AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then Forrest took my hand in his and led me to his cabin.
“How was it?”
I eagerly awaited Forrest’s response, praying he enjoyed it.
“The best belated celebration I’ve ever had,” he answered.
I perked up at his admission. “Really? I thought the cake was delicious.”
“As far as cake goes, it was great, but I can’t say it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” he returned.
I cuddled closer to him, wrapping my arm around his waist. Tilting my head up toward his face, I pressed a kiss to his lips. “Happy Birthday, Forrest.”
“Thank you, Daisy. As unnecessary as all of this was, it was very sweet of you to do. But now I’ve got to know something.”
Pulling my face back just a touch, so it would be easier to look at him, I asked, “What’s that?”
“When is your birthday?” he asked.
“At the beginning of May. The fifth, to be precise.”
He studied me a moment, clearly trying to sort through the thoughts in his head. “I have to have the opportunity to do something nice for you on your birthday.”
Nothing would have made me happier, but I couldn’t have unrealistic expectations. “So, call me,” I suggested.
“I’m not going to just call you, Daisy. I’m going to make the trip to Birch Creek to see you. I can’t let you make the effort to celebrate my birthday with me and not do the same for you.”
It would be the best birthday of my life if Forrest actually followed through with that and came to visit me. “I don’t expect you to do that for me, but I certainly won’t turn down the chance to see you again, so we can celebrate and catch up.”
“I know it’s going to feel like forever until that time,” he said.
I couldn’t say I disagreed. The thought of having to leave him tomorrow was already so dreadful. Having to wait weeks upon weeks to see him again broke my heart, and I didn’t know what to say other than to nod my agreement.
“So, is that it? Is this what it’s going to be now? We’ll leave here and never see each other again until your birthday?” he questioned me.
“What other option do we have?” I countered.
If Forrest even gave me the slightest indication that he would have wanted me to come to Steel Ridge, so I could visit him, and we could spend time together, I would have done it in a heartbeat.
He shrugged. “I guess there really isn’t one. I just hate to think about how much I’m going to miss you.”
“This really was the best trip of my life, Forrest,” I shared, my throat tight and my eyes welling up with tears.
His features softened, his head tipping slightly to one side. Lifting his hand to the side of my face, he swiped at the tear that had escaped. “It’s been the same for me.”
“For as long as I live, I’ll never forget a second of the time we spent together. It’s meant the world to me, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to get to know you,” I revealed, pushing through the overwhelming sadness in an effort to make sure he knew how I felt.
Granted, I couldn’t bring myself to say the words I truly felt, but I thought I could try to get him to understand how much of an impact he had on me.
“From the moment I met you, there was no question just how special I thought you were. With each day that passed, I realized my initial impression of you wasn’t wrong. This trip wouldn’t have been half as good as it was if it hadn’t been for you, sunshine. I’ll remember this trip and you for the rest of my life.”
Hearing those words, feeling all that I was, I couldn’t stop myself. I needed him. I needed to have him one more time before we went our separate ways.
So, I leaned forward and touched my mouth to his.
When it became clear I wasn’t interested in talking any longer, Forrest took over. We kissed each other for a long time on the couch, but eventually, he lifted me in his arms and carried me to the bed.
And I spent the rest of the night doing what I could to commit every kiss, touch, and taste to memory.
