Page 46 of Until Kendal

I directed us toward dinner, but my insides were all jumpy. I had no idea what to do anymore. “I hope you like the lamb chops.”

She picked up her fork and knife. “I’ve never had them, so I need to know how.”

I remembered someone told me that I would have to let go of what I wanted the most to see if it was real. I took a deep breath and wondered if that was my only option left.

My lips curled higher. “Most people I know put the mint jelly on it. That’s here.”

She nodded. “I see.” Then she put some on her meat.

I did the same. “However, I was taken into a very different culture, so this is sort of plain for my tongue.”

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

I had no control over her choices. If she loved me, then she needed to tell me without me putting in all the effort. I wished my heart wasn’t heavy as I said, “Normally, the chefs marinate this in some lemon, yogurt, and saffron mixture and then cook it for us.”

She reached out and took my hand, making my skin buzz. “That sounds delish. Why did they make this plain?”

“Because of you,” I said and wished I wasn’t breaking in half. If she didn’t love me, then I would have to learn to live with it.

ChapterThirty-Nine

Kendal

Most of my life was spent in a hair salon, until now. The dress, the guy… My heart slowed. Honestly, it would be easier to love Joel without all the glamour. I would have been less intimidated if he were a plumber with a heart of gold. However, I needed to stop living in fear. Maybe it was possible to live the dream, with Joel.

However, I blinked and glanced up at the statue the second we stepped on land. I kept my gaze firmly up—it was bigger than I'd imagined. So I stopped near a closed snack stand and said, “I never thought I’d be standing here, looking at Lady Liberty so close.”

His shoulders seemed stiff. “During the day, it’s filled with people.”

I pivoted and turned toward the metal detectors. “And security systems look intense.”

He winked. “I have connections, and that sometimes matters more than anything else.”

We were alone in a place many people considered special. Well, Joel and I were special together too. And an idea of being with him hit me hard and fast.

“Are we alone here?” I asked.

We walked toward the statue as he said, “Yes.”

My idea of having him inside me here rushed through me like a video I couldn’t turn off. “No cameras?”

He tugged his ear as we headed to the front gate. “I can talk about getting them shut off. Why?”

I brushed against his shirt buttons. “Because I was thinking… you and I can celebrate our freedom.”

His entire body brightened, though he paused and gazed intently at me. “Up the stairs or down here, near the benches.”

I snapped my fingers and nodded. “You’re totally right. Let’s climb to the crown.”

He laughed, texted whoever he needed to, then opened the door for us. “Or take the elevator most of the way.”

I swallowed then bounced forward. “I like how you think, Joel. Let’s go.”

From now on, I wouldn’t think about anything except how happy I was near Joel. That was all that mattered.

ChapterForty

Joel

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