Chapter 9 - Eleanor
My father’s getting married tomorrow. Clair is thrilled with everything. Every single detail has been accounted for. Even my dress is perfect, but I can’t pull my mind from Wade. He hasn’t been cold, not really. Just confusing.
I know I want him. I feel it in every beat of my heart, whether he’s around or not. We’ve managed a few conversations where he doesn’t back away from my flirting, but he gets this guilty look in his eyes whenever my father is around. I know he wants me. I was sure of it after the night we shared together. He opened up about some of his thoughts, told me about a future he has in mind, told me plenty about his past, but never about his feelings.
So I slip out of my window for old time sake and sit in the garden. Everything is perfect. The flowers fill the air with their scent and the full moon lights everything. I close my eyes to embrace it when a shadow falls across me.
Opening my eyes, I almost jump, but Wade flicks on a lantern to calm my nerves. I put a hand to my chest. “You scared me!”
“I was going to help you escape from your room this time,” he informs.
I pat the ground next to me, but Wade offers me his hand instead. I take it and he tugs me up and against him. He wraps his arm around me and presses his face to my hair. He exhales. “I know I’ve been confusing you.”
“A lot. It’s annoying. I prefer you doing other things,” I grumble.
“Like?”
“Kissing me, laughing with me, holding me, teasing me, touching me,” I whisper. “I know this is complicated. I get that, but ... I like you more than I dislike the complications, Wade.”
“You know I’m eighteen years older than you. That your father is my best friend,” he says, searching my eyes.
“I knew that from the start and it doesn’t change anything. I’m sure of what I feel, I ...” I swallow. “I’m not sure of a lot. I know what job I want and that’s it. I never thought beyond that. Then I see you again and something clicks into place. But if it’s not the same for you ... just tell me.”
His arm tightens around me. I feel every breath he takes until my breathing syncs with his. He studies my face, then kisses me softly. His lips mold to mine like they’re meant to. I inhale his cologne, savor the feel of him wrapped around me, strong and sure.
“I love you, Eleanor. Even with the complications, our differences, everything, I’ve fallen in love with you,” he admits. “It nearly fell out of my mouth so many times on the night we spent together.”
My mouth opens, then closes.
“I want to keep saying it. I want a whole lot more nights together so you can hear it again and again, so I get to learn more reasons to love you. Until I know you better than anyone and can call you mine with your father and friends around us,” he says slowly. He doesn’t look away, he doesn’t rush.
My knees weaken. I take a breath that doesn’t reach my lungs. “I love you too. You’re ... I still don’t have the words.”
“We’ll find them. We’ll read the dictionary if we have to,” he promises, kissing me again. It’s slow and decadent. It’s everything I need. The confusion over the last few days evaporates.
What’s a few days to knowing he loves me?
He rests his forehead against mine. “Are you willing to try a relationship with me, despite all our complications?”
“I want to commit to a relationship with you. It could be messy, probably will be, but I want complicated as long as it’s with you,” I promise.
He groans and kisses me again. He holds me closer, then leads me to his cabin. “From now on, when you sneak out, it’s to see me.”
“I can’t think of a better reason,” I giggle.
“And we don’t need to sneak around. Your father knows,” he informs with a chuckle. “Which means I’m dancing with you at the wedding before anyone else can get any ideas.”
I laugh, but squeeze his hand, pulling myself closer. Messy and complicated with Wade is better than easy and simple with anyone else. Anytime he touches me, I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Anytime we kiss, I’m sure life can’t get better. But it will. Because I know Wade and he will never settle for ‘fine’ when we can work together and make something perfect.
That’s the future I’m signing up for with him.