Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Figure out what you’re going to do?”
“Where I’m going to live, what I’m going to do after I finish the journey I started out on.”
“You’ll live here with me unless you tell me you hate the city. If that’s the case, we can find somewhere you like.”
“I’m not going to sponge off—”
“Have I ever made you feel like you’re sponging off me?”
“No.” I sigh. “And it’s not just that. I mean, I know this is—”
“I’m in love with you, Elora,” he bites out, and my lips part in surprise. “So, you can have all the time you need to figure out what you want to do with your life, but you’ll do it going to sleep next to me every night.”
“What?”
“What part of that don’t you understand?” he asks, his tone making it clear he’s annoyed and angry.
“That you’re in love with me,” I say softly, and his body deflates while his expression goes soft. Reaching out, his hand wraps around the side of my face, then his fingers slide back into my hair.
“You should have figured that out by now.”
Should I have?
“Since when?”
“Probably since you hugged me on the beach in Oregon, but I realized that I loved you when you were walking toward me with that stack of doughnuts in Vegas.”
“Oh,” I whisper as my nose stings and my throat gets tight.
“I know you’ll need to find yourself and figure out what you want to do with your future, especially after spending so much time taking care of your mom. But I want you to factor me into those plans.”
“Okay.” I swallow as his thumb swipes across my cheek. “I think I love you too.”
“You think?” He smiles.
“I don’t know. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I know I loved my mom, but that love formed in the quiet before I even knew what love was. I even know I loved Tyler, but that love was grown from acceptance and longevity. What I feel for you is different. It’s consuming and needy while wrapped in trust and understanding. It makes me feel alive and important, maybe even vital.”
“You are,” he whispers, and I cover his hand with mine.
“So maybe I love you, but I don’t think those three words fully express how I feel about you.”
“Come here.” He lets his hand fall from my face and grabs my wrist. With a gentle tug, he pulls me over to straddle his lap, then cups my face in his hands.
“Call Kandi tomorrow and tell her you’ll close from here. In a few weeks, we’ll fly out to Wyoming and spend some time there so you can show me where you grew up.”
“I’d like that.” I melt against his chest.
“Good.” He grabs me under my bottom and stands, still holding on to me. “Did you have dinner?”
“No, I was waiting for you.”
“What do you want to order?”
“I walked down the street to the grocery store this afternoon and got the stuff to make Dijon chicken. I figured I’d cook since I’m kind of over having to eat takeout.”
“I’ll help you.” He carries me into the kitchen, then slides me down his body but keeps hold of my waist.
“You can be my sous chef.”
“What does that entail?”
“Just cutting stuff up.”
“I can do that.” He drops a kiss on my lips before letting me go. Wandering to the fridge, I pull out the stuff for dinner, and then with his help, the two of us make a meal that we eat outside under the same stars that have been with us every step of the way.
21
ROMAN
40.7128° N, 74.0060° W
Sitting in my grandmother’s dining room on a chair I pulled up next to her hospital bed, I watch Elora scroll through pictures of her mom on her phone. As she shows each one to Diana, she talks about her mom in that quiet way that makes you feel like you knew her personally.
When Diana smiles, I catch Elora's soft, sweet look when she sees it. Every day for the past couple of weeks, Diana has gotten a little stronger, a little more aware, and every day, Elora has insisted on coming over to spend time with her.
If I hadn’t met her, I’m not sure I would be doing the same, not with how hectic my life typically is with work. But Val’s death and being with Elora have made me realize there are things more important than making money. It’s okay to slow down and enjoy the moment, the place you are, and the people around you.
When the nurse comes into the room, Elora sends me an unhappy look because she knows that means our time here is up. And even if Diana can’t communicate much at this point, she’s made it clear she likes having her around, and Elora likes giving that to her. Maybe because she remembers what it was like for her mom, but I think it’s just her.