Page 51 of There I Find Happiness

“You can ask.” Her lips pulled up, and her teeth sparkled. “I think normally women don’t have too much trouble talking about how they feel.”

“How do you feel about me, Sally?”

“I admire you. I appreciate the fact that you’re more interested in what God wants than what you want. I love your character and your convictions. And I love that you’re trying to take something hard that’s happened to you and turn it into something that you can learn a lesson from.”

“Those aren’t feelings,” he said, closing his eyes as her breath fanned over his face. He wasn’t sure when she moved closer, but he certainly wasn’t going to complain about it. He took one hand, and trailed it down the side of her face.

“True,” she said, her voice soft. “I feel...like I might be falling in love with you.”

“That’s how I feel too,” he said, wanting to say more, but not wanting to be unable to even walk when he asked her if they could have an exclusive relationship. That’s what he wanted. A relationship that culminated in a lifetime commitment. Was that too much too soon? He wanted to move forward, didn’t want to be stuck in limbo, but...

He lost his train of thought as her face moved closer and her lips trailed over his cheek.

“Really?” she breathed.

It took a little bit to figure out what she was questioning him about. Falling in love. That was it.

“Yeah. I love you. Is that crazy?”

“No. It’s perfect.”

Her lips moved from his cheek to the corner of his mouth. He tilted his head ever so slightly, and their mouths met. Maybe it was better because he hadn’t planned it, hadn’t even thought about it, instead had been working through everything he needed to in order to get his attitude right. He hadn’t seen this coming. But he’d wanted it. Had wanted it for a while. And, it seemed like as his attitude shifted and he got himself going in the right direction, other things fell into place too.

Later he might wonder if that was the Lord’s way of saying that when he got himself right, let go of the things he knew he needed to, and allowed God to have His way, God could move. But currently, he was too swept away by Sally’s lips moving against his, her hand on his face, her soft sigh and the way her hair flowed over his fingers as he put his hand on her neck and moved it down her back, trying to get her closer.

She pulled away just a little.

“This might be dangerous.”

“Me kissing you in my house in the middle of the night? Yeah. Very dangerous.”

She pressed her lips against his cheek, and he swallowed the disappointment that she didn’t move them so that they met his again.

She was right. It was probably better that way.

“I love you,” she said as her hands cupped both of his cheeks and she searched his eyes in the dim light. “And I don’t care.”

“You don’t care about what?” he asked, feeling like there was a little bit of brain fog moving around in his head, and he couldn’t quite follow her logic.

“What the doctor says. What your leg is like. What repercussions the concussion has. I just want you.”

That was exactly what he wanted too. Just her. He wanted to be more for her though. To be someone she deserved, and not someone she had to settle for, but that was what she was saying. She wasn’t settling. She was getting what she wanted.

“I’m yours,” he said, lifting one shoulder. “But I don’t feel like you’re getting much.”

“I’m getting everything I wanted,” she said, smiling into his eyes, and there was no doubt that she was happy.

“I think I’m getting the better end of this deal, but I’m not going to argue with you. If you’re willing to take me, just as I am, I’m fine with it.”

She smiled, and then she kissed him again, and he was definitely feeling the brain fog when she finally slipped away, and hurried back up the stairs.

He figured in the morning he’d probably feel like it was a dream, but for now, he fell asleep smiling.

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