Chapter Thirty-Two
Okay, so she needed to get to Heart Beach.
Every minute not spent in Heart Beach was a minute wasted. The man she loved was moving across the country soon, and he was in Heart Beach. She needed to haul ass and get to wherever he was.
Once Noelle pulled into her complex, she rushed inside her apartment and kicked off her heels.
She ran into her bedroom and dragged her suitcase out of her closet.
She didn’t have time to change, so she’d have to keep on her afternoon-tea outfit.
She haphazardly threw clothes into her suitcase.
She needed to stop and get more gas before she hopped on the highway, and there would definitely be traffic on the parkway because it was rush hour and everyone was getting off work and driving to the beach.
But whatever, she’d dealt with worse things than traffic in summer.
She slipped on her flip-flops as she dragged her suitcase behind her into the living room. She sent Tati a quick text, Driving to Heart Beach! Then, with a pounding heart, she called Jeremiah.
He answered on the first ring. “Noelle?” He sounded breathless.
She closed her eyes. Relief and joy washed over her at the sound of his voice. She missed him so much.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Hey, I was just about to call you. Where are you?”
“I’m home right now, but I’m about to leave for Heart Beach. That’s why I’m calling. I know we have a lot to talk about, and I haven’t called you this week, but I’d rather we talk in person, and—wait, you are in Heart Beach right now, aren’t you?”
It didn’t occur to her until that very second that Jeremiah might be somewhere else. Maybe he was in the city for a meeting. What if he’d left for California early? Oh God.
“No, I’m not in Heart Beach,” he said, and her stomach sank. “Funny you ask, though. Can you come to your door?”
“Huh?” She blinked. “My door?”
“Yes, please.”
Confused, Noelle did as he asked. When she opened the door, Jeremiah was walking up the staircase to the second floor right toward her.
His hands were filled with several items: a bouquet of white hydrangeas, a stuffed teddy bear that looked very similar to the prize bears at the games section of the boardwalk, a paper plate covered with aluminum foil, and a box of her favorite Smith’s Sweets salted caramel chocolate chip cookies.
“Oh my goodness,” she whispered, heart pounding.
“Hi,” he said, coming to stand in front of her.
The scent of funnel cake wafted up her nose from beneath the aluminum foil.
“I didn’t know if you were still coming to Heart Beach for the talent show, so I wanted to bring Heart Beach to you.
I brought your favorite flowers from Timeless Blooms, a bear from the boardwalk, a funnel cake from Marty’s, and last but definitely not least, your favorite cookies from our house. ”
“Oh my goodness,” she repeated. It seemed to be the only thing that she was capable of saying. The butterflies attacked her brain as she gazed up at him. A giddy laugh bubbled up inside of her. “Thank you! I don’t even know what to say!”
He smiled. “Can I give them to you?”
“Yes, of course!” She took each of the items and hurried to place them on the kitchen table. Then she ran to meet him in the doorway again, like she was afraid that he’d delivered his gifts and would now disappear into thin air.
“I know you wanted space,” he said. “And if that’s what you still want, I can leave.
But there’s something I need to say to you first, because I want you to know that I’m fighting for you, fighting for us.
It’s been one of the hardest weeks of my life not being able to talk to you.
I know it’s only been one summer, but you live deep in here now, Noelle.
” He placed his hand over his heart. “I love you. I love you so much.”
She stared at him, speechless, near ready to swoon. There were so many things she wanted to say, but he’d started in the right place by saying what really mattered.
“I love you too,” she said softly.
His smile was huge, contagious. His shoulders sagged as he sighed in relief. Then he pulled Noelle into his arms and kissed her with all the pent-up passion and love that he’d been holding on to all week. By the time they came up for air, Noelle was breathless.
“That’s…that’s so great to hear,” he said, chest heaving as he leaned his forehead against hers.
“That you love me too. I’m sorry about everything that happened last weekend.
It was dramatic and sometimes my family can be dramatic, but I promise for the most part, we’re chill.
Not perfect, but normal in our own way. I told them about my conversation with Pop, and they didn’t judge me.
They were really understanding. And I admitted that I’d lied about having a girlfriend in order to avoid Heart Beach.
I told them the truth about how we started too. ”
Noelle winced. “Were they mad?”
“They definitely didn’t love that I lied,” he said sheepishly. “But they were forgiving. I promise to shield you from any drama in the future.”
