Page 122 of Here's to Now

She shrugs. “I was drunk. I’m certain I would have gone home with anyone.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “You always stroke my ego so good.”

Haley waggles her brows up and down. “That’s not all I stroke so good.”

Groaning at her words, I adjust myself in the seat. “Dammit,” I growl. “Don’t say that shit right now. I’m already fighting the urge to throw you into the backseat and have my way with you.”

“I doubt we’d fit.”

I lean over to her and whisper, “I know one place I can fit.”

She slaps her hand over her mouth as laughter spills out of her. “Oh, Lord. That was terribly cheesy.”

“You loved it.”

“I love you.”

I look at her seriously. “I love you too.”

“You ready?” she asks, giving my hand another squeeze.

“Wait, was that all a distraction? Did you just talk me down from the ledge?”

She winks. “Maybe.”

“You’re a damn she-devil.”

“That’s no way to talk to your savior,” she admonishes.

“I seriously love you.”

“And I seriously love you too.”

“No, Haley,” I tell her sternly. “You don’t get it. Love was always something I knew about, but it was something I’d nevertrulyexperienced. I was comfortable with that. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t a robot who didn’t love at all. I did. I came to love my siblings, I loved my friends, I loved my art…but I’d neverloveloved a person before. Then you came along.” I shake my head. “You crashed into my life when I wasn’t looking. You sneaked into my heart in the wildest of ways. At first, it was truly about the friendship, and I hope you know that. I hope you know I didn’t go inside with you or come back the next night with any intentions other than companionship.”

“I didn’t think that,” she says quickly.

“From the first time I held you, I knew I was fucked. You calmed the storm within me, and I didn’t even know it, not until we didn’t talk for those six months. I about went crazy without you, but I swear, Haley, the moment you stepped back into my life, I knew everything was going to be okay. We didn’t need to rehash the time spent apart. We flowed…we’ve always flowed.”

“Flowed is such a strange word.”

I smirk at her. “Don’t ruin my speech.”

“I’d never,” she says, batting her lashes at me innocently.

“I’m just saying, you’ve done something to me, awakened me somehow. I don’t know how or when, but it happened. It happened, and I wouldn’t take it back for anything.” I laugh sardonically and look down at our joined hands, a smile playing on my lips. “I don’t even think love is a strong enough word to describe what you make me feel.”

She leans over and places a soft kiss to my stubble-lined cheek. “And they say romance is dead.”

I throw my head back in laughter, surprised by the intense joy I feel in this moment. I’ve gone from terrified to be feeling at peace. She’s done that, again.

“Come on. Let’s get this over with before I lose all my confidence.”

We exit the car and I meet Haley at her door. In a gesture of solidarity, she laces her fingers in mine as we make our way up the path. I don’t hesitate when I ring the doorbell, something that surprises us both.

It takes a few beats, but I can hear shuffling from inside. The kids are still in school so I know it’s Mercy making her way to the door.

She opens it slightly, then tries to slam it back shut, but I’m too quick, sticking my foot in her way. She presses harder and damn does it hurt.

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