Page 85 of Connected By Love
“Yeah, that about sums it up.” I let out a breath I was holding. “It will get better. It just takes time. If she can’t see the amazing man you are, then she’s not your person. One day, you’ll meet her, and it’ll make sense why it didn’t work out with Eve.”
“That’s the thing, Soph. It doesn’t make sense because sheismy person. I know that to be true to the depths of my soul. I just wasn’t her person, and there’s not one damn thing I can do about it.” We reach the stairs, and he hides his pain again with a smile. “Enough sad talk. This is supposed to be a fun weekend. I’ll be right back with that drink.” He winks at me and jogs up the stairs.
I rub the ache in my chest as if I can feel his pain as my own. Glancing back, I see Travis and Max walking up behind me. Max runs up the stairs, probably eager to get into the pool. I bury my face in Travis’s solid chest and breathe him in as I wrap my arms tightly around him.
“You good? You’re squeezing the life out of me,” he softly laughs.
I nod my head against his chest, not wanting to let go quite yet.
“I’m just so happy I have you.” He rubs his hand up and down my back in a soothing motion.
“I’m happy I have you too. I’m not going anywhere, wildcat. I swear on my life, I’ll always be here as long as you want me to.”
“Me too,” I whisper against his shirt, knowing that forever is the only option I want.
“Okay,class, we have a very special guest with us today. Emma Hunter, the author of the Luna and Lola series, is here with us today. She’s going to read her book to us and has signed copies for everyone in the class to take home.” I can see the excitement on their faces as they start to squirm in their seats, ready to run to the reading rug.
I look over at Emma, and she has a huge grin on her face. I know it has been her lifelong dream to be standing here reading her books to kids, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. She waves at the kids, and they all wave back excitedly.
“Let’s all go to the reading rug and get settled so Mrs. Hunter can read to you all.” I decide to go by her pen name even though she hasn’t hidden her real identity. The kids will always look at the book and see Emma Hunter’s name, remembering they met her one day.
They run over and find their spots on the light blue rug surrounded by bookcases. I make it a point to always read to them each day. Books were a huge part of my life growing up, and I want to instill that love of reading into their lives. I sit down at a desk next to the reading area to listen with the kids.
Emma sits on the floor right next to them, ignoring thechair I had set out for her. I smile at the image because it’s exactly what I do. Getting down on their level and being surrounded by their energy makes you feel better connected to them.
She says hi to all the kids and asks their names before telling them a little about herself. Opening her first book in the series, she captures them with storytelling about a little girl and her dog who get submersed into an underwater adventure. She captivates us all as she reads.
When she’s finished, the kids clap their hands and eagerly take the book she hands them one by one. Walking over to me, she hugs me tightly.
“Thank you for having me. I can see why you love teaching so much. These kids are amazing.”
“They are.” I look at their cute little heads turned down as they look through their new book. “I should be thanking you, though. The kids loved it, Emma. You have a way with words and drawing them into your story. I talked to the school, and they will be ordering more copies for the other younger classrooms and the school’s library.”
“Really? Thank you, that’s amazing. I still can’t believe I’m an author. I have to pinch myself whenever I see my book come up on a website or another review. I’m just so grateful for it all.”
“Noah does the same thing,” I laugh. “I don’t think it ever sinks in fully, but that makes it so special. You guys live in the moment and don’t take anything for granted. He still reaches out to his very first readers even though he has millions of them by now.”
Her green eyes get a dreamy look at the mention of Noah’s name. “It’s one of the many things I love about him the most, his heart. He’s got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.”
“And he’s all yours.” I nudge her with my shoulder and grin.
“And he’s all mine. Speaking of being someone’s person. How did your weekend go with Travis and his family?”
I glance at the kids, and some are reading, and the others have some toys out. I timed the reading to be at the end of the day, so class is almost over.
“It went great. The whole family is amazing. I got to know his sister better, and you and Bella are going to love her. She’s up in Georgia right now with school, but when she visits again, I told her we were all taking her out.”
“Sounds like a plan. I can’t wait to meet her. Noah and I really love him Soph. We couldn’t be happier for you.”
“I really love him too.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face whenever I think of him. “I guess, like you, I still have to pinch myself sometimes,” I softly laugh.
“That just means it’s real. The most important people in our lives are the ones we are most afraid of losing.” A sad look briefly crosses her face, and I know she’s thinking of her parents. I take her hand and squeeze it. “Sorry. It sneaks up on me sometimes, especially when doing something I’m so proud of, like being here and sharing my book with your kids. I know they both would have come and sat down right in the middle with your students to support me,” she smiles and blinks back the tears.
“They were here…sitting right with you. I know they are beyond proud of you.”
“I know that too,” she says, nodding her head. “I can feel them.” She smiles again. This time, her eyes shine with love instead of sadness. She’s one of the strongest people I know, and I love how she always finds the light in the dark. “I better get going. Noah and I are looking at another property he wants to renovate. This poor house needs so much work that it would be easier to tear it down than restore it, but Noah is determined to keep the original woodwork and character of the place.”
“That sounds like Noah. He’s fixing one run-down place at a time, restoring this town that he loves piece by piece,” I laugh.
