Chapter 28 #2
Mama and Daddy have disappeared. I’m not sure if they went back to bed or out to the barns, but coffee is brewing.
I fix two mugs of coffee, then wait until the creaky stairs announce Zoey’s descent.
I’m grinning when she walks into the kitchen, thankful that she hasn’t changed, even if she did put her hair up in a ponytail.
I would take her any way I can get her. But in this moment, I love her all sleep-rumpled and adorable.
“Want to drink coffee on the porch and watch the sun rise?”
She glances toward the window. “The sun isn’t up yet?”
“Nope. This is the pre-dawn show. Come on or we’ll miss it.”
I have about ten million questions, or maybe just ten really big ones, but I table them for a few minutes as Zoey and I sip coffee, watching what amounts to the sky rolling out a red carpet for the sun’s arrival.
“Argh!” Zoey says when the sun finally crests, flaming gold and blinding. “My retinas!”
I squint. “Yeah. Don’t look directly at it. Maybe we should move to the swing on the side of the porch. It faces south.”
“Good plan,” she says.
We leave our coffee mugs on the swing, and when we stand, I lace our fingers together with zero hesitation.
The contact feels both totally familiar and comfortable, while at the same time making me ache for more.
Zoey gives me a smile that reiterates that message, and I swear, my lips are aching to connect with hers.
As we turn the corner to the south side of the porch, I spin to face her. Letting go of her hand, I slide my palms up her arms until one rests on the back of her head and one on her neck. There is no mistaking what this is. Her eyes go a little wide, dropping to my lips, then back up to my eyes.
“Gavin, shouldn’t we talk first?”
“First, last. The order doesn’t matter to me. You came back, and that tells me most of what I need to know. I have things to say, and also things that don’t require words.”
I lean closer, and she flattens her palms against my chest, giving just the slightest pressure.
“Wait. Can we clear up just a few things first? Because I feel like once we start not talking, we won’t want to stop.”
“Fair enough. But I’m starting.”
“Always so bossy,” she says.
I grin. “Not going to change, even if I’m not your boss anymore. First things first, I’m glad you came back, but I’m sorry I didn’t chase you down.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted you to leave Ella,” she says, and that sends something warm and happy dancing through my chest.
“That’s the only reason I didn’t come after you.”
“It’s nice to know you would have otherwise,” she says with a smile.
I lean into her palms more, and she lets me inch closer. “I would have chased you into forever. I’m not letting you go.”
“I’m sorry I left,” Zoey says simply. “I got scared.”
“You had every right to be. There’s a lot against us from the start. And then things moved so fast, carrying us along. I should have made sure you knew how I felt much sooner. Years ago.”
Her blue eyes blink up at me, so bright and clear and beautiful. “And how do you feel?” she asks in a whisper.
“Like a man who will do anything for the woman he loves. And I do love you, Zoey. There are complications, but I’d like to think love will uncomplicate them. That is … if that love is returned?”
I watch the corners of her mouth twitch, tightening like she’s keeping her smile in check. “Gavin, are you fishing for compliments?”
“I wasn’t. But now I’m going to be demanding.”
I press even closer, until she’s backed up against the porch railing. Her palms are still on my chest, but they’re not pushing me away.
“Zoey, do you love me? Do you want to figure out this messy life with me? Perhaps build a messy one together, and, when I’m ready to properly ask you, be my wife?”
Maybe it’s too much. Definitely too fast. But I figure that I might as well put it all the way out there at once. Then, at least, we’ll know. Thankfully, Zoey doesn’t make me wait.
Her smile is brighter than the sun that tipped over the horizon moments ago, more spectacular too. “I love you, Gavin. I’m terrified, but I do love you, and I’d like to figure this out.”
She doesn’t stop me now from pressing my mouth to hers in a kiss that feels anything but complicated. She tastes of coffee and mint and forever. Her hands bunch in my shirt, yanking me closer, and I slide the hair tie out of her hair, running my fingers through the long strands.
The heat of the day begins to creep over us. It’s still summer in Texas, and the sunlight is merciless. Her lips are soft and hot, and even my fantasy barn kiss doesn’t compare to this one.
I pull away moments later, resting my forehead on hers and letting my hands trace over her cheeks, her neck, and her shoulders.
“I love you,” I whisper, needing to say the words again. I have a feeling I’m going to need to say them a lot.
“I love you too,” she says.
We stand there for a few minutes, holding each other as the ranch wakes around us.
My thoughts are on Zoey, and our future.
But I’m also wondering when Ella will wake up, and also how much goat poop I’m going to be cleaning from the upstairs.
I’m considering whether Zoey would want to live in my house in Austin, and if it would be a conflict of interest for me to write a letter of recommendation for whatever job she applies for next.
I’m thinking about whether Eleanor is going to fight me for custody or just give Ella up.
Zoey presses a finger to my forehead, smoothing out the furrow that I’m sure my worries are causing.
“We’ll figure it all out,” she says. “Together.”
Her words instantly reassure me. “We will.”
“Speaking of complications, you and Ella have been officially invited to my birthday dinner tonight. With my brother and Abby. And … my Dad.”
I know the crease Zoey smoothed away is already back. I sigh. “Two questions. One: does he know how old I am?” She nods. “Two: Is he going to answer the door with a shotgun?”
Zoey’s grin turns wicked. “For you? Most definitely.”