Chapter 32 #2
I take a breath and launch into the speech I’ve practiced a hundred times in the mirror over the past week.
“My mother started this gala twenty-five years ago because she believed every kid deserved to have access to art education regardless of their family’s income.
She saw how many struggling artists needed financial help so they could continue with their craft.
Mom believed art changes lives for the creator and the consumer.
Money shouldn’t be the reason someone doesn’t use their talent. ”
My throat gets tight talking about her, but it always does because she was so passionate.
“When my mother got sick, she refused to quit for a very long time. I wanted her to take it easy and enjoy what she had left of her life. But she was committed to this event until the very end.” I swallow hard.
“Creating art isn’t easy. It takes courage to put yourself out there, knowing you will probably fail.
A lot. But you still show up, even when it’s hard.
And at the end of it, you have something you can be proud of.
Every piece in the silent auction was created by a human and is one of a kind.
All the money raised will go directly back into the art community. ”
The crowd is silent and attentive. I can see Millie in the front row, dabbing at her eyes.
“That’s what we’re here to celebrate tonight.” I glance around the room, taking in the moment. “Art saved my life. When my mom got sick, pottery became the only way I could process what was happening. It gave me somewhere to put my grief and fear and anger.”
I take another breath. “That’s what art does. It gives us a way to…”
Movement at the back of the room catches my eye, and I glance up as murmurs spread to the front.
I glance to where everyone is staring, then cover my eyes from the glare of the lights and see Scarlett.
“It gives us a way to…” I trail off and just stare at her, like she’s a figment of my imagination.
She’s wearing a floor-length black gown that fits her curves like a glove. Her hair is down and in bouncy curls. She stops, realizing I’m not the only one focused on her. The entire room stares at her.
A genuine smile touches my lips.
Scarlett’s here.
My thoughts disappear, and my brain completely shuts down.
The crowd shifts, and a thousand people wait for me to continue, but I don’t remember how to speak or even the last thing I said.
Scarlett’s emotions start to take over, and she mouths something that I can’t quite make out, but I think it’s something like finish your speech.
“Sorry.” I grip the microphone to steady myself and force my eyes away from her. “I just…someone very important to me just walked in.”
I clear my throat and recover quickly. “Where was I?”
I glance down at my notes, but the words blur together.
“You were talking about art giving us a way to express ourselves,” Millie says from the front row. I’m so happy I made her listen to this yesterday because I wanted her opinion.
I take a shaky breath and find Scarlett sitting at the end of a row.
Someone scooted over to allow her to sit.
She looks at me with an encouraging smirk, and I somehow manage to continue.
“Art gives us a way to express what we can’t always put into words.
It gives us permission to feel everything deeply and share parts of ourselves with the world in a way that’s bigger than oneself. ”
I’m trying not to rush, but I want to get through the rest so I can go to her.
“This year, we’re expanding the program to include three new schools and more artistic grants.
We couldn’t do any of this without your support and generosity.
It’s very much appreciated. Thank you again for being here tonight.
Please enjoy the evening, bid generously, and know that you’re changing lives. ”
Everyone stands, and I’m greeted with applause, but I barely hear it. I’m already stepping away from the microphone.
The crowd watches as I move toward the back of the room. People congratulate me and pat my shoulder, but I keep pushing forward. My pulse is racing as I stay focused.
Scarlett moves toward me, too, and we meet in the middle of the room. Suddenly, we’re standing in front of one another.
“So happy to see you,” I finally manage, and my voice cracks.
“I wanted to tell you to your face that I was thinking about you, too.” She’s crying and smiling at the same time.
“You look…” I can’t finish the sentence because I feel like I’m dreaming.
“I got a hotel room so I could change and come straight here.” Her voice shakes, and she takes my hands.
Hers are trembling. “I didn’t renew my lease, Ezra.
I packed up and donated everything I didn’t want to take with me.
My stuff will be shipped here next week.
I’m choosing us,” she says. “I’m choosing you. ”
“You’re a dream come true.” I pull her into my arms and kiss her right there, in front of anyone who’s watching.
Applause fills the room, and we pull away laughing.
I slide my fingers in hers and pull her away from everyone.
We move into the hallway that servers are using as a staging area for food.
Before I can say anything, Scarlett is pulling my mouth back to hers.
“I’m in love with you. I love you. I should’ve said it before you left, but I was concerned—”
“I love you, too. I know you’re it for me, Ezra. There isn’t anyone else on this planet who will ever make me feel the way you do,” she confesses. “That’s why I came back.”
I hold her cheeks in my hands, studying her pretty face. “I believe the same, babe. My mom always said when you know, you just know.”
Our lips crash together again, and everything else fades away. I no longer hear the chatter inside, the clanking dishes behind us, or the music playing in the convention hall. Her nose brushes against mine, and she smiles.
“I finished your book before the event. It nearly destroyed me because it was so honest. You wrote us.”
