Page 56 of Kiss Me Ever After
“Is that what we are? A thing?”
“We’re definitely something.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “I guess I want to know what that thing is, and if there’s a future in it.”
Her gaze met mine. “A future beyond the summer?”
I nodded slowly, unable to articulate exactly how I felt. The conversation was scaring the shit out of me. My previous relationships hadn’t exactly ended well—exhibit A, Candace—or had fizzled out because of lack of interest on both sides. I’d never had feelings like this about anyone else before. Lennon was definitely a first.
She pulled in her bottom lip, silent as she seemed to contemplate how to respond.
My heart sank. From her lack of instant reaction, my immediate thoughts were negative. She’d decided we shouldn’t be together long term and as soon as summer was over, London called, and all memories of Ealynn Sands erased.
“When I arrived here, I had no idea of how things would work out,” she began at last, pulling at a loose thread on the cushion behind her. “It almost felt like some sort of punishment to be sent here to work when I should have been pursuing my dream in New York. The rug got pulled from underneath me and everything I thought I knew was ripped away. Fending for myself wasn’t fun. I’m not even exaggerating; I had no idea how I would cope.” There was a pause. “Then you stepped in and rescued me. Not just from knife wielding kids, but from my old life and old beliefs. The things I thought were important, weren’t. The more time we’ve spent together, the more I’ve believed we have something special, something worth holding onto. And I know it’s not long before Iamgoing away, but I don’t want it to be without you.”
As she lifted her head, a tear escaped and slid down her cheek. I wanted to lean over and swipe it away, but I needed her to elaborate on what she’d just said. Was she suggesting I went with her to London? What the hell would I do there?
Lennon gulped in a breath. “I know you can’t come to London with me. Because your life is here. You have work, your Mum, Alex and Curtis and I can’t take you away from that.”
I started to protest. After all I wasn’t exactly on a stellar career path and my relationship with Mum was strained right now. But Lennon leaned over and placed a finger on my lips.
“What this summer has made me realise is I love being with you,” she paused, “You know I love you, Justin Navarro, and I don’t want anything to come between us any longer. Not distance, not other people, nothing.”
The silence which followed hung heavy.
“Say something.” Lennon gripped my wrist.
“I—”
She drew back, another tear falling. “I knew it. I knew you didn’t feel the same.”
Her words totally floored me.
I’d never had feelings for anyone else the way I had for Lennon. All the near misses in previous summers, the teasing, the grown-up equivalent of pulling her pigtails in school. To think she couldn’t tell I wasn’t totally, utterly, irreversibly in love with her didn’t bear thinking about.
I grabbed her hands, pulling her towards me and brushed away her tears.
“Lennon Cole, I always thought you were an intelligent woman.” I shook my head. “I’m disappointed in you.”
Her face crumpled. “Maybe you should go.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I brushed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Not now.” A gentle kiss to her nose.“Not ever.” A bruising kiss to her lips.
She blinked as I moved just millimetres from her. “So—”
“You know I love you too.” I cradled her face in my hands. “This summer has been completely unexpected, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment. I don’t want it to end, but I know it has to.”
“But you just said you loved me?” Lennon’s brows knitted together.
“What I meant was the summer, us living together, has to end. We’ll be strong no matter what. And we’ll work out a way to be together.”
“You’ll come and visit me every weekend.”
“How much money do you think I have for train tickets? We can take it in turns.”
We laughed about the level of planning we’d need to go into the next stage of our relationship and generally lightened the mood. If either of us thought too hard about the impending long-distance aspect, it got dark.
“We need to make the most of the time we have left together.” Lennon ended up in my arms, her body moulded to mine. She looked up at me, the picture of pure happiness. “I want all the best memories to take away with me.”
“And I want you to leave all the best memories for me.” I bent down and kissed her again, getting lost in the moment.
