“You drove all the way to New York to say you’re sorry?”
“You weren’t answering my calls,” he said.
“I blocked your number. I didn’t see the point of keeping it,” she said.
He winced, and she rubbed at her forehead. “Look I appreciate that you want to apologize, but driving all this way -”
“I didn’t drive,” he said.
She blinked at him. “You didn’t… drive? How did you get here?”
“I flew.”
“On a plane?” she said stupidly.
“Yes.”
“But you’re afraid to fly. Kira said that the last time you tried you had a panic attack.”
“I did. But I wanted to see you.”
“How did you…”
He took a deep breath. “Truthfully? Preacher had to fly with me and hold my hand the entire fucking time. Like, literally, he held my hand. In the airport, when we walked onto the plane, and during the whole flight. An old lady on the plane stopped by our seats and told us how happy it made her that two young fellas like us could proudly show their love to the world.”
Grace laughed, she couldn’t help it, and a ghost of a smile crossed Gideon’s lips. “The hand-holding helped, but there might have been a sedative involved as well.”
“Where is Preacher?”
“At the hotel, waiting to see if I can win you back,” he said.
“Why didn’t you just drive?” she said.
“Because I wanted you to know how important you are to me, Princess. And I was afraid you’d be on a flight to California by the time I got here.”
“I… what?”
Gideon took a few steps closer to her. “Kira told me that you were thinking of moving away from Harmony Falls. She told me that you didn’t know when you were coming back and you were thinking of flying to the west coast tomorrow and checking out California. She said I needed to get here as soon as possible, and she was right. Baby, don’t leave Harmony Falls. Please, I’m begging you. I don’t want… why are you smiling?”
“I’m coming back to Harmony Falls on Monday night, Gideon. Kira knows that. She’s picking me up from the airport. I have no current plans to visit California, let alone move there.”
“Oh my God,” Gideon said. “That little jerk. She lied to me to get me on the goddamn plane.”
“Looks like it,” Grace said.
Gideon grinned, and warmth blossomed in Grace’s chest.
Stop it. You can’t be with him. He’s here asking for forgiveness because he’s a good guy who feels bad about hurting you. That’s all. He can’t give you his love, you know that.
“I love you, Gracie.”
“I know,” she said. “But that doesn’t change -”
“You matter to me. You have always mattered to me.” He moved closer and when Gracie didn’t back away, slipped his arms around her waist. “I love you and you’re worthy of that love, Grace. Every bit of it. Your parents are idiots for not seeing how absolutely amazing you are. And I promise, if you give me the chance, I will show you how wrong they are about you.”
“Gideon…”
Shit. She was gonna cry again.
“I can’t promise I won’t screw up or say stupid things or that my irrational fear that you’ll die will just disappear like that. But I know that love with you is worth the worry and the fear. I’ll spend the rest of our lives – no matter how short or how long that is – showing and proving to you that you’re worthy of love. I promise, Princess. I’ll do therapy, I’ll try and be open about my feelings… whatever I have to do. Just give me another chance, please. I can’t live without you.”
She stared at him, her love for him a tidal wave that threatened to drown her. Gideon had faced his biggest fear and flown on a plane for her. He loved her and wanted to be with her. They both had issues, they both had demons in their past, but they would face them together and beat them. She knew it without a doubt.
“I love you too,” Grace said as tears slipped down her cheeks. “I love you and I promise that I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work, Gideon.”
He pulled her up against him and kissed her hard on the mouth before raining kisses across the rest of her face. “Thank God. I love you, Grace.”
“I love you too, Gideon.”
* * *
“Gideon, we’re going to be late, if you don’t get your butt down here, right now.”
“Almost ready!” Gideon hollered from upstairs.
Grace grabbed the potato salad from the fridge and slid it into the grocery bag. “Your sister has texted me like seventeen times already. Everyone’s at the barbeque but us. What the heck are you doing up there?”
She stared out the window above the sink as the heavy thud of Tank’s paws entered the kitchen. His tail whacked against her ass and she rubbed her stinging skin. “Owch. God, Tank, watch the damn tail. My ass is already sore and… ow! What is that?”
She turned around and studied the big dog. He had a large piece of cardboard around his neck. The ribbon threaded through two holes at the top of the cardboard had twisted and she turned the cardboard over to read the words on the other side.
“Gracie, my dad loves you lots. Will you marry him?”
She dropped the cardboard, staring blankly at Tank as he gave her his big goofy dog grin.
“Gracie?”
She glanced up, her breath catching in her throat when she saw Gideon on one knee. He was holding a small velvet box in his hand and she studied the diamond ring that sat in the middle of it.
“I love you, Grace. Will you marry – shit, ow! Tank!”
The dog’s tail smacked Gideon a couple more times in the face as Gideon tried to push the giant dog out of the way.
Grace burst into laughter and grabbed Gideon’s hand. “Oh my God, stand up before Tank breaks your nose with his tail.”
Gideon stood and glared at Tank. “Bad dog.”
“Best dog,” she said. “Ask me again.”
“Will you marry me, Grace Larken?” Gideon said.
She smiled. “Yes, Gideon Walker, I’ll marry you.”
* * *
Please enjoy an excerpt from Book Three in the Harmony Falls Series,
“Forbidden Harmony”
Forbidden Harmony is available HERE
Forbidden Harmony
(Harmony Falls Book Three)
Copyright ©2020 Elizabeth Kelly
“Honey, we can just go home.”
Addison studied herself in the dirty, spotted mirror before applying a bit more gloss to her lips. “No, I’m doing this, Gracie.”
“Look,” Grace leaned against the counter, “I know me and Kira and Harper all said the best way to get over Harrison was to get under someone else, but if you don’t want a night of rebound sex, you shouldn’t do it. Like, don’t do this because we say you should.”
“I’m not.” Addison made herself smile at Grace, trying to ignore the way her head pounded and throbbed. “I promise, Gracie.”
“Are you sure?”
Man, she hated that her friends knew her so well.