Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
“I would do anything for you. I mean that.”
Tears pool in my eyes. “It’s the little things for me—the shirts from the feed store, your kindness when you realized I basically broke into your house because I didn’t know where to go, and you making me work in the barn because you somehow knew that I needed a shot of normalcy. That’s love, Luke. And I would have to be blind and deaf and unable to feel your touch not to know you love me.”
“Sounds like you do get me, after all.”
“We’ll have rough patches. All relationships do. And I want those for us so we can work through them, grow a scar over the wound, and have that part of us be impenetrable.”
“Don’t say penetrate.”
I grin.
He squeezes my thigh and then sits back in his chair. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about Cleveland and that I kept Troy’s presence from you.”
“Well, obviously I’m glad you did that now.”
We laugh softly.
“I won’t keep anything from you again,” he says.
“And I won’t assume every little thing is a conspiracy either. I need to relax a little.”
“Taking control of your life will help. You’re building a new team, right? Get people you can trust and who are loyal to you. Surround yourself with people who make your soul feel good.”
I take a sip of tea and sigh. Now comes the tricky part.
I get up from the table and move aimlessly through the room. My brain works better when I’m on my feet, and I need my brain to work overtime now.
How do I bring up the fact that I have to leave soon? What if he wants me to split my time at work and at home? Because I can’t always do that. And I can’t ask him to give up his work either. It’s such a big part of him.
“What are you thinking?” he asks.
Just go for it. “If we’re doing this—”
“Oh, we’re doing this.”
I grin. “Then how does it work? I’ve already decided that I’m going to pull back on a lot of things. I didn’t want to be this busy to begin with, but my former business manager had a habit of using me like a show pony.”
Luke’s jaw sets.
“But even if I do that, I will be gone a lot. And when I’m here regularly, I’ll always have to have security around—even when I’m not. Because people are absolutely delusional. You have no idea.”
He finally takes a drink of his precious tea.
“I feel like I’m so much to deal with, that my life is so big in so many ways that wanting to be with me means having to accept all of this, too,” I say, my words falling faster. “And that feels unfair to even ask of you, Luke. If I’m in your life, it will turn it upside down. It’ll change in ways I can’t even predict.”
My heart thunders as I wait for his response. I don’t know if he’s thought about all of that. I assume he has to some extent. But I need to make sure he knows what he’s getting into before he chooses me.
He lowers his glass, uncovering a smirk. “Are you done?”
“What?”
He sighs. “I’m not walking away from you again, Laina. Even if you take me to the edges of the earth and demand we stay there, I’ll pack your favorite snacks.”
“Oh, Luke …”
“We can’t have all the answers right now because, like you said, we can’t predict everything that will come at us. But that’s the thing—it’ll be coming at us. Not you. Not me. Us.”
I blink back tears.
“My world has never felt righter than it has these past two weeks,” he says. “And it’s not just having you around that’s made it so amazing. It’s being able to make you smile. To hear your laughter. To do little things that make your eyes light up.”
“Why are you so good to me?”
He grins. “Because you’re my girl. My life began the day I met you, and the only way it makes sense is when we’re together.”
“But what about me having to be gone so much? I have to leave Monday.”
“Then you go and work and have a ball. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you need me, I’m a phone call away.”
My throat is sticky with emotion. “And what about all the changes around here?”
“As long as they come with a new closet for your shit, I’ll manage.”
I laugh. It grows louder as relief and joy spread through me.
“Anything else you want to cover?” he asks.
I stare at the barn and consider what our future will look like. I still want to make music. It’s a huge part of who I am. But I also want to spend afternoons in the barn, mornings folding clothes, and late nights eating pizza in bed and listening to Luke’s stories. I want to watch my man work and learn more about his business. I want to be a champion of his life like he is mine.