Page 24 of More Than My Hometown

I nod, shivering, although I’m not sure if it’s his openness and sincerity or the spring rain that is causing my reaction. Ewan doesn’t seem to think twice though, scooping me up like a groom carries a bride, scurrying across the pavement and back up the stairs. The small overhang at my front door doesn’t do much, barely covering one of us, but it’s better than the parking lot.

“So, what now?” I ask, uncertainty creeping in.

There’s a part of me that would still marry him tomorrow if he asked. Head straight to the courthouse, stand in front of Judge Robinson, and promise to love him until death do us part. But there’s another who wants answers. Who is still hurt.

“I don’t know, Mais,” he admits, placing his hands on my hips. I shudder out a sigh, wanting to fall into him. “I know we both have so much left unsaid, and have a lot to catch up on, but…I…”

I nod. Because I know. He doesn’t have to say it out loud. Even after all this time apart, we’re still connected enough for me to know what he’s thinking and feeling. Which means I know the whole mess that is inside his head right now. Because it’s the same one inside mine.

“Ewan, I…”

“Y’wanna go fishin’?”

Huh…what?!

I blink, hard, trying to make sure I heard him properly. That he just asked me what I think he just asked me.

“Wh-what?” I stutter, staring back at him blankly.

“Y’wanna go fishin’?” he repeats, as casually as ever.

As if he didn’t just turn my entire world on its axis with a single kiss, now he’s asking if I want to go fishing.

And yeah, I do.

Fuck, yes, I want to go fishing with Ewan Hayes.

Because what I wouldn’t have given all these years to be asked that question. To have Ewan look at me, with that sheepish grin, and ask me if I want to go fishing, the same way he would have asked me when we were younger. Like this is any other day.

Smiling, I look up at him, feeling like I’m on top of the world. Like for the first time in a decade, I’m myself again.

“More than you know.”