Page 127 of Here and Now
I shake my head. “Go on.”
“Okay, so, the rival farmers hated each other, and there was drama so the mayor, or whatever he would’ve been of the town, stepped in. He decided that the only way to make the families stopfeuding was to re-divide the land ownership. He made some bullshit decree, and they moved the river to be the buffer, but their beloved falls, well, they still needed those.”
“Right, we need to magically heal the sick,” I say in agreement.
“Exactly. The only way to do that was to divide the river itself in half. The Andersons and the MacLeroys were very powerful. They had a lot of cows.”
I snort. “The testament of wealth, no doubt.”
“Anyway, they split the land, and the demand the town made was either the people of Ember Falls were permitted unfettered access to the magical falls or the land would be seized from them both. If there were any more issues, they’d redefine the property lines again, and the falls would be off-limits. Since my family were definitely the most reasonable, we agreed immediately. After that, the MacLeroys left town, and we’ve stayed.”
We reach the falls, and I stare at the beauty of it all. “I’m glad you stayed.”
He turns me to look at him. “I’m glad you came.”
I lift up on my toes, kissing him softly with the sounds of the rushing water behind us, and thank every star in the sky that I found my way here too.
My sister-in-law was right: Orgasmville is a lovely little town.
“Am I sneaking out your window again?” Miles asks as he curls his body around mine.
I turn, rolling to face him while he has his elbow propped up, watching me. “I was thinking ...”
“About me, I hope.”
I smile. “Yes, it’s about you.”
“Can I guess it?”
“If you must.”
His grin causes my stomach to flutter. “I was thinking that you might be thinking that we should start sleeping together every night, and I don’t have to leave before Kai wakes.”
He’s not that faroff.
“You’re close.”
“I knew it.”
I lean closer and kiss his lips. Miles makes me feel like a teenager experiencing her first crush. From the rush of nerves to the butterflies in my belly when I see him. Each time I think it’ll lessen, but it hasn’t.
“Do you want to know what I was actually thinking?” I ask.
“Of course I do. I want to know everything.”
I know he does. He’s been so patient, and I’ve appreciated it more than he can know.
“Okay, so I had two thoughts. First is that I think we should maybe go visit my brother. I know you have football games every weekend and you’re busy, but I think you’d like Ashton and I’d love to visit.”
“I’m never too busy to spend time with you, Penny. I’ll always make the time. We can go any weekend you want.”
The butterflies take flight again. “Ugh.” I groan and flop on my back.
“That upsets you?”
I turn my gaze to meet his as he looks amused. “Yes, because you’re so perfect. You’re not supposed to be perfect. I keep waiting for this fatal flaw to emerge so I can convince myself that ...”
That I’m not falling in love with you.
