s also nervewracking. I need all the calm I can get.
Before I can even knock on the door, it opens to reveal a smiling Ellie wearing my U.S. Open sweatshirt I gave her yesterday to add to her closet. A matching grin stretches across my face as she throws her arms around my neck. I breathe in her honeyed citrus scent and hold her tight.
“Good morning, Red,” I say into her curls.
“How are you feeling?” She doesn’t move out of my arms, instead one of her hands starts to rub up and down my back.
“Nervous, but excited too. I think once I’m there I’ll be fine.”
She lifts her head off my chest to look up at me. “Then let’s get you there.” I press a soft kiss to her smiling lips. “My bags are in my bedroom, if you want to help me get them.”
I follow her inside. The strong floral scent that I’ve come to associate with her home greets me. I take her suitcase out to the trunk while she totes her carry-on bag. Both get thrown in the back before I open the passenger door for her to get in.
“Oh! I left my laptop on my kitchen island. I was watching a movie yesterday while making the arrangements for Diane and I forgot to put it in my bag.”
“I’ll go get it, you get settled in and enjoy your coffee,” I say, gesturing to the cupholder.
“You’re the best.” She hands me her keys.
“I know,” I reply with a wink.
She rolls her eyes. “That ruins it.”
“I agree,” Fitz chimes in from the backseat. I shoot him an unamused look.
“I’ll be right back,” I say drily then walk back to Ellie’s door.
I find her laptop easily, but pause at her fridge. The collage I saw when I was here taking care of her catches my eye. There are a few new pictures. I smile at one of a sopping wet Archie with a big smile on his chubby face. But there’s one that has my throat tightening with emotion. Right in the middle of all the memories with her friends and family is a photo of me playing golf. She must have taken it the day she tagged along with me.
The last time I looked at this collage I thought I’d never be in it. That I’d never be good enough to be a treasured memory to anyone, especially not someone as beautiful and perfect as Ellie. And now here I am, right in the middle under a pink heart magnet.
“Miles, is it not in here? I swear I left it on the counter–” she cuts off as I turn around, my eyes stinging. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say with a wobbly smile. “Everything is perfect.” I gesture to the fridge. “I didn’t know you took this photo.”
Her concern melts into something warm and soft. “I wanted to remember that day. I have some more from the beach, and a few from when Shaw and Sutton were here. I have to print them out still, but I printed that one the same day I took it.”
The same day. So the day after I thought I’d never have this–have her–she was putting me on her fridge.
“I love you,” I say and she closes the distance between us, threading her arms around my neck.
“I love you too.” She looks up at me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I smile. “Yes, I’m not used to this is all.”
“Being in a relationship?” she questions.
“Feeling so deeply,” I clarify. Her face flushes pink. I lean down and press a kiss to each of her cheeks, then her nose, then her lips.
She pulls me closer, deepening the kiss with a fervor that catches me off guard, but not for long. I don’t waste any time lifting her up onto the kitchen island so I can kiss her better. She rakes her fingers through my hair, eliciting a low growl from me. Her legs wrap around my waist so I can press even closer. She tastes like sea salt caramel and I’ve decided that it’s my new favorite flavor. My hands dig into her hips and she makes a little sound in the back of her throat that sets every nerve in my body alight.
A loud honking noise has us pulling back.
“I’m going to kill Fitz,” I growl and Ellie lets out a breathless laugh.
“You need a caddy for this weekend.”
“I can make do.”
She laughs again. “We really should go. Missing our flight is a stressor you don’t need.”
“Kissing you is worth missing the whole weekend.” I drag my thumb across her full bottom lip. She sucks in a breath. “If Fitz and Jada weren’t waiting outside…” I trail off, implying my thoughts with a brush of my lips against hers.
She hums in agreement. The horn sounds again and I groan while Ellie laughs. I pick her up off the island and place her back on her feet, then grab her laptop with one hand and her hand in the other.
She brings our joined hands up to her lips, kissing the back of mine. “We’ll have plenty of time when you’ve won and we’re back home.”
Home. I know she means Coastal Cove, but standing here in her little cottage filled with more color than my house has ever seen has me thinking for the first time in my life that it might be nice to share a house. A life. I’m not ready to jump into anything, but the notion doesn’t scare me as much as before.
“I’m looking forward to it.” I squeeze her hand.
We walk outside and Fitz sticks his head out the window. “We’re going to be late.”
“No, we’re not,” I say as I open the passenger door for Ellie.
“You were making out, weren’t you?” Fitz asks. Ellie’s face turns bright red.
“Fitz, stop talking,” I say before I shut the door.
“I’m just saying, there will be plenty of time to make out once we’re in North Carolina,” Fitz continues after I get in the car. “Or even on the plane after we’ve checked in.”
“Jada, do me a favor and duct tape your husband’s mouth shut before I make him walk to the airport.”
I back out of the driveway and start on the road out of Ellie’s neighborhood.
“I’d make it there faster walking than with you two. Maybe we should duct tape your mouth shut so you aren’t tempted to slow us down anymore.”
“I think I’ve changed my mind. You can fire him,” Ellie chimes in. “I’m sure we can find you another caddy before the tournament starts.”
“Hey!” Fitz protests.
“Please don’t fire him,” Jada says. “I don’t think anyone else would put up with him.”
I burst into laughter.
“I can’t believe this. My own wife is against me,” Fitz laments.
“I’m just telling the truth,” Jada says through a laugh that turns into a squeal. In the rearview mirror I spy Fitz leaned over tickling her. I shake my head at them, a smile on my lips.
Ellie rests her hand on the console between us. I take it in mine and kiss hers the same way she did in her house. She gives me a smile full of love and warmth. Everything feels lighter. With my friends laughing in the backseat, and the woman I love beside me, I feel at peace and ready to go reclaim my title.