9. Rena
9
RENA
I take a deep breath as I walk up to the resort entrance, my mind made up. I've decided to tell Madison that I'm going to transfer to in-person classes at the end of the semester. As much as I love the scenery here and the friends I've made at the resort, it's time for a change, a chance to move away from Heartwood and start my life over. It feels drastic, and it is.
But as I approach the door to the lodge, I freeze. Aaron is standing there, looking nervous and holding a bouquet of wildflowers. My heart skips a beat, and I feel a rush of emotions—surprise, anger, and longing.
"Rena," he says softly, his deep blue eyes meeting mine. "Can we talk?"
I hesitate, torn between the urge to run and the desire to hear what he has to say. The wildflowers tremble slightly in his hand, and I realize this is probably the first romantic gesture he's made in a long time.
"Please," he adds, his voice rough with emotion.
I nod slowly, and he steps closer, holding out the bouquet. I take it, my fingers brushing his, and I feel that familiar spark between us.
"I'm sorry," he begins, his words coming out in a rush. "I've been an idiot. I got scared, and I pushed you away, but I never meant to hurt you."
I feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "You did hurt me, Aaron. I was really enjoying getting to know you. I felt a spark I've never felt before and thought you felt the same. I thought we had something special."
"We do," he insists, reaching for my hand. "I know that now. I was just too stubborn and afraid to admit it."
He takes a deep breath, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on the back of my hand. "I'm in love with you, Rena. I have been since the first time I met you at the speed dating event. And I know I don't deserve another chance, but I'm hoping you'll give me one anyway."
My heart is pounding in my chest. I've dreamed of hearing those words from him, but I never thought it would actually happen. I look down at the wildflowers, then back up at his earnest face.
"I love you too, Aaron," I whisper, a tear slipping down my cheek. "But I need to know that you're ready for this, for us. No more running away when things get real. I was about to walk in there, hand my notice in, and leave this place."
He takes my other hand, his calloused fingers entwining with mine. "Rena, when my parents divorced, it was ugly. They fought constantly, and it felt like love turned into this toxic, destructive thing. I told myself I'd never let that happen to me. That's why I've always kept to myself, kept things superficial."
His eyes search mine, vulnerability shining through. "But with you, it's different. You make me want to take that risk, to open up and let myself fall. I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready to try if you are."
I squeeze his hands, my heart swelling with love and understanding. "I'm scared too, Aaron. I've got so much on my plate with work and school, and I worry about losing myself in a relationship. But I also know that I've never felt the way I do right now with anyone else. I'm willing to work at it, to find that balance together."
Just then, a loud crack of thunder makes us both jump. We look up to see dark clouds rolling in, and suddenly, the skies open, rain pouring down in heavy sheets.
"Come on!" Aaron shouts over the downpour, pulling me towards the resort's pavilion.
We run hand in hand, laughing as the rain soaks through our clothes. By the time we reach the shelter of the pavilion, we're both drenched, water dripping from our hair and faces.
But as we catch our breath, the laughter fades, replaced by a charged tension. Aaron reaches out, brushing a wet strand of hair from my cheek. His touch sends a shiver through me that has nothing to do with the cold rain.
"Rena," he murmurs, his voice low.
And then he's kissing me, his lips warm and insistent against mine. I melt into him, my arms winding around his neck as I kiss him back with all the pent-up passion of the past few weeks. The rain drums on the gazebo roof, cocooning us in our own private world as we lose ourselves in each other.
Aaron's kiss sends a surge of heat through my body, warming me from the inside out despite the chilly weather. His hands slide down my back, pulling me flush against him, and I can feel the hard planes of his chest through our wet clothes.
I tangle my fingers in his damp hair, deepening the kiss and pouring all my love and longing into it. His tongue brushes mine, and I moan softly, the sound swallowed by the pounding rain.
We break apart, both breathing heavily, our foreheads touching. Aaron's eyes are dark with desire, but there's a tenderness there, too, a vulnerability that makes my heart ache.
"I want to be with you, Rena," he whispers, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it."
I brush my nose against his, a smile tugging at my lips. "I want to be with you too, Aaron. And I forgive you. But let's agree - no more running, from either of us. We face things together from now on."
He nods, a smile spreading across his handsome face. "Together. I like the sound of that."
He leans in to kiss me again, softly this time—a promise of all the kisses to come.