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“Is that what you tell your kids?” Heather’s brow furrows.
“Because if so, it’s kind of scary,” I add.
We laugh again and it feels better than crying. And that’s one of the best things about Ryan and me, we laugh a lot.
Heather grins. “She has that look.”
“The gleam is back.”
I wipe my eyes. “I’m having second thoughts about having second thoughts.”
“Go on then.” Heather nudges me.
“We’ll look after Luke.” Harper scoops him up.
I kiss him on the head, hug my sisters, and hurry down the beach. I’m halfway to town when I realize that I left my phone in the house. If Ryan isn’t still at the Sip & Scoop, I’ll go back and call him.
The ice cream parlor is empty and regret tightens and expands inside me, pushing out hope. What if he already left for Miami? What if he doesn’t want to talk to me? What if it’s really over?
“Nugget?” a voice asks softly.
I whip around. Ryan stands a few paces away outside the ice cream parlor.
“You’re here.”
“I came looking for you.”
“I did too. I wanted to?—”
“To talk?”
The hope slowly filters back, bringing with it tears of relief.
Ryan opens his arms. I rush to him, letting myself fill his embrace, allowing him to fill me.
“I thought it was truly over,” I say, my voice a crackly mess.
“I was afraid of that too, but I realize that we are being so dumb.”
I slit my eyes. “Speak for yourself, Hot Shot.”
His eyebrow lifts sharply. “Admit it, you were dumb too.”
“Fine. Why are we so dumb?”
“Dumb for each other,” Ryan says, pressing his forehead against mine
The corner of my mouth curls with a smile. “That we agree on.”
Ryan holds me far enough away that we can look into each other’s eyes. “Harley, you’re a strong and independent woman. You have your own mind. I appreciate that about you. You’re also soft in places and you always smell really good.”
“And here I am, always worried I smell like baby spit-up.”
He shakes his head. “It’s a rarity.”
“Har har.”
“What I want to say is that we’re not on opposing teams. I’m a football player, if I wanted to walk around all day wearing a helmet and cup, fearing a tackle every time I turn a corner, I could. I have the gear. But I want this mind of yours, this heart. All of you. If you need protecting, I’m your guy. If you want to laugh, look to me. Talk. I’m all ears. But you don’t have to walk through life like you’re looking for a fight. I save that for the field. And when it comes to being with me, it doesn’t have to be a battle. I’m here to support you in whatever you do, however you want life to look, so long as we do it together.”
