Page 90 of Fake It Till We Fall
“In case you didn’t know…” My voice trembled. “I’m not leaving.”
The crowd erupted into more cheers and whistles, no doubt thinking it was part of the announcements. I swallowed hard and pressed on, my eyes never leaving Grayson.
“I came back to Trickle Creek for my grandma, but somewhere along the way, I realized that my being here was about more than just her. It was about me. This town…this place…” My throat tightened, but I forced the words out. “It’s a part of me. It always has been. I know that now, more than ever. Andyou,Grayson Lyons…”
The plaza went still. The cheers faded into a stunned hush, but I only half noticed.
I drew in a shaky breath, my voice dropping lower, meant only for him despite the fact that I still held the microphone and the entire town could hear me clearly. “I love you. I never stopped.”
Grayson
“I love you. I never stopped.”
Her voice carried across the plaza, soft but sure, slicing straight through the buzz of the crowd and directly to my heart.
For a second, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. All I could do was stand frozen in place for what felt like forever, but was probably only seconds.
Even from a distance, I could see her close her eyes for a moment and drop her head, like she wasn’t sure I’d come to her or turn away. Like maybe she was bracing herself for me to do what I’d done before: run.
But not this time.
Not again.
I’d let her go. More than once. Hell, I’d pushed her away. And now, she was on the stage, with the entire town watching, telling me what I’d been waiting years to hear.
Exactly what I should have told her years ago.
My legs finally obeyed, carrying me forward into the crowd that magically parted as I moved past. I vaguely noticed as neighbors and friends slapped me on the shoulder, wished me well and called words of encouragement as I moved across the plaza to my girl.
My girl.
Harper.
She always had been, and she always would be, my girl.
My love.
My life.
She’d stopped talking and simply held the microphone, her eyes locked on mine as I reached the edge of the small stage. I didn’t bother with the stairs. I hauled myself up onto the structure, breathless, with the entire town roaring their encouragement behind me.
“I’ve been looking for you all night,” I said, my voice raw and low, just for her, but carrying over the speakers anyway. I reached for her free hand, pulling her close.
“You found me.”
I certainly did. “You beat me to it.”
“To what?”
“You think you’re the only one with something to say tonight?”
Shouts of encouragement rang out from the crowd behind us. Harper tensed. I squeezed her hand to keep her focus on me, where it belonged, not on the crowd hanging on our every word. I remembered how she never liked to be the center of attention. Too late for that now.
“Harper Bennett,” I continued, “I love you.” Such simple words, but they meant everything. “In fact, I can’t remember a time in my life when you weren’t the first thing I think about in the morning, and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep. You have all the minutes in between, too.”
Her eyes softened and glistened with unshed tears.
“Losing you once almost destroyed me, and while I might be a slow learner sometimes, I’m not going to make that mistake again. I can’t. Because, no matter where in the world you are, or where you want to be, I want to be there with you. Forever.”
