Page 193 of Almost Ours
As the nurse fussed over Connor, I stood, mumbling something about needing air. My legs carried me into the hallway, moving faster and faster until I was running.
The elevator doors closed just as I reached them, and I stabbed the button repeatedly, my heart hammering in my chest. When the doors finally opened, I stepped inside, gripping the railings as it descended. My thoughts raced.
By the time I pushed through the hospital doors, the rain was coming down harder. My hair stuck to my face, my clothes damp within seconds, but I didn’t care. I scanned the parking lot, turning in circles as I searched for him.
“Ryan!” I called, my voice barely carrying over the sound of the rain.
My heart sank as I realized I didn’t see him. He was gone. My chance was gone.
I stood there, the rain soaking me to the bone, my chest tight with regret.
“Harper?” The sound of his voice made me spin around. He was standing a few feet away, his bag slung over his shoulder, his eyes fixed on me with a mix of confusion and concern.
“Are you looking for something?” he asked, his tone light, though his brow furrowed as he took in my drenched state.
Relief and something else–something deeper–washed over me. I couldn’t help the smile that broke across my face, even as tears pricked my eyes.
I didn’t say a word. I just closed the distance between us, grabbing the front of his shirt with trembling hands and pulled him toward me.
The kiss was desperate, raw, and everything I’d been holding back for far too long. His hands came up to cradle my face, his thumbs brushing my rain-soaked cheeks as he kissed me back, matching my intensity.
The rain poured around us, but in that moment, it was just us.
I broke the kiss, my breathing ragged, the rain streaming down my face like tears. Ryan’s hands were still on my waist, his touch grounding me even as my heart threatened to burst out of my chest.
He was staring at me, his blue eyes searching mine, his expression unreadable. “Harper, I–”
“No,” I interrupted, holding up a trembling hand. “Please, let me talk. Let me say this. I’ve been wanting to say this for so long.”
Ryan’s mouth pressed into a thin line, but he nodded, his hands slipping away from my waist. I already missed their warmth.
“I’m sorry,” I began, my voice shaking. “God, Ryan, I’m so sorry. For everything. For not giving you a chance to explain, for how awful I’ve been to you. I pushed you away when all you ever tried to do was love me and Connor. And you did–you loved us better than anyone ever could, and I was too blind and scared to see it.”
I felt my tears mix with the rain, my chest heaving as I tried to find the right words. “I thought I was protecting myself, protecting Connor. But I wasn’t. I was being a coward. I was so afraid of getting hurt again that I didn’t even give us a chance. And I hate myself for that.”
“Harper–”
“No, please,” I said, my voice breaking. “Just let me finish. I need you to know… I need you to understand. I’m so entirely in love with you, Ryan. I’ve never stopped. And I can’t imaginemy life without you in it. You’re amazing, and you’re kind, and you’ve been everything I could’ve ever hoped for–not just for me, but for Connor too. And I don’t deserve you. I know that. I had to tell you, though. Even if you don’t forgive me, even if you don’t want to try again, I had to try. I couldn’t let you leave again without knowing how I feel.”
I stopped, the silence between us louder than the pounding rain. I was shaking, every part of me bracing for his rejection.
Ryan took a small step closer, his eyes softening. “Harper, you’re the strongest person I know. And you had every right to be upset with me back then. I hurt you. I made mistakes, and I’ll spend the rest of my life regretting them. But don’t you dare think for a second that you’re a coward. You’ve been through so much, and you’ve always put Connor first. That doesn’t make you weak–it makes you incredible.”
My breath caught as his words sank in. We stared at each other, the rain dripping down his hair and down his face, and I couldn’t tell if the ache in my chest was from the weight of his words or the love that threatened to consume me.
I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “This isn’t about the job. I swear it’s not. If this is what you want, if this is your dream, we’ll make it work. I’ll make it work. Because what we have–what we could have–is too strong to let go. I’ll do whatever it takes, Ryan. I love you that much.”
Ryan’s expression shifted, something breaking in his gaze as he reached out, his hands cupping my face. “Harper…”
And then he kissed me.
It wasn’t soft or tentative. It was deep, consuming, like he’d been holding back every ounce of emotion until this very moment. His fingers tangled in my hair as his lips pressed against mine, and I clung to him, my hands gripping his soaked shirt like he was the only thing keeping me grounded.
The rain poured down around us, soaking through our clothes and dripping from our faces, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was him–his touch, his kiss, the way he made me feel like I was whole again.
When we finally broke apart, gasping for air, his forehead rested against mine. “I love you too,” he whispered, his breath warm against my lips. “I’ve always loved you, Harper. And I’ll do whatever it takes to prove it.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks, but this time, they were tears of joy. “You already have.” I smiled, letting the words I’d been waiting to hear wash over me.
