He was here?
My heart began to hammer louder than the music in my earbuds or the vacuum in my hand. I turned them both off and returned the vacuum handle to its upright position, then looked up front again.
He was still there, wearing a black coat and waving his arms like a madman.
I blinked, expecting him to disappear. After all, I’d been fantasizing about him showing up like this to surprise me, to tell me we’d made a mistake, to say he couldn’t live without me, then we’d ride off into the sunset together . . . but it was so ludicrous, I never imagined it actually happening.
But there he was.
Plucking my earbuds from my ears, I stuck them into my pocket—realizing as I made my way to the front that I was not dressed for a ride into the sunset. I had on elastic-waist sweatpants and an old hoodie of my dad’s that said USMC on the front. On my feet were fuzzy socks, and my hair was wrangled into a loose, sloppy bun on the top of my head. I touched it as I reached the front doors, then unlocked them. Pulled one open.
“Hi,” he said, his dark eyes bright with excitement. His entire body seemed to radiate with heat and energy.
“Zach.” I shook my head slightly. “What are you—”
But I didn’t even get to finish my question, because he burst inside, crushing his lips to mine and throwing his arms around me. He kissed me breathless for a solid minute, my back bowing, my bun tipping to the side, one of my feet coming off the ground. Cold air and snow blew in through the open door, but I hardly noticed. His body was warm and solid, his arms were locked around me, and his mouth, oh God—I missed the way he kissed me so much, like he’d been searching for me everywhere.
Finally, we came up for air. “Zach,” I whispered, shivering a little. “Can you shut the door?”
“Oh, sorry.” He released me and did as I asked. Thankfully, the moment the door was closed, he reached for me again, taking my face in his hands as we walked deeper into the store, as if we were dancing. “God, I missed you. I forgot how beautiful you are.”
“I look terrible.” I felt my bun listing to one side and reached up to pull out the ponytail holder.
As soon as my hair tumbled to my shoulders, Zach slid his fingers through it, then bent his head to inhale its scent. “I missed the smell of your hair. I missed everything about you.”
“I missed you too.”
He looked down at me, his eyes searching mine. “I was an idiot to think I could just let you go. I can’t. I want to be with you. I need to be with you.”
His words made my heart sing with hope, but I told myself to tread carefully. “What about Mason?”
“I spoke to him earlier today.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, I know I should have asked your permission before telling him about us, but I didn’t want to show up at your door without clearing the way forward.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he already knew.” Zach’s expression turned a little sheepish. “He saw us on Christmas Eve in the bar.”
My stomach dropped, and I gasped. “I knew I saw someone by the door! That was Mason?”
“Yes.”
“But he didn’t say anything! He wasn’t upset?”
“He was,” Zach admitted. “But he held it in. I think he’s conflict-avoidant. Or maybe he just deals with his anger by going silent. Either way, when I showed up at his house today and told him about my feelings for you, he told me he’d seen us together.”
“Oh no,” I breathed. “Poor Mason.”
“Mostly he was mad that I hadn’t been honest with him,” Zach said, dropping his hands to my hips. “He said he’s tired of people who should care about him keeping him in the dark. It makes him feel like an idiot.”
“I get that.”
“What’s important to him is being part of a family. Feeling like he belongs.”
I hated to bring this up, but it seemed like the right time. “Speaking of family, Zach, is there—are you—have you changed your mind about—” I struggled with how to phrase it.
He put a finger to my lips. “I know what you’re asking, and the answer is yes. I’m open to wherever the future leads us.”
“Really?” My eyes filled. “You’d consider having a family someday?”
“With you, I would. I want to make you happy, Millie. I want us to build a life together. And if that life includes a family, I’d be the luckiest man on earth.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, wanting to believe him, but still wary of heartbreak. I’d been so sad the last few weeks without him—what if he changed his mind again?
“Yes.” He locked his arms around my lower back, setting his hips against me. “Listen, I wasn’t looking for you. But when I saw you in that hotel bar, it hit me like a lightning strike—I had to have you. But once wasn’t enough. I swear to God, you never left my head for a moment after that night we spent together.”
