Page 108 of The Last Thing
“It’s been too long since I’ve told this story.” Hallie’s grandmother smiles. “Okay. I was just nineteen and went out for the night with some girlfriends. We were always looking for some kind of trouble to get into, though where we headed that night shouldn’t have been much trouble at all. But it was for me. Trouble for my heart. The best kind of trouble there could ever be. Little did I know when I left the house that night, that I’d meet the man who would change my whole world.
“But there we were, my friends and I, playing games and laughing about nothing, when I looked up and saw the most handsome man staring at me. He had a kind smile, and he wasfocused wholly on me. All the music and colorful, flashing lights dimmed as we walked toward each other. We stumbled over saying hello and introducing ourselves, then he asked if he could join me. He took my hand, and that was it. There, on a summer night in the middle of a carnival, I met the love of my life.”
I whip my head to look at Hallie, only to find her smiling at me. A bright, beautiful smile that tells me this is why she asked for the story. She wanted to share it with me, especially that little part.
“That’s just like you two,” Sophia whispers from beside us.
Hallie twines her fingers with mine, staring at me reverently. “Yes, it is.”
As she stares at me with so much love in her eyes, my heart cracks open for her all over again.
I’mexhausted when I finally step into the bedroom and close the door behind me.
“She asleep?” Hallie asks, getting up from the floor where she was stretching.
“Finally.” I lean against the closed door and rub my hands over my face.
Hallie runs her hands up my arms, pulling them down. My eyes land on her as she grabs the side of my neck and drags my mouth to hers.
Though her kisses are gentle, they’re full of desperation. Almost frantic.
“Wilson,” she breathes, barely breaking our kiss. She searches my face, looking deep into my eyes, then a look of pure peace washes over her. “I love you.”
My heart stops. The world stops.
It’s only her, looking at me like this, like I’m everything to her and always will be. The tenderness of her expression is seared into my mind. This is a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
“Hallie…”
She drops back down so she’s on flat feet again, but her gaze never breaks from mine.
“Do you know what I was thinking about tonight while listening to Gran tell that story?”
“What?”
“That they were lucky. They had such a profound love, and they never took it for granted. They showed each other and told each other over and over again how much that love meant. And when Pop died, they both knew how deeply, unconditionally loved they were.” She sweeps her hand over my cheek. “I realized if you left this planet tomorrow, I could never regret loving you, but I’d forever regret not telling you how much I love you. And Sophia. And our beautiful little family.” Tears well in her eyes and her voice breaks. “I love you.”
A tear slips down my cheek, surprising me. I don’t cry easily. I never have. And I didn’t think her words would hit me so hard because I already knew the truth behind them. But hearing her say them?
I lift her into my arms and kiss her deeply. “I love you too, Hellion. With all my heart. All my soul.”
“Wilson,” she whimpers, holding me tightly.
“I love when you say my name like that, baby. Like you’re so fucking desperate for me it hurts.”
“I am.” She kisses up my neck, her movements frantic. “I love you.”
As tired as I was when I walked into the room, I couldn’t be more awake now. More alive.
I set her down next to the bed and pull the oversized shirt off her, revealing her perky breasts and little baby bump. I splay my hand over it. “You’re perfect.”
She threads her fingers through my hair as I suck on one of her nipples. Then I drop to my knees, kissing down her stomach as I go. Hooking my fingers in the waistband of her shorts, I slide them down with her underwear, then stand up and take in every beautiful inch of her.
“You’re mine,” I growl, slanting my mouth over hers in a rough kiss.
She slips her hands under my shirt and drags her fingernails lightly down my back.
Another growl slips out, and she breaks our kiss, her hooded eyes filled with desire.
