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The limo door opens, and I hold my breath as she steps out. Every day I tell her I miss her. It kills me to communicate with only three simple words. What I really want to say to her is how much I love her. Need her. Tell her everything that’s in my heart. Then pull her into my arms and kiss her until neither one of us can breathe.
As much as I desperately want to do that, I’ve come here for one reason: to give her back the cabin she loves. Something no one can take away from her again. It had taken heavy negotiations to buy it—Judith is nearly as ruthless as her brother Derek. It was worth every penny. It’s only a small gesture considering everything Harper had to sacrifice and give up. If I could, I’d give back everything Harper has lost.
When she steps toward the cabin and sees me, for a second, I wonder if she’ll be angry at what I’ve done. Doubt clouds my thoughts. Maybe she doesn’t want all this again. Maybe the memories will be too much for her. Fuck. It’s too late. It’s done. I can’t turn back now.
“I miss you,” I say, my voice rough with emotion at seeing her again.
Harper’s chin wobbles as she averts her gaze and fixes on something over my shoulder. When she looks back at me, she takes a deep breath, like she’s trying to compose herself—trying to stop herself from crying. Fuck, I’ve made her sad. That’s not what I wanted to do. I want to see her smile again. Hopefully giving her this cabin will do it.
“Why are you here?” Not the same words she texts back. That doesn’t matter. Hearing her voice is like sunshine has burst through my body. Never have I heard anything so beautiful. “Why amIhere? What’s going on?” Confusion is etched on her face.
“I needed to see you. I asked Juliette to send you here.”
Her eyes widen. “You know I’ve been seeing Juliette?”
I nod with a small smile. “I’m so happy you’re getting back into fashion again.” We’re talking to each other like strangers. My heart squeezes at the distance between us.
“Why am I here?” she asks again.
I scuff the toe of my shoe into the spongy grass. “I fucked up. Big time. I had a second chance with you. I let the past and my insecurities get in the way. Instead of letting all the bullshit cloud my mind, I should have held onto your love…trusted it. Not toss it aside like it meant nothing. I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through.” I open my arms wide. “I know how much you loved this place. How happy you were here. So, if I can give you back a tiny piece of happiness, I hope this will do it. I bought it for you.”
Harper bites her bottom lip. She glances from the house to the lake and then back at me. “You bought it for me?”
I nod. “Yes. I can’t imagine this place without you in it. It belongs to you.” What if she wants nothing from me? I was so hell-bent on getting it back for her I never stopped to wonder if she wanted it. “That’s if you want it. Sell it. Burn it. It’s yours. Derek never should have kept it from you.”
Twisting her fingers together in front of her, she says, “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I hope whatever you decide to do with it makes you happy.” I take a few steps to walk away then stop and turn back toward her. There’s something I need to say before I leave. “Harper, living my life without you won’t be easy. Because my heart is yours. It’s been yours from the moment we met. I probably never told you enough…I love you.” Emotion clogs my throat. “Always will.”
Turning back around, I force my feet to take one step in front of the other. Walking away from Harper is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
Chapter Forty-Six
HARPER
Istandrootedtothe ground.Finn bought my family’s cabin for me!Not because he was using it as a tool to win me back, but because he loves me and wants me to be happy. From the moment he stepped off the porch, I saw the love for me in his eyes. The same longing to touch me like I had for him. I felt the emotion vibrate off him and into my heart. He wants me to be happy. But I’m not happy. I haven’t been since we broke up.
Covering my face with my hands, my shoulders shake with silent tears. I drop my hands, spin around, and I call out, “Wait!” Finn stops, dips his head before turning back around. “I miss you too.” My words are only a whisper. With Finn’s eyes widening, I know he’s heard me. My heart is pounding so hard. I take two steps closer to Finn. “I’m sorry.”
Finn frowns. “Why?”
“If I had been completely honest about everything from the start…about Marco—”
“My father is the one to blame. Not you.” Finn’s jaw clenches. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I don’t want to talk about him anymore. Tell me again what you said.”
I’m happy to say it again. “I miss you too.”
Finn swallows hard. “You do?”
I nod as tears stream down my face. “I do. My heart is yours. It’s been yours from the moment we met. I probably never told you enough…I love you,” I repeat his words.
With two long strides, Finn stands in front of me. Chest to chest. Nose to nose.
His hand cups my face. “You love me?”
“I love you.” I want to tell him so every day of my life.
“I promise to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