“I know you will,” she said. “The real reason that I wanted space is because while everything was going on last weekend, I realized how much I love you.” She swallowed thickly as he pressed his hand against her lower back.
“And that scared me because I was afraid that being in love with you at this point in my life might upend everything I’ve worked so hard for.
I freaked out about not getting that meeting with my advisor.
Even after I was able to schedule a meeting and everything turned out fine, I still hesitated to call you this week because I was worried about getting too caught up with you—with us—and losing sight of my goals, but I know I won’t let that happen again.
And I know you won’t let that happen either. ”
“Of course I won’t,” he said. “I’m not gonna get in your way. I’ll be right behind you, supporting you.”
She nodded, heart melting. “I know we’ll be okay. Even if we’re three thousand miles apart.”
He laughed softly. “Right. I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. I’m not moving.”
Her eyes popped. “You’re not moving?”
He shook his head. “I’m going back to Smith’s Sweets to work with Percy. Working with my family on our legacy is where I belong. We’re not going to sell.”
Noelle threw her arms around him and squeezed him close again. “You’re going to work with your family! And you’re not moving! That’s amazing!” She abruptly pulled back. “Wait, are you sad about leaving Good Boy?”
“Not at all.” He rested his hands on either side of her waist, keeping her close. “What happened with your interview this week?”
“I got the job,” she said, and his lips split into a grin. “And thank you for helping Harold with the grant for the store. That was so kind of you.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t think to tell him about the grant program sooner. I wanted to help him. But I mainly did it for you. I know that store means so much to you.”
God, she loved this man. She kissed him again, and Jeremiah cradled her face in his hands. He placed soft kisses on her cheeks, on her forehead, like he was cherishing her and this moment.
“You look pretty,” he said, finally taking a chance to look at her outfit. “Why are you dressed so fancy?”
“I was at an afternoon tea–themed bridal shower for one of my brides. She gave me a plus-one to her wedding next month, by the way.” She tilted her head. “Will you be my date?”
He grinned. “You don’t even have to ask. Just tell me when and where.”
“Uncle Miah!”
Noelle whipped around and saw Harper and Ashley standing at the foot of the steps. They were wearing matching purple sundresses and purple beads at the ends of their braids. Noelle blinked in surprise.
“Is Noelle coming to Heart Beach with us?” Ashley asked.
“Did she say she loves you back?” Harper asked.
“Sorry we couldn’t wait in the car!” Ashley said. “We got bored! We need to know what happened!”
Noelle laughed and turned to Jeremiah, raising her eyebrow in question.
“So about that,” he said, smirking. “I didn’t come here by myself. Everyone else insisted on coming too.”
“Everyone?”
The next thing she knew, Amara and Robin and Percy walked up behind the twins. They waved at Noelle, and she let out a surprised laugh as she waved back. Then Celeste appeared, carrying several red and pink heart balloons.
“Are those for me?” Noelle asked in shock.
“Yes,” Jeremiah said, sighing. “I told her the balloons were doing way too much, but she insisted.”
“I almost got letters to spell out Noelle’s name, so this is me scaling back!” Celeste shouted, beaming up at them.
Noelle laughed and shook her head in awe. She was overwhelmed but in the absolute best way.
“So, Noelle,” Jeremiah said, taking her hands in his again. “Are you coming back to Heart Beach with us?”
She looked at him, and then she looked down at his family who’d come all the way here to support her and Jeremiah. They were the big, close-knit family she’d always wanted. And they wanted her too.
“Yes,” she said, smiling. “I’ll come back with you.”
Jeremiah grinned and kissed her, and his family cheered. Noelle jerked as she heard a loud popping noise, and she glanced down to see Harper and Ashley holding confetti poppers.
She and Jeremiah jogged down the steps and were embraced by his family.
Percy apologized to Noelle for last weekend and said he’d keep apologizing every time he saw her, even though she assured him that wasn’t necessary.
Robin and Amara wrapped Noelle in a sister sandwich, Harper and Ashley tugged on her hands, eager to talk about the talent show, and Celeste hugged her and kissed her on the cheek as she struggled to keep hold of the balloons.
It was all so chaotic, and Noelle had never been happier.
“I love you,” Jeremiah said, wrapping his arms around her.
She smiled up at him, her heart bursting with joy. “I love you too.”
Then he leaned down and kissed her, right there surrounded by his family.
There was no place else she’d rather be.