Page 91 of A Beginner's Guide to Forever
His mouth meets mine in a long, slow, lingering kiss, one that sends sensation ricocheting through me, mending my shattered heart with each sweet press of his lips to mine.
I spent months fighting him, fighting these feelings, but I know now that was a futile effort. I can’t ignore how right I feel in his arms, how good we are together. On paper, we might not make sense, but I can’t deny how this feels—it’s like coming home.
“What about everything else?” Someone needs to be the practical one. Is he really going to stay here in Nairobi? What will his friends say? His parents?
“Everything else will fall into place.”
I love his optimism, even if I don’t currently share it. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because. Love is worth it,” he says simply.
He’s right of course. Love is always worth it. And ours has endured so much, yet it has persisted. It endured breakups, an age gap, and living on different continents. It had to fight through the opinions of others simply to have a shot at existing. Yet here we are.
“I need to tell you something.” I fill him in on Hayes’s proposition.
A look of frustration laces his features. “You should have taken the money.”
Confusion rocks through me. “What are you saying?”
“What I mean is, you should have ignored him but still gone ahead and taken the money for the school. He can afford it, believe me.”
“Oh. That never even crossed my mind.”
“That’s because you’re a good person.” He takes my hand, gives it a squeeze. “And I’m sorry about Hayes.”
“What’s his deal anyways?”
Hart shrugs. “I wish I knew. He used to be different. His parents are even more demanding than mine. I think it left its mark.”
“That’s sad.”
“It is,” he agrees. “I think he’s bored with life. He’s seen and done it all, and all it’s done is left him feeling empty. He doesn’t know how to deal with that.”
I nod, feeling the slightest bit bad for Hayes, even though he doesn’t deserve my sympathy. “There was something else,” I admit.
“What is it?”
“He said something about wealthy, powerful men ... how they often trade up for a younger spouse.” I dare a glance up at him. “Even your parents ...”
Hart frowns, looking bothered. “First, never take advice from Hayes. Second of all, some people are broken. It doesn’t mean we will be.”
His answer is enough. At least for now.
Drawing strength from his closeness, I nod. “Okay.”
He touches my cheek and gives me a meaningful look. “Alessia, I don’t want you as a trophy. I want you foryou. I want a woman I can discuss weighty topics with, who’s warm and loving, who serves others, and would literally give someone the shirt off her back if they needed it, someone who Iknowwill be the best mother to my children. Those traits aren’t replaceable.You’renot replaceable.”
Emotion lodges in my throat, and for a moment I’m speechless. He leans in and brushes his mouth against mine. The kiss is filled with tenderness and longing.
“I saw the announcement about the coding program. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“I thought it meant you had moved on,” I admit.
“I don’t think I could if I tried.” He laughs, gathering me into his arms.
“This is going to be complicated, you know?” His eyebrows push together, so I clarify. “You and me. It’s going to be complicated.”
