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“Heaven,” she said as she took it in.
Ciara had ordered a peanut butter tower, Skyla the cheesecake, and Kiel went with a cookies and cream sundae.
“God, I’m going to get fat and it’s going to be worth it,” Skyla said, much to everyone's laughter.
After they gorged on ice cream and cake, they waddled their way to the back. “Oh, wow,” Eloise said when she stepped outside. White lights hung along the fencing, and propane heaters provided warmth. In one corner, Crew Carter played music from a DJ booth, and a crystal ball hung over the makeshift dance floor. In the other corner, there was a full bar. The courtyard had been transformed into an outdoor nightclub.
Kiel wasted no time in bringing Eloise onto the dancefloor. He spun her and then pulled her into his arms. Everyone around them danced and moved their bodies to the music, while Eloise and Kiel held each other.
“These past four weeks have been hell,” he said to her. “Missing you and knowing you were around but needed space to work killed me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said to him. “I should’ve called but I didn’t want you to see me like that or for me to cancel or not show up because I get so lost in my work sometimes.”
“I get it.”
“Do you? Because not everyone does. Some people think artists are manic because we stay up for days on end to finish a project. I swear, I’m not. I do sleep, but I also stayed up for a couple of days to finish.”
“Eloise, stop worrying. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Except back to Albany or whatever school you decide on.”
He looked into her eyes and shook his head. “Definitely not Albany, at least not for any extended period of time. School is another story.”
“What do you mean?”
“My parents are buying a house here. We’re moving. My dad got a job at the naval base. I hear there’s an artist in town who needs a muse. I thought about applying for the job.” Kiel winked. “And maybe she’ll let me follow her around. I could carry her easel or something.”
“Seriously?” she asked as a smile spread across her face.
Kiel nodded. “Now tell me about New York and London. Margaux mentioned those places.”
“The city in the fall, and London in six months. I’m going to have a piece in each show. Not sure what piece, but something. Would you want to come with me?”
“There isn’t any other place I’d rather be.”
Her fingers tangled in the back of his hair as she pulled him toward her lips. Before they touched, she looked into his eyes. “I think I’m in love with you.”
Kiel smiled and let out a little laugh. “I know I’m in love with you so if you can get to the part where you do love me, that’d be awesome.”
“You love me?”
His expression turned serious. “I love you, Eloise Harris.”
She let those words sink in. They were different from when her aunt said them to her or even on the rare occasion her parents would. Eloise absorbed them, welcomed them. And then it hit her, like a shot to her heart. She didn’t need to think or even process what it meant to be in love because she already knew.
“I love you, Kiel Collier.”
He beamed and threw his head back, laughing. “Damn, my name is sexy when you say it.”
“You should see the rest of you,” she muttered as they continued dancing.
twenty
It’d been two weeks since the summer showcase and Eloise still rode the high from that night. Everywhere she and Kiel went, someone had something lovely to say about her artwork. What cracked Kiel up were the older ladies who blushed when they ran into him. He was somewhat of a celebrity now in Seaport and he really liked playing it up when Eloise was with him.
The Collier’s still lived in their rental until the closing on their new house completed. Kiel had been back to Albany once with his sisters, to get their cars and pack more of their belongings. Once they had the keys to the new house, they’d take another weeklong trip and get everything ready for the movers. Kiel thought the process was slow, but his father said everything moved along as planned.
Kiel spent most of his mornings with his parents and by dinner time, he was with Eloise. Although he often “ran” into his girlfriend when he was out. Yes, they had made it official—whatever that meant these days. He made sure he was out a lot, which was a lot easier now that the onslaught of tourists had gone home, because he hated not seeing her during the day, which was going to be an issue when they finally figured out their future.
