Page 175 of Where Roads Lead

“I loved it,” I told her honestly.

How could I not? It was practically a time capsule of our whole relationship.

“I loved the way you made me sound way harsher. I loved the way you described the town. I loved the way you wrote about your thought process—really helpful for me, by the way.”

She let out a magical laugh.

“But what I liked best about it all,” I leaned forward until my face was inches from hers, “was the ending. Where she decides to stay and build a new life here.”

“You liked that?” She smiled. “I thought I’d come run it by you first, to see if it’s an ending worth replicating in real life.”

“It’s not an ending,” I told her. “Not even close.”

Her shoulders relaxed, and I pulled her closer, relishing in the blissful feeling of relief.

“Jesus, Els.” I sighed, pulling her head under my chin. “When you got here, I was halfway convinced you were going to tell me you were leaving.”

“I didn’t know for sure myself, until I was writing earlier and realized, who the heck wants to read a book about a heroine that chooses to go back to her dull, unfulfilling life instead of staying with the man she’s in love with?”

I stilled, heartbeat pausing for a moment as her words settled over me.

“Sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to freak you out or anything. And really, my decision isn’t even entirely to do with you. It’s about me. And creating the life I want, for the first time ever. And that just happens to be here. And you happen to be a big part of that. But not all of it. And—”

I couldn’t help it—the babbling sent me over the edge. I loved hearing her talk more than I loved the sound of my favorite song, or the jingling of my keys in the door at the end of a long day.

I pulled her in and kissed her, holding her steady as she nearly lost her footing from the shock of it.

“Elsie.” I pulled back, voice coming out a little breathless.

“Yeah?” She peered at me as if, somehow, even now, she didn’t know what I was going to say.

“I love you, too. You know that, right?”

Her face relaxed at once, and her exhale came out as a soft gasp of relief.

“I was hoping you did. Because otherwise it would make seeing each other around town a little awkward.”

I kissed her again, but somehow the words kept bubbling out of her. A trait I never seemed to get tired of.

“Especially because you’re the only place in town that serves good coffee. And if you didn’t know, I happen to run on the stuff, so—”

“Elsie?” I held her face in my hands.

“Yeah?”

“I love you.” I just wanted to say it again.

“I love you, too.”

And it was nice hearing it, too.

“Can I really stay with you?”

I laughed.

“Did you think I’d let you go anywhere else?” I said and leaned in to kiss her.

“I don’t have any money to pay you rent yet.” She broke off from my lips far too soon.