Page 139 of Loving You

I wrap an arm around her lower back and pull her against me. My hands thread through her hair as I lock her lips to mine.

This, right here, this connection, this passion—I can’t let it go. Ever.

I kiss her with all that I have. Her fist finds my shirt and clenches to hold on, and I swear the porch spins.

This is what it’s supposed to be like forever.

Me and her.

But of course, she has something to say.

She pushes me back, her hand cupping my cheek.

“You came back,” I state the obvious.

“I did, and I have no idea how we are going to make this work. I just know that I want to try.”

"I don’t want this to end either, Quinn. If it means waiting for you while you travel, I’ll do it. If it means I see you only twice a year, I’ll do it. I’ll wait for you. I’ll never find this with someone else, and I don’t want to. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you, and if it means I close the shop from time to time, then that’s what has to happen. I’ll?—”

“My turn,” she cuts me off. “The only adventure I want fromhere on out is with you. Every day. Every minute, and mostly here in Lovers. I want it all. If you have to be somewhere, I’m there. If I need to be somewhere, you’re there. We stay together. Forever.”

I grin. Between the two of our confessions, we’re going to make this work.

That doesn’t mean I can’t still tease a little.

“Forever? That sounds a bit excessive, don’t you think?” I wink, thinking of the answer she gave to me once after I gave her a similar speech.

She punches my shoulder, but she laughs.

“I love you, too, Miles Asher.”

Shadow barks just then, so I reach out to take him from Quinn’s arms. He licks my face and then hers.

Looks like everyone is getting what they want today.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay staying in Lovers?”

She nods.

“It means you’ll be giving things up,” I point out. I need to make sure she’s fully on the same page as me.

“I know. By the looks of it, it seems you were going to do the same.”

“For you, I would. I’m an idiot for not figuring this out sooner.”

“You're not an idiot. I should have figured it out, too. But maybe you can promise me that we can take at least one trip a year.”

“Deal, and it’s going to be more than one because I’d never do that to you. But I’m also not sure where we can go that you haven’t already been.”

“That’s the thing, Miles. I haven’t seen them with you.”

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight, only to spot my dad, Tobias, Natalie, and their twins on the apartment patio. Natalie is crying, and my dad is thrusting a fist into the air.

“I was so nervous coming back just now,” Quinn admits.

“Why?”

“Because this all happened so fast, and asking someone to make this kind of change is huge, and I?—”

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