Page 585 of One More Kiss

“Rexton…” she starts. “Never mind.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I’m going to take a nap,” she says as she snuggles more tightly against me. I lean my chin on the top of her head and smell her shampoo. It smells like spring flowers and promises things better than I deserve. I don’t deserve her, she’s too good for me.

I watch the North Sea as we travel down the coast, and I play all the moments of this trip over in my mind. Scarlett’s head slowly slides down my body until it rests in my lap. Her legs curled beneath her. She looks impossibly small curled into a ball on the seat and on my lap. My hand stays on the soft curve of her hip, stroking it gently as my other hand comes out and runs through her hair. It’s soft and silky and I’m going to miss the feel of it so damn much.

I drift asleep at some point and wake to find us approaching London.

A voice comes on the loudspeaker announcing our arrival at Kings Cross Station. I caress the soft skin of Scarlett’s cheek.

“Wake up, buttercup,” I say. She remains sleeping. I feel guilty for waking her. She must be exhausted because I know I am. “Scarlett,” I say louder.

She stirs and turns, looking up at me and I smile sadly down at her. “We’re here.”

She blinks and looks around us before slowly sitting up to watch the scenery passing by our window. Rubbing her eyes, her gaze meets mine. I see tears forming and I silently curse the universe for bringing her to me only to have her taken away again so quickly.

“Let’s grab our stuff,” I say, ignoring the inevitable.

She swallows and wipes her eyes. “OK.”

We get our luggage, and as soon as the train stops, we get off and begin to head to the tube. When we get to the point of the station where I need to head one way and she needs to head the other, we stop and pull our things to the side.

“This sucks,” she mutters as she reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck.

I lean my forehead against hers. “It does, but all good things must come to an end.”

She shrugs. “I guess.” She opens her mouth and closes it.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

I’m left again wondering what she’s not saying, but I’m too focused on making this goodbye count to give it much thought.

“It’s been…” I start and trail off because there really aren’t words for it.

“Amazing? Crazy?” she suggests with a grin.

I laugh. “Yes, all of the above.”

She giggles and playfully punches my arm. “I guess…maybe I’ll see you around sometime?”

“Maybe.”

She leans up and kisses me. I know it’s meant to be quick, but I tighten my hold on her and pour a lifetime of love, lust, need, and affection into the kiss. She responds and we get lost in each other until we hear a kid say, “Get a room.”

We pull back breathless, and she blushes.

Taking a deep breath, she steps back. “Goodbye, Rexton Crawley.”

“Goodbye, Scarlett Haverford.”

She swallows and searches my eyes for a long moment and then turns and walks away. And just like that, I let the love of my life leave me. I’m an idiot.

I run after her, but when I reach the corner, she’s gone.

---