Page 129 of All Too Well

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My jaw drops. “You what?”

“You know, for an investigative journalist, you kind of suck. Shouldn’t you know, Miss I-Know-Everything-about-You, that I subscribe to your paper?”

“I don’t exactly go into that department, but can we just stay on this for a moment? You subscribe—for how long?”

“Since you started working there.”

I roll off him, sitting with my legs crossed on the bed. “Lachlan!”

He moves over to the side of his table and pulls out the lower drawer, then hands me a small stack of newspaper clippings. “See for yourself.”

With a shaking hand, I reach out and take them, already tearing up. He kept my articles in a drawer beside his bed.

The first tear falls as I flip through, looking at my first printed piece. It was terrible. Truly, the writing is just awful, but he has it and he cared.

“Why did you keep these?”

“Because you wrote them.”

My heart is pounding, and when I open my mouth to tell him how much it means to me, “I love you” comes out instead.

He rolls me on my back and hovers over me, taking my face in his hands. “What did you say?”

“I said I love you. I’ve loved you my whole life.”

“Sweetheart, you can’t imagine how much I love you.”

And if I thought I was stunned before, it’s nothing compared to this moment. He said he loves me. I’m pretty sure those magical falls did something to us.

“You love me?” I ask, almost afraid that he’s going to take it back.

“How could I not? You’re everything to me, Ainsley. You’re beautiful, smart, funny, a little maddening, but it only makes me love you more. You have invaded every part of my life, but that’s because you live in my heart and soul. No one has ever made me feel like this.”

I pull his head to me, kissing him softly. But then his wordsreally penetrate and my heart breaks. I know I have only a few days to convince him that we could at least try, because I don’t want to lose him.

I woke up with swollen eyes and a heaviness in my chest after seeing the text from Lachlan saying that he and Rose had gone for the day.

Lachlan

Good morning, sweetheart. You were sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you. Rose is at Becky’s for the day while I’m working. I’ll be home around six and Rose would like us to do dinner out tonight.

Dinners. I love dinners with them. They’re filled with laughter and talking about what we did for the day. I only have a few left.

All of this sucks.

I need to get a grip, because no matter what happens, I’m going to find a way to make all of this work. I’m going to talk to my boss. Maybe I can work remotely, or I’ll find another job. Either way, I’m not giving up so easily.

As I’m about to reply to Lachlan, an email comes through from Mr. Krispen.

Ainsley,

Why the hell are you still in Ember Falls? I read the first draft, you have plenty of notes and information, there’s no need for you to remain there. We need you back in the office by Monday.

The breath in my lungs expels and I gasp. No. I had days. Days. Not a day. I don’t want to go back to New York now. I wanted to spend the next week with him. I quickly send off a reply.

Mr. Krispen,

While I understand that you believe I have everything I need, I’ve decided to take the story in a different direction. I think it’s best I stay in Ember Falls until the previously agreed upon time to ensure the information I have is adequate. Mr. West and the other interviewees live in a more remote area of the valley, and cell service is often unreliable, as well as they are extremely busy. It’s best, since publication is coming up, that I remain here.