Page 103 of Beautiful Harmony

“Because staying here and being with you can’t happen,” she said.

He looked sick to his stomach. “Emma, I know being with me is a hit to your reputation, and believe me when I say that I would give anything to be able to change my past, but -”

“What are you talking about?” she said. “Why is it a hit to my reputation?”

“Because you’re from Harmony Falls and a successful business owner. You’re well respected by everyone, and I’m just the Willington guy who sleeps around,” Lucas said. “It’s why you wanted to keep us a secret, and I get it, I do, but I love you and -”

She cupped his face and shook her head. “Lucas, no. I told you before that I don’t care about your past, and I meant it. Keeping us a secret had nothing to do with who you are.”

“Then why can’t we be together in Harmony Falls?” Lucas asked.

“Because if I stay here, and especially if we’re together, people will talk shit about you. They’ll say horrible things about why you’re with me, and they’ll mock you for being with me.”

“I don’t care about that,” Lucas said. “I’ve been gossiped about before. I’m known as the town mattress in Willington. And I slept with enough people the first month I moved here that I already have a reputation for sleeping around in Harmony Falls too. I don’t care, Emma.”

“It isn’t the same,” she said. “Every time we’re together in public, there’ll be stares, whispers, and mean comments. It won’t all be limited to behind our backs, either.”

“I know,” he said. “But I don’t hear that when I’m with you.”

“Bullshit,” she said. “You hear it. You’ve already tried to beat up two different guys, and we weren’t even dating.”

“That’s fair,” he said, “and like I said before, if I hear someone talking shit to you, yeah, I’ll defend you. Always, Emma. Because I love you, and no one talks to the woman I love like that. But the more I’m with you, the less I hear.”

“What do you mean?” she whispered.

He cupped her face tenderly, his hazel eyes full of love and warmth. “When I’m with you, Emma, all I see, all I hear is you. Everything else fades away.”

“You’re in the bubble,” she said, her voice breaking again.

He smiled a little. “I guess?”

“There’s this couple, they just moved to town, and he has scars, and he… when they’re together, it’s like they’re in a bubble.” She was babbling, but she couldn’t stop. “It’s like nothing matters to them but each other. I saw them at the diner, and I was so envious, Lucas. I wanted that for myself. I wanted that for you and me.”

He kissed her gently. “I’m already in that bubble, baby. You just have to join me.”

She started crying again, and he pulled her into his arms. She hugged him hard, no longer caring that she was sweaty and smelly. “I love you so much, Lucas.”

“I love you too,” he said.

“I’m not selling the store, and we’re not leaving Harmony Falls,” she said.

“Are you sure?” He leaned back to stare at her. “I will move with you, Emma. No hesitation.”

“I don’t want to leave,” she said. “I never did. I just… I didn’t want you to feel bad or be hurt by what others said.”

He smiled and mimicked drawing a bubble around them. “Not gonna happen, baby.”

“So, now I just have to figure out a way to tell Caroline tomorrow night,” she said.

“What about opening a second store?” Lucas said.

“What?”

“You said Caroline owned a craft store in Riverton, right?”

“Yes,” Emma said.

“So, maybe she turns it into a Twisted Stitches. You could franchise the business,” Lucas said.

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