Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

RUSSELL

It's not until I see the Welcome to Blackwood sign that the nerves set in.

I don't know why the hell I'm nervous.

I've been waiting for this day for what feels like forever. I still can't get over how I found Elizabeth again. This is the stuff that happens in books and movies. It's not something I would have ever expected to happen to me.

Seventeen years.

I'm about to see her for the first time in seventeen years. I've had the last three hours on the road to think, and I still can't quite wrap my mind around how we ended up here.

But I'm so fucking happy we did.

I've come to the conclusion that it just wasn't our time. I can't even remember why we didn't last. We were both young, and I don't think either of us really knew what we wanted.

I know what I want now.

I want Elizabeth.

There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s the right person for me, but it was definitely the wrong time for us then. We both needed time to grow, mature, and experience life. We’ve had time to learn what we want and what we’ll never tolerate again.

Our time is now.

I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.

This is our second chance and we’re gonna get it right this time.

I let Elizabeth go once.

I damn sure won’t make the same mistake again.

As much as I want to go straight to her, I drive through town and find the bed and breakfast where I booked a room for the next couple nights. It’s the only place in this small town for out-of-towners to stay and I wanted to be as close to her as possible. My time here is limited this trip, so I plan to make the most of it.

After checking in, I drop my bags in the room and take a few minutes to freshen up before I can’t force myself to wait any longer.

I need to see her.

Thankfully, Blackwood really is small, and it only takes a few minutes to locate her bookstore on the main road through town. Finding a spot to park is a little more difficult, but I manage.

With nothing else holding me back, I get out of my car and follow the sidewalk that leads directly to my future.

I get my first glimpse of her through the store windows.

Fuck. She’s even more beautiful in person.

I can't take my eyes off of her.

Elizabeth stands behind the counter, having a conversation with the person on the other side of it. I don't know what they say to her, but she throws her head back, clearly laughing, and the sight of her gorgeous smile hits me square in the chest.

I can't wait another second.

My eyes never leave her as I reach for the door and pull it open. A bell rings, stealing her attention from the person she was talking to. Elizabeth looks towards the door and when she sees me, her entire face lights up. I won't lie, it makes me feel like a fucking king.

Without a word, she rushes around the counter and heads straight for me. I meet her halfway, where she stretches up onto her tiptoes and wraps her arms around my neck. I don't hesitate to circle mine around her waist, pulling her as close to me as possible.

Neither of us speak.

Words aren't necessary right now.

Not when we're both completely content being in each other's arms again.

Holding her feels like coming home.

“I can't believe you're really here,” she murmurs.

Neither can I.

“Seventeen years later. It’s crazy.”

Elizabeth starts to pull back, but I don't let her go very far. When she looks up at me, a silent question in her eyes, I lean down and press my lips to hers. I waited seventeen years to kiss this girl again and I don’t have it in me to wait another moment.

I kiss her slowly, deeply, the connection blazing like a bonfire between us. We melt together, our mouths open, and my tongue slides in deep, stroking against hers. Not caring what’s happening around us, I devour her, pouring everything I’m feeling into the kiss. When I finally retreat from the warmth of her mouth, I place one final kiss against her lips, and I feel her smile against mine.

Her happiness on my lips is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

I pull back this time, only enough to rest my forehead against hers.

Nothing is better than this.

Fucking nothing.

People always say, “When you know, you know,” and I finally get it.

There’s no question.

I know.

I want this forever.

I want her forever.

Something I’ll make sure she knows before I leave town.

A throat clears, popping the invisible bubble separating us from the rest of the world.

“Excuse me. This is a family-friendly establishment.”

Just as I open my mouth to tell this guy to fuck off, Elizabeth laughs.

“Perks of being the owner. I can do whatever I want,” she says, looking at him with a teasing grin. “I didn’t even know you were here.”

“Hmm. I’m not surprised in the least.” He arches one well-manicured brow, smirking as he looks back and forth between the two of us before settling on Elizabeth. “I haven’t been here long, but thankfully, I arrived just in time to witness the sparks fly.”

The guy fans himself dramatically, making Elizabeth’s cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. She ducks to hide her face against my chest. It’s fucking adorable. I use the opportunity to wrap my arm around her to keep her close.

Since the guy is clearly someone she knows, I introduce myself.

“Oh, I know exactly who you are,” he says when I tell him my name. “My name is Derrick, and you have me to thank for the fact that you’re standing here with this pretty girl in your arms right now.”

“Hey! It wasn’t all you.” A slightly taller girl with pink hair joins us, shoving Derrick’s shoulder. “You suggested the app, but I convinced her to actually check the damn thing.”

Elizabeth grumbles against my chest, mumbling something about how we should have met somewhere less public. She’s too quiet for me to hear her exact words, but I chuckle anyway, because the one part that’s extremely clear is, “nosey ass friends.”

Turns out, I’m not the only one that hears it.

Derrick props a hand on his hip. “Don’t forget these nosey ass friends are the ones who are going to hang out with your kids tonight so you can slut it up with this handsome, bearded, hunk of–”

The other girl's palm covers his mouth, stopping whatever was about to come out next. I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda curious where he was going with that, but I won't ask.

“I'm gonna take him somewhere… and probably hose him down,” she says, laughter brightening her eyes as she starts to pull him away. “You two go have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't… never mind. There's not much I wouldn't do.”

I smile, feeling Elizabeth’s body shaking against mine. When the bell on the door rings, signaling their exit, she finally lifts her head.

“So, that was Derrick and Presley,” she says, voice full of amusement.

“They seem nice,” I tell her, meaning it. They seem like they’re a lot of fun.

“They’re a pain in my ass, but they’re good people.”

She says it with fondness, making it clear that she cares about them. Knowing she has good people in her life makes me happy. I want nothing but the best for her.

It may seem insane for me to feel as strongly as I do about her already, but it’s not like we’re total strangers. We have history, which I think makes it easier to fall for her all over again. It’s almost like the feelings I had for her when we were together the first time came flooding back, only stronger.

“How about you give me a quick tour, then we get outta here,” I suggest.

“Sounds perfect.”