Chapter 34
Six weeks later
“Two daiquiris for my favorite girls,” Jake says with a grin as he slides two glasses across the bar.
We offer him our biggest smiles before tipping the glasses together.
It’s a rowdy Friday night, and the bar is nearly full, but as always, we managed to find an empty spot by the counter.
Shania Twain is blasting from the speakers and the whole place is singing in some kind of joint karaoke session.
“To us,” Iris yells.
“To us,” I reply before we take a good sip. I swallow in satisfaction—Jake sure knows how to make a perfect daiquiri.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for the very hot new owner of the formidable store Liz and June.
You know where I can find her?” My heartbeat quickens at the sound of his voice, and I’m already smiling when I feel the warm palm at the small of my back.
Will I ever get used to this? I turn around and immediately drown in a green sea, softly sparkling in the dim light.
“You’ve come to the right place, mister. She’s right here,” Iris shouts, pointing her finger at me.
“Hey,” I say and forget all about everything when warm lips meet mine. He tastes like peppermint and something sweet. It’s my favorite taste.
“Stop choking June with your tongue, Ben, or I’ll have to call the police,” Jake shouts and pushes a beer over the counter.
“Sorry, man, can’t do that,” Benjamin responds with a grin, his eyes still on me.
“I think it’s cute when he’s choking her with his tongue,” Iris declares, beaming at us over the rim of her drink.
“Okay, June, let’s hear it. How does it feel that you’re opening your own store in only two months?” Jake asks, clearly done talking about our PDA.
I can’t stop the smile. “Unreal. Fantastic. Nervous. It’s still so much to do.”
“It’ll go so well.” Benjamin squeezes my hand.
“It definitely will,” Iris agrees. “We’ll all be here to help you. Not that you need it.”
“Oh, I need it,” I say. “It wouldn’t be possible without all of your help.”
“It would, because you’re stunning and independent,” Benjamin says with a small smile. I return his smile, warmth and gratitude hugging my heart. How did I manage to make this wonderful man fall in love with me? I think I’ll never know.
“I love the name you chose—Liz and June. Sounds like it was meant to be. Viv loves it, too. She said it was the perfect new name,” Iris says, not protesting when Jake slides another drink in her direction.
“I’m so glad she approved. It wouldn’t have felt right to change it if she hadn’t.”
“I’m sure Liz would’ve loved it, too.”
“I hope so,” I say, feeling a sting of sadness that I’ll never know if she actually would. “It was, after all, thanks to her that I ended up here. I have her to thank for so much.” I look at Benjamin, who pulls me closer in response.
“So do we,” Iris says with a grin that has my heart pinching. How did I get this lucky?
“And when are the two of you leaving for Sweden?”
“In a week and a half,” I exclaim in a rush of happiness.
In less than fourteen days, I’ll finally see my baby sister again—in Sweden—and she’ll meet Benjamin.
It was a demand from Clara that Benjamin came along (“I need to meet the man who gives my sister mind-blowingly good sex”) so we’re going together.
A sudden cheer erupts around the bar when “Love Story (Taylor’s version)” comes on, and I instantly love this town and its people even more. I empty my glass and jump off the bar stool.
“Will you excuse me? I have a boyfriend I need to crush in an unfinished game of pool.” A glint in Benjamin’s eyes switches on like a light.
“You’ll be sorry, Collins.”
I level him a look in pure disbelief. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
A crooked, teasing smile has my insides soft and gooey as I take him by his hand and lead him to our table. I turn back. “Please, no crying when you lose.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Honey, please just tell me you want out of the game this time instead of throwing up.”
I grimace. “I still can’t believe you had to witness that . . . Disgusting.”
“I thought you were cute. Bold choice, though, to show off your talent to vomit from both your mouth and your nose at the same time in front of your very hot crush.”
“Oh, shut up.” I laugh and smack his upper arm. He catches my hand and pulls me close, caging me between him and the pool table, his mouth finding the crook between my neck and throat.
“I should take you back home immediately,” he murmurs against my skin.
“Yeah, you should. And you will. But after I make you beg to spare you at least some points.”
I feel his smile against my shoulder and shiver.
“You know I already won, don’t you?”
I pull back and raise my eyebrows at him. “Are you daydreaming again?”
His gaze travels to my mouth briefly before settling on my eyes again. “No. I won you. I don’t ever need to win anything again. I won it all.”
My heart is seconds from bursting. From love. Happiness. Gratitude. And my face is nothing but a smile. “I love you, Benjamin Reyes.”
“And I love you, June Collins.”