Page 128 of That Last Secret

I knock on her door before my feet even come to a stop.

She opens it immediately and jumps into my arms.

“Emiline,” I say, inhaling her scent as I bring my face to her neck. I’ve missed her, and it’s only been since this morning.

She pulls back from me, smiling from ear to ear.

“I did it, Logan.” She jumps up and down, gripping my upper arms in pure joy. Seeing her like this is a side I want to see every single day.

I want to make it my mission to see it every day.

“I got you something to celebrate,” I tell her, holding up the bag in my hand as we make our way to the couch.

Emiline tucks herself into the couch on her heels while I sit beside her. “You didn’t have to get me anything,” she blushes.

“Of course I did.”

I hand her the bag, and she leans over to kiss me. It’s quick, kind of like a habit. A habit I’d be more than happy if it stuck around.

She sits back, the smile never leaving her face. She rips out the tissue paper, reaching into the bag before looking up at me in shock. Tears already sting her eyes as she pulls out the box.

“You got me a stethoscope?”

I nod. “I know you have one for nursing school, but I wanted to upgrade it for you.”

She opens the box and pulls out the new one. It’s light blue, and her name is engraved on the neck.

She puts it in her ear as if she’s going to use it. She lifts the bell of the stethoscope to assess it, and she’s completely in shock.That’s when she notices the engraved words on the silver piece of the bell.

Emiline Ford, RN.

“Logan,” she whispers. “I—uh—I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. You did it. You’re so amazing, and I’m so proud of you.”

She places the stethoscope down and moves the gift bag to the side, rising to sit on my lap. She straddles me, hugging my thighs with both legs while my hands wrap around her waist on their own.

“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I look up at her, staring with nothing to say.

Because it’s at this exact moment I almost say three words I’ve never said to anyone before. I’m not wired for those kind of words. I’m not equipped to hear them back, either.

“When is graduation?” I settle on.

“Two weeks.” Her eyes bounce between mine. “My brothers are planning a celebration dinner after the ceremony. Are you coming?”

I nod.

“Maybe we can tell th—”

I cut her off by reaching up, cupping both sides of her face, and pulling her down to me for a kiss. I don’t want to think about the mess this could potentially become when everyone finds out.

At least not yet.

Her hands find the side of my face as her body falls on top of mine. Chest to chest, her legs straddling me. I open up for her, allowing her tongue to swipe across mine.

My hands find the small of her back to hold her to me, and it’s just enough to release a moan out of her.

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