“No.” He took a deep breath, his exhale even slower. “When you gave me those keys and a new identity and told me to leave.” He shook his head. “I drove for about fifteen minutes before I realized I was being stupid and turned the car around.”
I just stared at him.
“I didn’t want to leave you. I went back. For you.”
Oh, Miller.
“But you were gone.” He cleared his throat. “I was too late. But I thought maybe when you showed up at the lake house that you might want all your stuff. If you showed up. And your father wasn’t going to be down until the weekend. So I got all the rest of it for you.”
“All of it?” I looked around at the boxes. That must have taken him forever.
“Your clothes. Your computer. I made sure there wasn’t any tracking on it. All of it. I should have told you sooner but…I was kind of embarrassed.”
“Because you went back for me?” I blinked away the tears in my eyes. “I don’t think that’s embarrassing. I think that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” And he must have only been a few minutes too late. We must have just missed each other.
“I never should have left you alone. I should have offered to drive you wherever you wanted to go. I just…I missed you so damn much…”
I grabbed both sides of his face and kissed him. He knew I missed him. I’d told him so many times. I felt his smile against my lips.
“Does that mean you forgive me?” he asked.
I laughed. “Forgive you? There’s nothing to forgive. I’m actually really happy these clothes are here.” I walked back over to the boxes and lifted up a soft white sweater that I’d never worn before. I pulled it over my dress, not caring about how silly I looked. So much better. A pair of big fuzzy socks were next, but as soon as I pulled them on it was way too ridiculous. I needed pants. I quickly changed out of my dress so that I was wearing my sweater, leggings, and the cute fuzzy socks. I instantly felt warmer.
Miller was smiling at me. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the fuzzy socks looking adorable or because of the mini-striptease. Probably the latter.
I put my hand on my hip. “But I also can’t afford to buy you warmer clothes and I don’t want you to be cold either.”
He lowered his eyebrows. “I’m not wearing that stuff.”
“Why not?”
“Because I bought it with his money.”
I stared at him. “I hate to break it to you Miller, but this house was bought with my dad’s money too.”
“Technically it was a gift from you…”
“Technically you’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.” I wrapped my arms behind his neck. “Wear the clothes. Or I’m dipping into the money in our account.”
“You wouldn’t.” It was probably supposed to be threatening but he was smiling now.
“I would. So wear the clothes. Besides, you earned that money. I was a terribly difficult assignment.”
He laughed. “No. You were easy. I mean…I got you exactly where I wanted you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “So it was your plan all along for us to run away together?” I gently traced the scar beneath his eye. There was no way either of us could have planned winding up here together. But I was so happy it happened.
“It was a very devious plan.”
“Sure.” I was smiling so hard it hurt.
He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me. “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” he asked.
I stared into his eyes. “To live in the moment.”
He smiled.
“What about you?”
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “To make sure you know each and every day that you made the right choice.”
I wasn’t sure if it was because of the cozy sweater or his words, but my heart felt warm and fuzzy. Maybe it was the champagne bubbles in my system. “Oh, I made the right choice.”
He leaned down to kiss me but I pulled away.
“Did you hear that?” I asked.
“Hear what?”
“They’re counting down!” I grabbed his hand and pulled him out into the hallway.
We laughed as we ran into the family room to watch the ball drop in Times Square.
Miller held me tight as the announcer counted down.
“Ten. Nine. Eight.”
My heart was hammering in my chest.
“Seven. Six.”
I meant what I’d told Miller. I was going to start living in the moment.
“Five. Four.”
Which meant letting go of my past. For real.
“Three. Two.”
The pain of losing my mom. My uncle. Matt. I wasn’t meant to live broken. I was meant to have a full happy life. Just like they all had. And if mine was cut short too? I didn’t want to regret not living enough of it.
“One.”
I looked up at Miller. “Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year, kid.” He picked me up and twirled me around.
I laughed and wrapped my legs around his waist to prevent him from accidentally tossing me.
His hands slid to my ass as we sealed the New Year with a kiss.
It was a promise of forever.
And I kept my promises to people that kept theirs.
Chapter 37
5 Months Later - Saturday
Miller looked like a Greek God in his yellow swim trunks. He swore they were ridiculous. I swore I loved them. So he wore them even though he didn’t like them. For me.
I stood on my tiptoes like I was about to kiss him. But instead I stopped a fraction of an inch from his lips. “Race you to the water,” I whispered and then started running for it.
I laughed as Miller chased me down the dock.
He definitely could have caught up to me. But I think he was curious if I’d actually go in. He’d hung out with rich snobs in the city too. Which meant girls who didn’t want to get their hair wet. But I wasn’t the kind of girl to lounge around tanning my skin on a hot summer’s day. Had he forgotten our last summer together? It felt like a lifetime ago that we’d been locked up in that beach house.
It was strange. We were still stuck in hiding. But I’d never felt more free. More alive.
“Cannonball!” I yelled when I reached the end of the dock. I jumped, pulling my knees in and made the biggest splash I could.
When I came up for air, I just caught him mimicking me. But he made a much bigger splash.
I was laughing when he came up and grabbed me around the waist.
“You were right,” I said. “The water is freezing.”
“I tried to warn you.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. Cold water and all.”
“Me either.”
“You saved me.” I dropped my forehead to his.
“You scared me half to death that day you fell through the ice.”
Oh. Right. “Yeah, that. But also just…in general.” I owed him everything.
He stared into my eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You were right. I think I was still a little broken when I showed up on Christmas. But now? I wake up smiling every morning. Because of you.” I watched his perfect smile spread across his face. “I really can’t imagine being any happier.”