Page 128 of Keep Me

“Upstanding and dependable? I’m not sure you’re doing yourself justice there.”

“Pfft. I’m not dependable. At least not for anyone else but you.” She popped the olive in her mouth and grinned. “I’m so obsessedwith you that even if you were marrying another guy, I’d happily stand on the sidelines watching so I could see your face as you walked down the aisle. At least then I could pretend it was me that you were fawning over.”

She looked down at the food bashfully. “I think you’re underestimating just how much I fawn over you, but if you were that obsessed, why did you get back with Olana.”

I sighed, knowing this conversation would come sooner or later. “I genuinely only wanted you, and when I thought you didn’t want me, I didn’t see the point in dating other people. Olana came crawling back and manipulated me into staying with her. I can’t remember what lie she used that time, but it was one of many, and I guess, I just settled.”

“So you mean to tell me, if I had just kissed you like I wanted to, none of this would have happened? As in, we could have avoided everything?”

“Yeah.”

She laughed as I took her hand, interlocking it with mine. “Well, that sucks.”

“Would you take it back?”

“What?”

“Everything since that night.”

Her gaze had flittered down to our connected hands, and she had the gentlest smile on her face. “No.” Her glistening eyes connected with mine. “Without those moments, I don’t think I’d love you as much as I do now.”

“I love you too, Britt.” I brought her hand to my mouth, kissing every one of her knuckles. “But I’m sorry.”

“For?” she asked with furrowed brows.

“Not giving you the opportunity to walk down the aisle with your friends and family watching. I know how much your parents and brothers mean to you. I feel like that I’ve taken away an important moment.”

“It’s all right.” She gave me a small, somewhat sad smile.

“I hope one day we’ll be able to have a do over and do it right.” Her eyes flicked to mine, and before she could say anything, I started to stand. “There’s one more thing I want to show you.”

I opened my hand to her, and she gestured to the picnic. “But what about the food?”

“It’ll be fine. We can have the rest later.”

She placed her hand in mine, and I led her through the house, up the stairs, straight to the primary bedroom, which was devoid of furniture, save for a mattress and some bedding. She gasped, too enamored with the view to care about the empty room. It was amazing how much another level changed the horizon. Now we were able to see past the beach and more of the sky was on show. The sun was setting, and pinks, blues, and orange reflected off the sea, creating a canvas of colors across the sky.

“Matty. This view is everything.”

“Do you like it?” I asked, stepping up behind her.

“Like it? I love it. The people that end up living here are going to be so lucky.”

“You think?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, and as she relaxed into my arms, I kissed her temple. This was it for us. I knew that now, and I was pretty sure she knew it too.

“I’m glad you like it.” I placed my hand on her hip, letting my thumb rub across the silky fabric of her dress.

Britt hummed before bringing her arm up behind her and running her hands through my hair. “How could I not? The sky, the ocean. This place is so peaceful. How long has it been on the market for?”

“Why? Are you interested in buying it?”

She laughed, trying to wrangle out of my hold, but I didn’t let her. Now that she was in my arms, there was no way I’d let her go.

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