Chapter 64
sixty-four
ELLIE
I am exhausted. I wore my Converse, not thinking I should wear more comfortable shoes, and my babies were howling. I should have known better, but I didn’t think it would be as busy as it was, and that people would flock to our table.
When I get up from the chair to stretch, I look over the throng of festival goers and really notice how crowded it is. Yet I somehow manage to spot the one person that’s been on my mind all day. The bright smile that looks toward me when we lock eyes.
When I see his dad and Amy next to him, my heart feels so full and happy for Rowan. I’ve seen him happy, but not happy like this. He looks like he’s floating on air, and nothing can bring him down. Seeing him like this reminds me just how much I am head over heels for this man.
I’ve always loved him, even if I didn’t let myself have him. I feel like all the pieces are coming together in my life and I don’t regret one moment for leaving it all behind in the city. This is where I’m meant to be. With my friends, my family, and him.
“There’s my girl,” Rowan shouts as he walks closer toward us.
He’s in a simple dark blue shirt, a hat that’s backward (please calm down, ovaries), and black jeans with black Vans.
I can feel my cheeks heat up, and I tuck my bottom lip in my mouth and bite down on it, trying not to giggle like a teenage girl. His girl. I’m his. I find myself walking toward him, not realizing that I just left the table. All I see is him and the way his blue eyes sparkle in the sunlight. The dark gray swimming along with the blue.
I tilt my head all the way up, placing a hand on his solid chest, and reach up to him for a kiss. He grabs my waist, pulling me into his body, and his soft, full lips melt away all the aches in my body from the long day I’ve had.
“Hey, handsome.” I grin, not taking my eyes off him.
“How did everything go today? Did you sell out of everything like I said you would?”
I close my eyes and nod slowly, then open them back up to him. “I did. But I made sure to save some goodies for your dad and Amy, of course. We just sold the last of everything we had about twenty minutes ago.” I let out a breath of relief. “I just want to go home and lay on the couch while you rub my feet. They are painfully sore.”
He looks down at my shoes and shakes his head before saying, “I told you not to wear those. You should know better, chef.”
I pull my head back, and a smile grows on my face. “Did you just call me chef?” I bite my lip and look away, blushing again.
He bends down, his lips near my ear. “Yes, chef.”
“Well, I guess I found a new praise kink,” I utter, trying to suppress my laugh.
His lips leave my ear and trail below on my neck while he says it over and over. I can feel my knees weaken and my body screaming for him. I raise my shoulder to cover my neck and let out a laugh.
“Rowan, not here.”
“Mmm, fine.” He groans into my ear. He stands up straight and nods to Riley and Hailey in greeting.
“Here, take this,” Riley tells him, handing him a white bag filled with desserts. “This is for your dad and Amy. Do not steal any of this. It’s only for them.” She points. “Ellie, go have fun. Hailey and I can handle it from here.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind staying.”
“Rowan, take your woman and go,” Riley commands.
“Aye, aye captain.” He takes the bag, and we walk over to where his dad and Amy are.
They’re standing in front of a table where there is homemade jewelry spread across the table. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings. I scan over everything; all the sparkles and pretty colors draw me in like a moth to a flame.
“Look at these, aren’t they beautiful?” Amy asks, showing me a pair of amethyst stone earrings.
“Oh, wow, those are gorgeous,” I say.
“Do you really like them?” She hands them to me so I can look closer. The little purple crystals glimmer in the sunshine. If you turn them directly toward the light, you can see the different shades of purple that run through the stone.
“This is actually my birthstone color.” I hand them back to her with a smile.
“Oh? When is your birthday?”
“It’s in February.” I smile.
“Well, then.” She walks to the other side of the table where a woman is sitting, creating more jewelry while everyone looks around at the products. “Hello, I’d like to buy this, please.”
The woman looks up and smiles at her, quickly setting down what was in her hands and getting a small box ready. When I realize what’s happening, I walk to Amy.
“Are you getting those for yourself?” I ask curiously.
“I’m getting them for you, darling,” she tells me sweetly.
“Oh, you don’t need to do that.”
“I want to. As a thank you. I see the way you’ve helped Rowan. Not just with his dad but with a lot of things. He told your dad so much about you when you guys came over. He is absolutely in love with you, and it just makes me so happy that he has someone like you in his life.”
I swallow down the lump in my throat, fighting the tears that are creeping up on me. I’ve only spoken to Amy a few times since we first met, and she’s the sweetest person I’ve come to know. She welcomed both me and Rowan with open arms. No judgment, no questions.
“Thank you,” I tell her quietly.
“Of course.” She turns to me and hands me the small box. I see her arms open, and she gestures for a hug. I take in her embrace.
When we pull back, she looks at me and asks, “Are you coming to dinner with us tonight?”
“Oh, uh, maybe. What time are you guys going to eat?”
Amy looks at her watch and then goes back to me. “In about three hours. Do come. I would love for you to join us.”
“Okay, that sounds great.”
* * *
An hour later, Rowan is taking me home. Riley and Hailey told me to go and rest. I couldn’t be happier to have them help me with all of this. It was such a whirlwind. All the excitement that surrounded me. I must admit, it’s pushed me even more toward the idea of making Honey Cakes a real thing.
I told Rowan I wanted to walk home and change for dinner. He insisted that he give me a piggyback ride because of how much I've complained that my feet hurt. I didn’t pass up the opportunity.
“Who knew how much I’d be able to see at this height? No wonder you can see the next town over, you’re giant,” I mock.
“I can see the craters on the moon from where I stand,” he jokes back.
I slide off Rowan’s back and open the door to the guest house. I kick off my shoes and let out a sigh while I walk to the kitchen, exhausted from the success I’ve had today. As I grab two glasses, I feel Rowan’s large hands wrap around my stomach and his chin dipped into the crook of my neck.
“I love you,” he whispers.
A smile tugs at my lips while the warmth of him relaxes my body, “I love you,” and pulling him into my chest. His arms wrap around my waist.
He pulls back, turning me to face him, and looks into my eyes and then down to my lips. His way of telling me he wants a kiss. I gave him one. With his lips against mine, all I feel is happiness. Me in Rowan’s arms. Him in mine. I place my forehead on his and breathe in his scent.
He smells like salt water and citrus.
“I’m the luckiest person to have you in my life, Ellie Thompson.”
I pull my head back, and he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“This was the craziest summer of my life, and I wouldn’t take back one minute of it. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” he whispers. “Only if you’ll have me forever.”
“You are my forever. Maybe someday, I’ll be Mrs. Williams.” I smile.
He looks at me for a beat and then throws me over his shoulders. I let out a scream and start to laugh while he walks us to the bedroom. “What are you doing?” I slap his butt while I yell.
“I’m going to make love to the woman of my dreams. And then we’re going to shower and continue our love making. Then we’re going to get ready to go to dinner, come back home, and not get any sleep. So, I hope you’re ready.”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”