Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“You already have.” Now, my voice was all husky for a different reason. “You’ve changed so many lives for the better. Including mine.”
Behind us, a low gong sounded.
“Please join us in the ballroom. The show is about to begin.”
And so, I hoped, were we.
Thirty-One
Happy three-day weekend! Our school is blessed with several recent openings for both full and part-time positions, including for next school year. If interested, please apply early! We’d love to have you as part of our ohana.
NOLAN
As Merry and I exited the hotel into the nippy-for-Oahu night air, I bounced on my feet to keep warm and out of leftover excitement from the show.
“That was marvelous.” I grinned at him, offering my hand as we made our way to the parking garage.
“The interactive part was pretty fun.” Accepting my hand, he gave it a playful swing.
“I can’t believe you guessed the murderer before me.” I used a scolding tone just to make him laugh more.
“Honestly, I am too.” His expression was bashful, but he’d been one of the first to spot each clue. In fact, watching him reason out the mystery had been almost as much fun as watching the play unfold. “I’m not always the most observant.”
“You see way more than you give yourself credit for.” I meant more than simply clues in a game. He’d seen something in me, and I remained profoundly grateful he’d found me worth caring about. And kissing. I’d mellowed over the course of the evening. Our talk beforehand had also helped, and now I was counting down until we were truly alone. To distract myself from those arousing thoughts, I pulled out my phone with my free hand and held it up. “And look, I have several new contacts. Potential theater friends.”
“Good.” Merry’s voice came out flat as we reached the parking garage. He dropped my hand.
“You don’t sound happy.” Pocketing my phone, I turned to peer more intently at him. “I thought you were angling for me to make friends tonight?”
“I was.” He quirked his mouth as his forehead creased. “I’m feeling guilty because I was motivated by fear of you leaving. Again. I keep thinking I’m past those doubts, and then they return, like the tide.”
“You’re allowed to be afraid. And doubts are normal.” I didn’t like Merry beating himself up over trust issues that were entirely too common. “My grandfather always said it’s what you do with the fear, and I’m happy you’re willing to give us a chance anyway. And for what it’s worth, I’m scared too.”
“You? You’d never know it.” Merry’s tone mirrored his skeptical expression.
“I’m an actor. Never let the audience see you sweat.” I winked at him in the dim light of the parking garage. “Seriously, though, I’m worried I’ve overhyped the potential of this thing, and maybe you’ll get sick of me by summer. You’re so worried I’ll want to leave, but I’m well aware I’m something of an acquired taste. I’m high-maintenance.”
We reached the car, but instead of unlocking it, Merry grabbed my arm.
“You really aren’t.” He met my gaze, a deep fondness there I hadn’t prepared myself for. “The other day, I doom-scrolled Alyssa’s social media. She’s a true high-maintenance person. Or like how Cara’s relatives have to have everything a certain way. You? You’re dramatic and passionate, sure, but you’re also flexible and spontaneous.”
“Thank you.” My skin heated from the unexpected compliments. “I do like to shop, however, and I’ll probably never surf beyond the boogie board stuff.”
“That’s fine. I’m not looking to change you, Nolan. I just want to…l—care for you.”
“Same.” I pretended I hadn’t heard him pull back from using the L-word. Which was fine. Even though patience was not my strong suit, I could wait because, for the first time in weeks, I was willing to trust that we’d get there. “And I don’t want to change you into a smooth-talking, city-dwelling, nightlife-loving party boy or anything else. I care about you exactly as you are.”
“Thank you.” He exhaled in a rush before pulling me to him for a decisive kiss, our first since New Year’s Eve. Where that kiss had been bittersweet and full of longing, this one felt more hopeful, emphatic even, like an exclamation point on the evening or a turning point from the purgatory of the last weeks and into something new. His lips were soft and sweet from the coconut dessert cake. Merry pulled back slightly, cheeks damp like on New Year’s Eve but eyes far more sparkly. “We probably shouldn’t get this sappy while in a parking garage.”
“I suggest we move this discussion to a more suitable location and perhaps find better uses for our mouths.” I grinned at him and swiped at his cheeks. He might have made us both wait for this moment, but my chest was warm and full at how deeply he felt things and how willing he was to let those emotions be seen.