Now #3
“So, we’re going to be open our usual hours tomorrow through Tuesday. We’re closing at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and we’ll be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday. Black Friday is going to be interesting.”
“I know, and I’m sure it will be.”
“Good night, Violet. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“Good night. See you Sunday.”
I watch Laura head out of the store, walking closer to the entrance. The rain is coming down hard tonight, and the lightning is lighting up the sky.
Dammit, I forgot to put our holiday hours for next week on the door.
I quickly grab the printed-out sign I made and brace myself because I know I’m about to get a natural shower. Running out the door, I tape the sign to the glass and make sure it’s secure. I’m getting soaking wet in the process. The awning isn’t keeping me dry at all.
I sprint back inside and shiver because the A/C and the rain make for a freezing combination.
A magnet pulls me toward the dystopian romance section, and my eyes immediately land on the Shatter Me series by Tahareh Mafi. I flip through the pages of the third book in the series, Ignite Me, and I’m transported back to when I was sixteen years old.
“Hey, are you guys still open?” a deep, masculine voice asks.
I immediately know who the person is just by the sound of his voice. I put back the book I’ve been going through and take a deep breath.
When I turn around, I see him standing there in front of me.
Grayson.
His dark brunette hair is damp from the rain, along with his clothes. He’s wearing a white T-shirt, dark-wash jeans, and a pair of black and white sneakers.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, folding my arms underneath my breasts.
“I took some time to think,” he simply says.
“A few weeks is more than enough time. Some time is a few days. Did you do all of this on purpose to emotionally destroy me? I get that vanishing from your life six years ago was horrible, but did it mean that you had to do the same thing to me?”
He combs his fingers through his damp hair, inching closer to me. “I’m sorry for how I left things off. You didn’t deserve that, but I needed time to figure out how I feel about everything. You. Us.”
“What are you talking about, Gray?”
“I want you to listen to every word I’m going to say to you, and please don’t interrupt me.
” He exhales deeply. “I never stopped loving you, Violet. I. Never. Stopped. I tried so hard to, but I couldn’t.
It was damn near impossible. I could never get you out of my head because you have a face that’s impossible to forget.
I loved you when we were teenagers. I love you as I’m standing here right now.
All I want is to be with you. All I want is to be around you.
” His voice is shaky, the words coming out of his mouth as a whisper.
His breathing is heavy as his eyes wander down to my lips.
“I can’t believe this is happening right now. You still love me? Wh—”
“Shut up, Vi.” He interrupts me by slamming his lips onto mine and running his hand down to my hip to secure me in his grip. He pushes me up against the wall closest to the entrance door.
I feel like I’ve been transported back to when we were teenagers. This kiss is urgent, exploratory, and passionate. One I’ve never experienced with him until this very moment.
I break the kiss. “Wait, you didn’t let me respond to what you said.”
“Sorry, I know. I had to get that out of my system, but it’s not enough. Anyway, go ahead.”
“Okay, here it goes. I never stopped loving you, Gray. I was scared to tell you how I feel because I thought you wouldn’t feel the same way.
I wouldn’t go back and do anything differently because everything happens for a reason.
Life worked its magic and brought us back together.
Getting to know this version of you has been so humbling and beautiful because you’ve become more of an incredible person.
You’ve been through so much, and you bounced back because you’re strong as hell.
You’re my superhero.” My lips curve up to reveal a smile.
“Hell yeah, I am.” He seals the gap between us, grabbing a tendril of my hair between his index finger and thumb. His eyes meet mine. “It’s always been you, Vi.”
“It’s always been you, too, Gray,” I say without any hesitation.
We move towards the middle of the store, surrounding ourselves with bookshelves full of romance books.
“So, what now?” He takes a lock of hair and twists it around his index finger.
“Do you want to meet me back at my apartment?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I need to close up the store, so I guess I’ll meet you there.”
He gives me a tender kiss that transforms into fireworks exploding in my mouth, rendering me speechless.
After his lips pull away from mine, his hands interlock with mine as we stare into each other’s eyes.
The pure love and admiration on his face tells me everything I need to know.
He grins at me before he leaves, and I can’t stop myself from smiling uncontrollably.
The universe decided to bring us back together in the place where happily ever afters thrive, and I couldn’t be more thankful that this might be the place where we get our happily ever after.