you two a minute,” Hannah says. “I can probably get the stewardess to give us an extra minute or two.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, before turning to gape some more at Greyson. “How did you even find us?”
His eyes feel like they’re boring into me, they’re filled with such intensity and adoration. “A friend… Harley, you have to listen to me. Last night was a shock, but I’ve been thinking. I don’t want to be without you. I want us to work. Without you, my work is nothing. My life… please. Harley, I want to be with you.”
I stare at him. How is he managing to say just about everything I longed to hear?
“But last night…” I say. “And Storm Media, how can we…”
“Screw Storm Media, screw everything.” He seizes both my hands, brings them to his chest, his eyes going tender as they meet mine. “All I know is: every one of the happiest days of my life has been with you.”
I peer at him. He’s still catching his breath, but those eyes—invigorated, excited, happy, scared—say it all: he means it. Every word.
“Still, though.” It can’t be this easy. “You have responsibilities. People who count on you.”
“I’ve stepped down as president,” he says. “It was never what I wanted, anyway. Landon is more up to the job, has always been a better leader than me. I can mentor him until he’s ready.”
“OK,” I say. “But the trip… we’ve booked our tickets. And I just feel like this is so sudden. How do I know you aren’t just trying to do the right thing by me because of the baby? Because if so, that’s not what I want. At all.”
“Harley.” Greyson forces a miserable smile. “I was away from you for 24 hours and it was pure torture. You calling me up gave me an excuse to reach out to you. I would’ve cracked in a few days, tops. I’m an idiot.” Another one of those grimace-smiles I want to kiss away. “A complete idiot. The kind of idiot who only realizes what he has once it’s gone, but—I’d rather that than be the kind of idiot who lets the best thing that ever happened to him leave. Harley, I want you to be my girlfriend. I want to date you, I want to name our child together. When I’m with you, for the first time, I finally get what all this ‘love’ craziness is about.” He exhales, looking as surprised at the words coming out of his mouth as I feel. But the craziest thing of all is that they’re true. They’re really true. “You’re it, my it.”
I don’t realize that I’m crying until he presses his lips to my tears. His eyes on mine are hopeful, questioning. “So?”
I giggle. “So.”
“I said it first.”
“Well, I… have a trip to go to.”
His hand finds mine. “Then so do I.”
Chapter 35
Greyson
Two Months Later
“You were right!” I yell as Harley and I sit on the hill and take in the sight before us. Disco lights paint the mass of dancing bodies bright green, crimson and turquoise. Giant glittering yellow banners and massive flaming torches and bonfires are lighting up the sky. Some Calvin Harris song that makes me want to dance even though I’m sitting down and not big on dancing. Maybe it’s just that punch I drank. “This Full Moon Festival is amazing.”
“Course I was.” Harley plants a kiss on my cheek, then leans her head onto my shoulder. “Mama Har can’t be wrong.” Another grin. “Although the internet did help. Who knew they had a whole island dedicated to this thing?”
“Even if this place has a lot of horror stories,” I say contemplatively. “Robberies, kidnappings, injuries—do you know hundreds of people get burned on the fire jumping ropes every year?”
“Drunk people and flaming jump ropes don’t seem like a wise combo,” Harley admits with a giggle. “Now, do you have any other uplifting observations to make?”
One look at her in her metallic pink dress and I have all the material I need: “You look hot as hell.”
Harley laughs and hides her face with her hands. “Anything not obvious?”
I reach over and give her butt a little whack. “Oh, somebody’s humble.”
Harley giggles. “What can I say, I come by it honestly.”
I lean over to whisper in her ear. “If our kid looks anything like you, they’re going to be beautiful.”
She steals a kiss. “If they look anything like you, they’re going to be beautiful.”
I grin again, so big and wide my mouth