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“Do you want to know a secret?” she asks.
“I feel like it’s only fair.”
“You remember me telling you writing was my passion? How being a published author was my biggest dream, no matter how impractical it was?”
I nod. “I remember.”
“I have a new dream, Wyatt.”
“What’s that, Luce?”
She takes a few steps toward me, her hands sliding up and cupping my face, her bright eyes searching mine.
“It’s simple, really. And incredibly cheesy, but you’re not allowed to tease me about it later. It’s you, Wyatt Hayes. I want a life with you, and not just the bright, sunshiny days where everything is fine. I want to weather storms with you. I’m talking category five hurricanes that leave us both battered and bruised. I want to hold you on the days when your grief is too much, I want to be the one to remind you of the good when you forget. And yes, I want to be there beside you on the good days, too. The days where your smiles come easy, and your laughter fills our home. I want to be the one you reach for when everything is going right, just as much as I want to be there to grab your hand when it all goes horribly wrong.” She takes a shaky breath, and my hands grab onto her hips like a life preserver.
She offers me a small smile, blinking rapidly through her tears.
“We’ve endured so much loss, Wyatt. We’ve grieved so much. I think it’s time we let the light in,” she whispers.
My lips crash against hers before I even register what happens. And it’s like the world has cracked open and swallowed us up. One hand moves from her hip to cradle the back of her head, the other wraps around her back and holds her to me. I tilt my face slightly, deepening the kiss. I can taste her tears and the salty air on her lips, and it’s intoxicating. She’s like pure sunshine, brightening up every single piece of me I’ve spent so long burying in the dark.
Finally, and with great effort, I pull back. I cradle her face in my hands, brushing my thumbs across her cheeks. Her eyes open slowly, her kiss-swollen lips pulling up in a smile that has my heart tightening in my chest.
“I didn’t know it was possible to love someone so much,” I whisper.
Her eyes widen a little as she says, “Wha-what?”
“I love you, Lucy Carter. I love you with every single piece of my broken and tattered heart. It was only ever yours anyway.”
The smile she gives me is so bright and big and wonderful it outshines the sun.
“I love you,” she says.
“I know.” I kiss her.
Chapter Forty-Five
Lucy
Wyattgoesinsidethehouse to call his dad and I decide to sit on the beach for a little while, so I call Allie.
“So . . . how’s it going?” Allie asks.
“It’s fine. Tomorrow will probably suck, but I’m glad I’m here.”
“Let me rephrase, because I realize how my initial question could be taken out of context, how is it goingbetween you and Wyatt?” she clarifies.
“Wow, thanks so much for your concern, Allison. I’m actually a huge emotional wreck and have been sobbing into my pillow for the last twenty-four hours,” I deadpan.
“You’re lying. But even if you weren’t, at least you would have a sexy cowboy there to comfort you,”
I snort. “You’re insufferable, and Wyatt’s hardly a cowboy.”
“He works on a farm and has a horse. He’s basically a cowboy. Also, I noticed you did not deny the fact that he’s sexy.”
“Please stop,” I groan.
Although now I’m picturing Wyatt in a cowboy hat and chaps, sitting on top of Buck as the sun sets behind him, tilting his hat down to cover his eyes. When did it get hot outside? I clear my throat and Allie laughs.
