Page 56 of The One Who Risked it All

“Eli,” she began, her voice low and steady, “I’ve spent so long trying to convince myself that you were just the town playboy, and that what we had was nothing more than a teenage crush.”

My heart sank, but then she reached out and touched my arm. The warmth of her fingers sent a jolt through me, and suddenly I was seventeen again, stealing kisses under the bleachers.

“But…” She shook her head, a wry smile playing on her lips. “I can’t keep pretending.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “So, you’re saying...”

“I’m saying that I’ve been comparing every guy to you for years,” she admitted, rolling her eyes at herself. “And they all come up short.”

A grin spread across my face, but Carla wasn’t finished. Her expression grew serious, and she glanced around before leaning in closer.

“There’s something you need to know about our families,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “My family, I mean.”

“I already know, sweetheart.”

Carla sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Then you know why your dad hates my family. You know that we deserve it.”

Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water. “Carla, no. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Her eyes grew glossy, and my heart cracked at the pain I saw in them. “That’s why you’ve been dodging my calls,” I murmured, the pieces falling into place.

Carla nodded. “How can I ask you to walk away from your family when mine are the ones who wronged your aunt?”

My voice was firm. “You’re not asking, I’m offering. I think it’s time this feud was put to bed once and for all. But if my dad can’t help but hold the sins of your grandfather against you, then I don’t want any part of being his family.”

“You can’t mean that,” she argued.

“I mean every word, sweetheart. You’re my family. I love you more than anything or anyone else in this world.” And I would spend every single day proving that to her.

Her sweet smile reassured me that I’d said the right thing.

“I…I love you, too,” she said through a laugh, her eyes wide with joy.

A rush of emotions surged through me—relief, elation, and a fierce protectiveness that made my chest ache.

I pulled her into my arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead, relishing how perfectly right she felt against me. Then, I dropped my lips to hers. Her breath hitched, soft and warm against my skin, as her fingers curled into the front of my shirt like I was heranchor in a storm. I would be that anchor, I promised myself. Nothing had ever made me confident the way her trust did.

The taste of her was a blend of sweetness and spice, sending a surge of heat straight to my chest. The buzz of the town melted into the background, replaced by the thunderous rhythm of my heart, calling to hers with every beat. I was claiming her once and for all, in front of the entire town of Minden.

And I had never been happier.

CHAPTER 22

Carla

It was entirely possible that the night would be a disaster. What on earth had convinced me that this was a good idea in the first place?

I stood next to Eli by the Christmas tree, our hands intertwined, my palm embarrassingly sweaty against his. My heart was doing its usual gymnastics routine at his touch, but this time with an extra dose of nervous energy. We were about to face our families together, and I couldn’t decide if I was more excited or terrified.

“You okay?” Eli whispered, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. His dark eyes, usually dancing with mischief, were soft with concern.

I managed a weak smile. “Just peachy. Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ like dropping a bombshell on our feuding families, right?”

He chuckled, the sound sending a familiar warmth through me. “We’ve got this, Carla. Besides, if things go south, I can always escape through a window. I’ll catch you if you jump after me.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress a grin. “My hero.”

The living room of Nathan and Rebecca’s home was a Christmas paradise. Twinkling lights adorned every surface, casting a soft glow over the festive decorations. The tree beside us was a masterpiece of ornaments and tinsel, and the aroma of fresh-baked cookies and cinnamon hung in the air. It was picture-perfect, and I found myself wishing we could freeze this moment before the potential chaos ensued.

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