Chapter 22 #2
“Harlow, we’re not going anywhere until I tell you that I don’t want you in my life as a lightning bug that flies away.
You’re a light, but more a perfect little permanent star that deserves her own night sky.
It’s just… I believe that I’m meant to be there too.
This is nothing I planned to say in my lifetime to anyone.
But damn, woman, you have me in knots, and I kind of hope I don’t unravel, because you’re wrapped up in that.
I have no plans to let you go.” Her mouth parts open, and the way her eyes twinkle in daylight is all the more reason that I’m certain I make her feel alive.
“So, you can say what you were planning to say. Stay at the Dizzy Duck Inn.” I notice her face puzzle, and she flutters her lashes.
“And I know I told you that we have choices to make, but I’ve made mine, you know where I stand on us, my family, a future.
Is it so bad that I plan on getting on my knees to beg you to see what we have? ”
Harlow places her fingertips against my chest then gently pushes me back. “Stone… are you done yet?” A smile grows.
“I’m not sure. I’m kind of winging it here. I would keep talking if it meant that I don’t have to hear your words of disaster.”
She chortles a sound. “I believe you said you would get on your knees.”
I cock my head to the side. “True.” We both stand there, lost for a few seconds.
Our eyes fixed with what I see as true love.
Which is why I grab her arms to keep her firmly in place, adamant that we have to start the difficult days ahead.
“Just say it. Tell me what you came here to do so I know what I’m up against, before I convince you that you should have known when we first laid our eyes on one another that we could never be just a fling. Tell me.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and her lips roll in, as if she’s suppressing humor which feels kind of cruel.
“Well, as much as I loved hearing every word that you just said, I am afraid to disappoint you.” That’s it, my heart is hit with a bow and arrow.
“I was just going to tell you that you’re going to have to buy me a winter coat. ”
Huh, what?
“A winter coat?”
She nods, as if she is waiting for me to solve a riddle. “Also, I kind of need your muscles today. I packed a little heavy on the luggage front.”
“Heavy luggage?” My dry throat seems to ease.
Her head moves again in confirmation of my questions that are now clearly statements. I stand there trying to connect the dots, but Harlow can’t wait and bursts out in the brightest smile I’ve ever seen. “I’m moving to Lake Spark.” Realization hits me, and she playfully pushes me. “To be with you.”
Instantly, I crash my lips onto hers, as if the weight on my shoulders fell off a cliff, never to return.
The present that was hanging by my fingers falls to the ground.
I’m not sure who is smiling more, which interferes with our kissing skills, by the way, but we don’t stop our kiss.
I pick her up and twirl her around, only to set her down and seal our lips together right where we left off.
When my head angles to scrape my lips along hers, I murmur, “I’ll buy you five coats, and if you’re a good girl, then I’ll get you boots too.”
Her head falls back in laughter, and I take the opportunity to kiss her neck on offer. “I love you,” I repeat a few times between kisses.
“You’ve mentioned. Remember, you fell first?” She’s teasing me because I see that mischief in her eyes, but she’s oh so right.
My eyes rocket up as I lightly groan for how I got it all wrong, and hope vanished to relief.
“Stone?” Harlow waits until I draw my eyes up with a goofy smirk.
“Harlow?”
“I love you, and I’m sorry it’s taken so long to end up here with an answer, but you’re not just the guy who healed me.
You scared me in the best possible way and made me believe a forever with someone was possible.
And it turns out that I’m strong enough to close the map since I’ve reached my destination.
” Her voice is fragile but so firm at the same time, the perfect magical chemistry that seems to be possible between two people.
“It is very possible.” I cup her face between my hands, and with the pad of my thumb, brush along her jawline. “I thought you came here to end things. Your email sucked.”
Her face screws up. “I guess… I’m coming to Lake Spark and we need to talk was a bad choice of words,” she reflects.
“No shit.”
Harlow's eyes drift down to the ground and puzzles as she notices the envelopes. "What's that?"
I'm quick to pick the gift up. "It was yours in case I needed to convince you or give you a parting gift.
" Her fingers trace the string. "It's every email we've written to one another, printed out on fancy paper with traditional writing, because that's the magic of modern times.
Every letter… except your last one because that was just brutal. "
She laughs, and her eyes glaze with love. "This is special. I'm happy it's not a parting gift."
"Me too. Me too, Harlow."
We get caught in a confirming look until she begins to giggle. “In a way, I wanted to surprise you with this life-altering news, and you’re still the one to surprise me. We should probably head out of here."
"Agreed."
"Obviously, we need to figure out how to actually move stuff. But you know… seriously, I did pack extra in my suitcase, and it weighs a ton,” she informs me.
“Good thing I have strong arms then.” Then it dawns on me. “Really, I was a mess the past few days, and when I heard you made a reservation at the Dizzy Duck Inn, then—”
“What?” She looks at me blankly.
“You made a reservation for a room at the Dizzy Duck Inn?”
Harlow’s mouth quirks out. “No, I didn’t. I called to see if we could get a table in the restaurant for a little celebration dinner.”
“But Stuart told Holden—” I groan. “Fucking Stuart. Completely incapable of doing his job.”
“Or just making your life hell.” Her closed-lip smile stretches.
I kiss the tip of her nose. “Love the idea of dinner, as you’ll need to refuel for what’s about to go down in my bedroom.”
“Oh yeah?” She has a sultry voice. “Does my new roommate like to play games in the bedroom?”
I scoff a sound as I lead us with my arm draped around her shoulders. “You mean your new bedmate? Yeah. Yeah, he does.”
“What a coincidence. So do I.”
We grab her luggage which is no joke a workout in itself, then drive back to my place with our hands perfectly interlaced on the middle console.
I’m lucky. More than.
Her damn books apparently warrant some merit in reality.
I laugh to myself at that notion when we slide out of my car. Deciding that I’ll get the luggage later, we walk to the door, and I unlock it before I quickly swing her up into my arms to carry her over the threshold, as if we just got married, which will happen one day—this is just practice.
“As soon as we’re on the other side and the door closes, you’ll never be able to go back.”
Harlow’s affectionate look slays me. “Turns out, I should have known that you’d be the only door I’d want a key to.”
Her answer warms my heart, and I kick the door open but don’t move, instead stealing a kiss.
“Turns out I was holding onto it for you.” She likes my answer because I sense that she’s melting in my arms. But I love teasing her and seeing that smile of hers. “You’ll get your actual key tomorrow. I need to find you a deer keychain.”