Page 81 of Ember Meadow
“Okay, I’ll go, I’ll go,” I concede.
Hazel smiles, stepping out of the car, “My work here is done.” She grabs her suitcase from my trunk while I hop out of the car to give her a hug. I’m so glad she was here for my meltdown-freak-out. My heart feels just a little bit healed.
“Thank you,” I whisper into her dark brown waves.
She hugs me a little tighter, then lets me go. “You don’t need to thank me, that’s what best friends do. You can repay me one day when I have enough time to date.”
I giggle, “You’d have to spend time away from the ranch and Wade to date.”
“Nevermind then, I don’t want to date. I want to die a lonely spinster with only my horses to keep me company.”
“If you insist,” I deadpan. “Thanks for coming up to see the cabin, I really appreciate it.”
Hazel’s eyes crinkle at the sides as she gathers her bags. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
Then, she’s gone and I’m left standing next to my car feeling like I could scream, throw up, cry or laugh at any moment.
Chapter 31
Bout Damn Time
Somehow, I managed notto talk myself out of this for the entire drive. I blasted my 90’s country music playlist, rolled the windows down and let my hair fly all over as the fields, rivers and pine trees passed by. I was pretty happy with how easily I was handling driving back to Miles to see him again.
Until now.
Now, I’m standing at the door to the cabin. I know he’s inside, his horse is still tied up to the porch railing. I can hear him shuffling around, probably trying to fix the electrical. This should be easy.
How many times this summer have I walked into this exact cabin to talk to that exact man? Countless. I’ve never hesitated for a minute. Not when I was sure he hated me, not when I was excited we were finally starting to talk, not when I was angry and confused when he broke my heart.
But, today, it feels different. Admitting my feelings to myself was exciting and terrifying at the same time. I know most twenty-five year olds have dealt with love and heartbreak countless times, but this is my first rodeo. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I have to be okay with that.
So why is it so hard to move my arms and legs?
I take a deep breath, steadying myself as much as I possibly can. Before I can open the door, it swings open in front of me, startling me backwards a few steps. Miles starts towards me, then jumps back a bit, eyes wide.
“Katie. You’re back,” he says, surprise written all over his expression.
I clear my throat. “Yeah, sorry to startle you.”
My ears buzz as I find my breath again. Why did I think I could come back? I can’t do this. We can’t be friends, we argue all the time. Why did I let Hazel talk me into this? I can’t be in a relationship, that’s ridiculous–
“That’s okay,” he breathes. We are both frozen in place, unable to make a move. “Did you forget something?”
I look into his fiery brown eyes, molten and warm and everything inside of me calms. I take him in; the way his hair falls across his forehead, the freckles popping up on his cheeks from a summer spent in the sun, the way his lips part as he waits for my response. The sparks of electricity between us are familiar.
The magnetic pull between us is still there, but now that I’m not pulling so hard against it, it feels like a comfort. Like an invisible string tying us together. It’s been there all along. I’m not scared anymore, I just feel…
Home.
“Yes. I did.” My voice sounds a lot more sure than I feel as the words roll off my lips.
“What?”
Moving a few steps closer to him, I close the distance between us. He doesn’t step back. Instead, his arm instinctively comes to my waist, holding me against him. Sparks ignite on my side at his touch and I’m instantly craving more.
“This.”
Standing up on my toes, I wrap my arms around his neck and pause just enough for him to pull away if he wants to.
