Page 55 of Since the Day We Wished

Luke pulled Emma even closer to him, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he gave her a playful wink. “Not as gorgeous as you.”

Emma smirked, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. “Oh, you’re such a charmer,” she said, playfully nudging him with her elbow.

The pilot’s voice boomed through the headphones, interrupting their conversation. “Alright folks, we’re heading southbound for the finale.”

Emma’s gasp echoed through the cabin as her beloved Hadley Cove came into view. The marshlands sprawled out before them like a patchwork quilt, with shades of green, brown, and gold intermingling in a beautiful chaos. The sandy beach shone in the warm glow of the sun, and the Bridwell Lighthouse stood majestically against the horizon.

Luke’s eyes scanned the view, a mix of awe and nostalgia flooding through him. He thought of their walk on the beach, with Emma’s hand in his and the warm sand between their toes and how they had danced at The Point. He remembered how she had playfully coaxed him into sneaking into the lighthouse, and how he’d caught a cramp in his leg as they climbed the stairs to the top. And he thought about their first kiss, how he knew in that moment that she was the one for him.

As the helicopter turned back toward Savannah, the skies darkened with a deep shade of indigo, and the stars began to twinkle above them. Emma leaned her head onto Luke’s shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. He looked down at her andsmiled, gratefulfor this moment, for this woman, for this love.

Chapter 25

Emma

As they touched back down at the heliport, Emma took off her headset and threw her arms around Luke’s neck. “That was amazing! I’m sorry I was so scared earlier.”

Luke wrapped his arms around her waist. “No need to apologize. I should have given you a better heads up for that one. Luckily, the rest of our activities tonight will be on the ground.”

She leaned back and kissed him on the lips. “That sounds great. So, where are we going next?”

Luke grinned mischievously and disembarked from the helicopter, teasing, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

As he assisted Emma out of the helicopter, she straightened up and gasped in amazement. Beside them was a white Rolls Royce with a chauffeur in a tuxedo holding open the back door.

Emma’s jaw dropped as she shot her hands up to her mouth. “Luke, we could’ve taken an Uber!”

The corners of his mouth lifted into a sly grin as he guided her over to the car. “Well, tonight is a special occasion.”

From the moment they met at Phil’s Diner, Emma sensed there was something different about Luke. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was an air of confidence about him that piqued her curiosity.

As they settled into the plush back seat and drove away from the heliport, Emma’s imagination took her somewhere else. Her thoughts drifted to a place of uncertainty, pondering how she would fit into Jeremiah and Luke’s lives. But then, Luke reached over and took her hand, bringing her back to the present moment.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched on his face.

Emma turned to him, smiling softly. “Oh. It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing,” Luke said. “A minute ago, you seemed really excited. Now you’re quiet and distant. What are you thinking about?”

“Luke, it’s nothing, really. I’m having a good time, and you have nothing to worry about.”

“Emma, you can tell me anything,” he said, his voice soft and steady.

Taking a deep breath, Emma looked into his eyes. “What if Jeremiah isn’t ready whenever you tell him about us, what then?” she continued, her voice trembling with doubt, “Luke, I’m falling for you. And I don’t want to lose you. But if Jeremiah isn’t on board, I don’t think I could live with being the reason that your relationship with him never gets fixed.”

Understanding dawned on Luke’s face. “Emma, I’ve already fallen for you. And I don’t want to lose you either. I don’t know how he’ll react. Nothing worth having is ever easy. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to ruin our night. I just can’t imagine life without you,” she whispered.

Luke leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Emma, you won’t have to, I promise. Okay?”

Emma stifled the tears that were building behind her eyes, squeezing Luke’s hand, reassured by his promise. She rested her head on his shoulder, grateful he was a safe haven she could open up to about her deepest fears and insecurities.

It was a stark contrast to her past with Chad, who always made her feel ashamed for her honesty. Emma felt proud of herself for finding the strength to speak her truth with Luke, someone who accepted her flaws and all. With every beat of her heart, she knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be, in the arms of a man who truly cared for her.

Luke’s tone rose with excitement as the car slowed down on 37th Street. “So, are you hungry?”

Emma nodded, trying to hide her hunger pangs. “I am.”

---