“Is that so?” I hear the smile in her voice as she trails behind me. We’re almost at our vehicles, and I can’t believe we’re about to enter real life.
“Ya. I finally got you.”
“You’ve always had me, Jack.” I’m grinning from ear to ear, but she can’t see it. And I don’t turn around now because if I do I know we won’t get out of these woods anytime fast.
Instead, I just keep pouring out my heart to her. “For so long I was scared of fighting with someone I loved, but you quickly showed me that not fighting created just as much, if not more damage. If you love someone, you fight with them. There are healthy ways to fight, and there are some things—some people—worth fighting with. You’re worth it, Booksy.”
“Are we home yet?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“I heard you. And I’m about to climb you again if we’re not home soon. We’re going to end up christening every tree in these damn woods if you don’t get me home.”
Emmerson is my person. I’ve loved her for so long that there’s no point in waiting.
“Speaking of home…”
“Yes?”
“Where are you going to live?”
“I knew I couldn’t avoid that question for the entirety of this weekend. I was planning to move back to Lit Creek. I thought the big city would inspire me. Give me space to pursue my writing and my dreams, but this weekend has shown me that I need the open spaces—the quiet. And you.”
“Great. You can stay with me.”
“What?” her shriek causes a few birds to scatter in the trees. “That’s how you’re going to ask me to move in with you.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Is that what you think I’m doing?”
“Oh. Never mind. I feel like an idiot—”
“Because it is.” I stop and face her. “You’re it for me, Emmerson. You always have been.”
But I can see that she isn’t quite convinced. No matter. I’ll show her the truth.
“I’ll think about it,” she says.
We walk in comfortable silence all the way back to our vehicles and then meet back at my house where I told her I’d make her an early dinner.
“You can rest on the couch while I make us some spaghetti.” I don’t have to tell her twice. I can see that the hiking was more activity than she’s used to.
But it doesn’t take more than two minutes for me to hear her call my name.
“Jack, come in here.”
There’s caution in her voice, but I have no clue what she could possibly have on her mind.
I dry my hand on the rag and walk in. “What?”
She’s staring at my bookshelves, running her fingers along the spines.
“These books look brand new.”
“Nah, they’re not new. You know exactly when I bought them.” Each time I’d visit her in the bookstore where she worked, I’d pick up a new book.
“They don’t look read.”
She’s got her hands on her hips and her eyes are narrowed at me. “Why did you buy all these books if you weren’t going to read them?”
