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Relief poured through me and Lindsay took off toward the pottery. Tristan and Lindsay’s reactions were golden compared to how Nathan had taken the news.
That was what I knew Rush and I deserved, and Nathan hadn’t been able to give that support. My own brother seemed to think that I was still the same naive, fragile kid I’d been in the past. He wanted to bet on our failure, rather than root for our success.
And it irritated me like a damned splinter in my side.
“We’ll meet you at the back picnic tables in a little bit,” Tristan and Jack told us before going off their own way, too.
I reached out and grabbed Rush’s hand, holding it as we sauntered over the tiny lamp-lit bridge. The little river crossed under Spruce Street, and the sound of the water was just loud enough over the chatter of the crowds down the street. Trees branched out over us in a canopy, and the sun had just set, letting all of the little paper lanterns glow in the evening light.
It was romantic over here. Really romantic, actually.
I paused for a moment at the side of the bridge, leaning on the railing and looking back at the people below.
“Do you want to know something embarrassing?” I asked Rush.
“The more embarrassing, the better,” he said.
I squeezed his hand, looking over at him, his eyes sparkling a little under the twinkly lights.
“I can remember the last Spring Festival you were at before you moved away to San Francisco. You probably don’t remember any of this, but… I came here with my family and then of course, as soon as we got here, Nathan found you and the two of you went off together. And I watched the two of you walking off, chatting and gossiping as you crossed over this bridge, and I wanted nothing more than to be part of that conversation.”
Rush watched me, reaching out to gently squeeze my hip. “I wish you had known that you were always welcome to come hang out with us.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t feel like I belonged, back then,” I said. “I didn’t really feel like I belonged anywhere, with anyone, at that time.”
Rush moved so that he was behind me and he laced his arms around my waist, hugging me from behind. We swayed gently as we looked down at all of the people streaming into the streets below.
He moved in close to my ear. “And now you’re fucking me,” he said softly.
I laughed, squeezing around his forearms and turning backward to kiss him. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“I sure hope not.”
A surge of affection flowed through me as he held me there under the lights for another moment. It was almost dizzying how at home I felt, right here in his arms.
This place had always been my home. I’d always loved it. Especially this little bridge in particular, which was prettier than it needed to be in our small mountain town. And now I was here sharing it with someone who was actually special to me.
“A few years back, Nathan and I got hired to help repair some old brickwork in this bridge,” I told Rush. “So I already liked it, and now it has a piece of us in it forever.”
“I always loved it too,” Rush murmured. “Even when I hated this town and wanted to get out more than anything, I still liked this little spot.”
Now there would forever be many layers to my love of the little town center bridge—the newest being this moment with Rush holding me, on a night where it seemed like anything was possible in our future. Even things I thought I’d never have.
I swallowed, gripping his hand a little tighter. “You meant what you said about having a Jade Brewery tent here next year, right?”
“Hmm?” he hummed, holding me. “Of course I did. I’d like to have one here every year, if we can.”
My heart skipped a beat. “So that means… you plan on being here next year?” I asked softly. “And the years after that?”
“What?” he asked, and I turned in his arms, looking at him as realization dawned in his eyes. “Oh. I see what you’re asking. You want to know if I’m staying here.”
“Yeah,” I said, pulling in a breath of air, a nervous flutter in my chest. “I want the truth, Rush, nothing sugar-coated. You can be real with me if you think you’ll want to move back to San Francisco.”
He smoothed out my hair with his palm, holding my gaze. “I think I’d already decided that I was staying here without even knowing it,” he said. “I have no plans to move back anymore, Shawn.”
I bit my lower lip. “Well, then you have to tell me the moment you get bored of this place,” I commanded. “The moment you’re bored of me, I’ll… I don’t know, I’ll start dressing up as a housemaid, or something, to keep you excited. The moment you get bored of Jade River, we’ll find you some new fixer-upper to renovate, or hell, build you a new mansion or something. I want you to stay happy, Rush.”
