Page 67 of Christmas at Hart's Ridge

“I needyou, Red. Everything else is negotiable.”

I sucked in a breath. What did he mean? Was he just being sweet, or did he mean—I shook my head. I needed to focus, not swoon. “The Appalachian Trail is not negotiable. You’ve wanted this too long.”

“The bar is my responsibility, not Ethan’s.Ethanis my responsibility. Anyway, it’s for the best. If you end up going back to New York to dance for another season, I’ll be able to come visit you sometimes.”

“I’m not going back to New York,” I muttered distractedly, still torn between wanting to melt in his arms and wanting to get through that thick skull of his. “But Luke—”

He stilled. “You’re not going back?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m staying here. Hart’s Ridge is where I want to be.”

Except, that wasn’t entirely true, was it? Yes, I saw myself making Hart’s Ridge my home again, either teaching dance at the community center or opening up my own studio. But first I wanted the big adventure. I wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail.

Even now that Luke was telling me he wouldn’t be going, I still wanted that. It wasn’t just about him. Sure, it would be an amazing experience to hike two thousand miles with the man I was deeply in love with, but spending time with him wasn’t the only reason I wanted to go. I wanted to go for myself. I wanted to push my limits, to see new places, to let go of my control and justbe.

But I didn’t know howhefelt about it. He had been planning this long before I came home for Christmas. Maybe hiking the AT was something he wanted to do on his own. Maybe he didn’t want me tagging along on his adventure.

He stared at me intently. “Why?”

“A lot of reasons. You know how I feel about dancing. I want more for my life. Ballet…it’s a hungry master. I realized something on stage last night. I loved dancing at the community center just as much as I loved dancing in New York. More, even. I don’t have to give up dancing to gain a life. The New York thing, I did it. I excelled at it and I’m so damn glad I did it. But I don’t have tokeepdoing it, just to have dance in my life. I want dancing, but I also want mountains and adventure and a family someday. I want it all. And I wantyou. I want you so much, Luke.”

He jerked a little in my arms, tensing like he was preparing for a fight. “You can’t stay here for me, Red. You’re young, so you don’t understand. You’re talking about uprooting your whole life. Giving up a dream you’ve had since you were seven. I don’t want you to resent me for it.”

The way he resented his parents. He didn’t say it out loud, but that’s what he feared. I understood, I really did, but this wasn’t the same at all.

“Believe me, Luke, I know what I’m giving up better than anyone. It’smylife, after all. I know what it’s worth. I’m not as old as you, but that doesn’t mean I’m a brand-new baby. I’m old enough to make my own choices. My own mistakes. But you’re not a mistake, Luke.”

“What if it doesn’t work out with us? What if—”

“I can’t predict the future or what it holds for us, but I do know this: The only regrets I’ve ever had are from not giving something my all. You matter too much for me to let that happen. So I’m going to give this my all.” I swallowed hard, then grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me. “Luke Buchanan, I’m in love with you.”

It was the first time either of us had said it out loud. We had been dancing around it for days now. Like a game of chicken, neither of us brave enough to go first. Enough of that. I loved him, and he needed to know that.

“I love you, Luke,” I repeated.

He stared back at me silently.

Undeterred, I fought on. “I know that scares you. You take on so much responsibility for others that you don’t want the responsibility that comes with loving someone. But that responsibility is a privilege, not a burden. Iwantto take care of you. And I want you to take care of me, too, because, Luke…” I tugged him closer, so my lips brushed his ear when I whispered, “You take such good care of me, honey. It feels so good.”

He groaned, burying his face in my neck. “Bethany.”

“I love you, Luke.” It was like a dam had been breached. Now that I had said it, I couldn’tstopsaying it. It felt too good.

“I—”

I pulled back and clapped my palm over his mouth. His eyebrows shot up quizzically.

“Don’t say it,” I said. I couldn't bear to hear platitudes or, worse, a lie. “It’s okay if you’re not there yet. You don’t have to say it.”

His eyes narrowed. Then he placed his hand over mine, tangling our fingers together, and kissed my palm before gently prying it off his face.

“Red, I was there when you dared me to kiss you in the hallway. I was there again when I stood on a mountain with you, when you called me a dumbass, when I saw you dance on the community center stage like it was the most prestigious stage in New York. Every time I’ve been inside you, I was there. I’ve been there ever since I saw you in my parking lot, catching snowflakes on your tongue. It just took a while for my brain to catch up with what I was feeling.”

His thumb brushed away the wetness on my cheekbone. I blinked. Was I crying?

“I love you, Bethany Albright,” he whispered.

He kissed me gently, almost reverently. Goat let out a loud, cantankerous bleat, startling us both. Luke pulled back with a growl. “Fucking Goat.”

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