Amelia was always destined for bigger things, and I know the right opportunity will find her soon enough.
After dinner with my parents, we took the long way home and parked at a lookout point over the beach. She told me that was the most she had ever talked while sitting at a dinner table. Most of the time when she was younger, she would be talked over, or she would fade into the background and say nothing as her family talked around her.
She told me she had to hold back tears when my parents told her they were proud of her because her parents had never said that to her. Her entire life, not once did they tell her that, and my heart sank as soon as the words left her lips.
I know family looks different for everyone, but anyone can see Amelia misses hers. It’s blatantly obvious to me, and I hope one day, her parents will come around. I know she didn't follow the plan they had for her, but they’re still her parents. As long as Amelia is happy—which I think she finally is—shouldn't that be the only thing that matters?
My phone rings, and I already know who it is.
“Hi, Ames,” I say as I pick up.
“Hi, Hen.” I can hear her smile through the phone. “Any chance you can be ready in fifteen minutes?”
“Ready for what?”
“A surprise date night?” I can hear her holding her breath. “Only if you want to, of course. If you’re busy, I can call Hads or something.”
“I’m never too busy for you, Mills.”
“Great. I’ll be at your place in ten minutes.”
I hang up, feeling my stupid smile spread over my face, unable to stop it.
That has been happening a lot lately when I talk to Amelia, and I always feel catapulted back to when we were two idiots in college, and I was pining after her for months. After I met her for the first time, I couldn't stop thinking about her, and I didn't expect to seeher so soon.
I was confused as to how she had gone to Grand Mountain for the same amount of time as I had, and I only met her the summer before our senior year. Amelia was a puzzle I desperately wanted to solve, and I spent months in her orbit, falling in love with her while she tried to keep me at arm’s length.
Now, here we are, years later, and the same thing is happening.I’mtrying to keep her at an arm’s length because I don’t fully trust her, and here she is, pining after me, trying to prove she can love me how I deserve.
I can’t deny what I’m feeling now. I can’t deny that every time I see her, my breath catches in my throat. I can't deny the way my heart speeds up when I know she’s near, or the way we can somehow still communicate with a simple look.
Amelia Ellis makes me whole again. I might be the biggest idiot for giving her another chance, but I knew if I let her go, I would have regretted it.
We’re not out of the woods quite yet, but in time, I know everything will be okay.
Amelia: I’m here.
Henry: I would offer you to come up, but it seems like we’re in a rush?
Amelia: A little bit, but maybe after?
Henry: Sounds good.
I grab my wallet, keys and shove my phone into the pocket of my button-up before I head down to the lot, spotting her car almost immediately on account of the music blaring at a normal Amelia level.
As soon as she spots me, she fiddles around in her seat and opens her door, a bouquet of flowers in her hand as she waits for me to come toward her.
What the hell is going on?
“Uh, hi?” I say with a chuckle.
“Hi.” She grabs her necklace with her free hand. “These are for you.”
“For me? Why?”
That earns me a shrug. “Why not?”
I guess I can’t argue with that. “Thank you, Mills. These are beautiful.”