“You never left mine either.”
“And when I saw you again, it was the same thing—electrifying, like I’d been brought back to life. I started wanting things with you I’ve never wanted with anyone, because I felt things for you I’d never felt for anyone. I told you things about myself I’ve never told anyone. I trusted you with pieces of me I’ve never trusted to anyone else.”
“I trusted you too,” I said. “Immediately. The moment we met.”
“I know you did.” He smiled. “It’s one of the things I love about you, because I know you don’t trust easily.”
I sniffed as a tear rolled down one cheek.
“No more crying.” He brushed the tear with his thumb. “We’re going to be together. My life no longer feels right without you. You know what I realized after Las Vegas?”
“What?”
“That home didn’t even feel like home anymore. Home to me now is wherever you are, and no matter where I go, I will always make my way back to you. I want to show you something.” He let me go and slipped out of his coat, tossing it onto the velvet settee behind me.
I watched him unbutton the cuff of his black shirt and roll it up, sucking in my breath at the new ink on his inner forearm. “You got a new tattoo!”
“It’s a compass rose,” he said. “A navigational tool for sailors, but also a symbol of discovery.”
I studied the beautifully rendered design, the skin still tender and pink around it. “I love it,” I whispered.
“I got it for you.” His voice was quiet but firm. “You’re my north, south, east, and west, Millie Rose. You ground me, you guide me, you inspire me. And I’m madly in love with you.”
The tears were flowing freely now, but I didn’t even care. I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face in his chest, blubbering like a baby. “I love you too,” I sobbed. “I’m so happy.”
“Are you sure?” He chuckled as he stroked my back. “This is a lot of crying for ‘happy.’”
“Yes, I’m sure.” It took me a minute or two to stop, but eventually I let go of him and hurried into the bathroom so I could blow my nose and clean up my face.
When I came out, he was looking around. “The shop is beautiful, Millie. I’m in awe of what you’ve done.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m really excited, but also nervous. I open in just two days. I’ve got appointments already!”
He smiled as he took me in his arms again. “Don’t be nervous. You’ve got this. Tell me what I can do to help you. I’m all yours.”
I tipped my head back and looked up at him. “What I could really use is a distraction. Got a date for New Year’s Eve?”
He lowered his lips to mine. “I do now.”
I’d been invited to a party at my Aunt April and Uncle Tyler’s house, but we decided to skip it and have a night in. I sent a quick text to my sisters saying I wouldn’t be there but I was fine, better than ever actually, and I’d explain in the morning. I wished them both a Happy New Year and said I was positive this was going to be the best year ever for all the MacAllister girls.
Audrey and Emmeline would graduate from high school. Winnie and Dex were getting married this summer. Hutton and Felicity were building a gorgeous new house. And me? I smiled as I headed for home, Zach’s headlights in my rearview mirror.
I’d found love—the greatest plot twist life has to offer.
We stopped on the way home and picked up some groceries and champagne, planning on making dinner and ringing in the new year with a cozy indoor picnic for two in front of the fireplace. But as soon as Zach got the fire burning, he came into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck.
“I can’t use a knife if you’re going to do that,” I said, giggling as I tipped my head to one side.
“Then put down the knife.” He took it from my hand and set it on the counter.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I asked as he led me into the living room, where he’d spread out a blanket in front of the fireplace. The curtains were closed, the fire was crackling, and the only lights came from the tree we’d decorated together.
“I’m starving,” he said, lifting my sweatshirt over my head. “But only for you.”
We undressed each other quickly and tumbled onto the floor, where we made up for lost time, luxuriated in the moment, and let dreams of the future enrapture us. When he was buried deep inside me, his skin golden in the firelight, I reached up and touched the silver in his hair, the edge of his jaw, the back of his neck. “I love you,” I whispered as he moved above me. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I love you too.” He pressed his lips to mine. “You’re all I’ll ever need.”