“I know,” she says. “You can never confirm anything with anyone. Please.”
“It’s our secret,” I whisper. “After reading your words, I know your heart.”
“That’s what kinda terrifies me,” she confesses. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“Never,” I promise. “I wanted to reach through the pages and tell you that you’re everything to me. I kept wondering, will I be yours forever?”
“That’s why I’m here,” she whispers. “To learn the answer to that question.”
“Welcome home, sweetheart,” I whisper.
“Home,” she repeats. “I really like the sound of that.”
The rest of the gala passes in a blur. People congratulate us, ask questions, and take photos. Someone mentions this will be all over social media by morning. Scarlett laughs and holds my hand tighter.
I introduce her as my girlfriend, and it feels so damn right to publicly claim her as mine. She stands beside me while I talk to donors, and she charms the governor. This woman fits so naturally into my life, like she was always meant to be here.
By the end of the night, Paula is ecstatic about how much money we’ve raised, which I think, so far, is over a million dollars. Millie hugs Scarlett so tight as she whispers something in her ear. By the time the last guests leave around midnight, I’m exhausted but happy.
“Ready to go home?” I ask Scarlett.
“So ready.” She leans against me. “I’m pretty sure those photographers are still outside, though.”
“Just smile,” I say, taking her hand.
We walk out together, and the cameras flash, but I don’t let go of her.
Someone shouts questions, but we just smile and keep walking to my truck.
On the drive, I keep glancing over to make sure she’s really here and truly staying.
I have to physically resist the urge to pull over and kiss her again.
When we pull into the driveway, Willow is sitting in the window, waiting. Scarlett laughs and points.
“She missed me.”
“Everyone did.”
When we walk inside, the house feels warmer than it did when she was gone. Scarlett kicks off her heels with a sigh of relief, and I hang up my jacket.
“This isn’t a dream, right?” I ask, pulling her close to me.
“Not this time.” She wraps her arms around my waist. “There was no other choice.”
“So now what?” I ask, even though I know the answer.
She looks up at me, her eyes trailing down to my mouth. “I wake up next to you every morning and write books and fall more in love with you every day. Well, if that’s okay with you.”
I brush my thumb across her cheek. “That’s everything I want.”
“That makes me so happy,” she whispers against my lips.
We stand there for a long moment just looking at each other.
“Take me to bed,” she says.
“My fucking pleasure,” I tell her, lifting her into my arms and carrying her up the stairs.
Scarlett yawns, and I see the exhaustion from traveling on her face.
Carefully, I unzip her dress, then hand her one of my T-shirts.
She climbs into bed wearing only my shirt and panties, the glow of the light on the bedside table lighting up all of her features.
With her head resting against the pillow, Scarlett smiles.
I slide onto the mattress next to her. Our mouths lightly brush against one another. Her hair smells like vanilla, and her skin is warm against mine.
“I missed you so much,” she whispers, swinging her leg over my waist to straddle me.
My thumbs dig into her hips as she rocks against me. “I missed you, too, babe.”
The only thing that keeps us apart is the thin fabric of her panties and my joggers.
“I want you,” she confesses.
“You’re tired,” I tell her.
“I don’t care.”
I roll her onto her back and peel the panties from her body. After my joggers are pulled down my thighs, I slide inside of her.
She gasps, and her nails dig into my shoulders. I move slowly at first because I want to memorize every sound she makes and how her body responds to mine. The sensation is intense, almost too much, but somehow, I need more.
“Ezra,” she breathes and pulls me closer.
I bury my face in her neck and breathe her in. I’ve missed the smell of her. Her legs wrap around my waist, and I pick up the pace because I can’t hold back anymore.
“I’m so in love with you,” I whisper against her skin, peppering kisses across her body.
“I feel the same.” Her voice breaks.
My movements grow more desperate, and I lose myself in her completely. I let go of all the fear and longing as I’m overcome with the relief that she’s mine and she’s staying. Scarlett meets me with the same intensity, and we move together like we were made for this, made for each other.
When she loses herself beneath me, she says my name like a promise. I see stars, and seconds later, I’m shattering after her.
We stay connected, just kissing for a long moment. “I’m so lucky,” she says.
“I am, too.”
After we clean up, I crawl back into bed with her, pulling the covers over us. Scarlett swings her leg over mine and snuggles into me like she fits there. Eventually, her breathing evens out, and I know she’s close to sleep.
“I’ve waited my whole life to find you,” she whispers into the night.
“I have, too. You’re my forever, Scar. And one day, when you’re ready, I’m going to make you my wife.”
“That a promise?” she asks, smiling against my chest.
“Damn right it is,” I say. She lets out a contented sigh, and within minutes, she’s asleep.
I lie there, watching her in the moonlight.
Willow jumps on the end of the bed and immediately starts purring.
For the first time since Scarlett left, I fall asleep without a care in the world, knowing she’ll be here in the morning.