Page 62 of Mountain Pine
“It’s a two-way street, bro.” She cringes. “I mean, Con.” Taylor looks up at me again and runs her nails across my back as she hugs me. “I could have asked you out too, and I didn’t.”
“Nope. Just kissed me and I ruined that too.”
“Wellllll, I kissed you today, and you didn’t push me away.”
I see what she’s doing. She’s trying to diffuse the situation. And I let her because I can’t stand feeling sad and helpless. “That’s true.”
“And we definitely did a lot of kissing.”
“Mm hm.”
“Kissing everywhere.” She playfully draws circles around my abs next. “All kinds of mouth and tongue.”
I want to play along and be over feeling like I’ve failed her for most of our lives, but my heart is crashing out about it. “I’m so sorry.”
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for.” Taylor cups my face and brings me down for a kiss. “We were kids, Conner. Silly, confused, and scared kids.” She kisses my nose. “And you’ve always been the best part of my life, didn’t you know that?”
My eyes sting. My chest hurts.
“You’re my safe space.” Taylor kisses me softly. “You’re my happy place, Con. Always.”
Since all my words are locked in my throat, I snake my arms round her and kiss her with all the love I’ve harbored since I was a kid. It consumes me. Burns the bad memories away and makes room for lots of new, better ones. “Marry me.”
“Conner.”
“Why wait? Marry me, Taylor.”
She shakes her head, and I think I’m going to die of a heart attack. “Ask me again.”
“Marry me.”
“No. Ask me againlater.”
“When?”
“When you know you should ask.” She holds my face steady so I can’t look away from her. “Your emotions are too high right now. You think you need to be in a hurry and that isn’t true.”
This is making me feel like shit. “It is true. Time is—”
“Time is nonexistent with you and I.” She holds my gaze, and the moonlight makes her blonde hair look like a halo dripping down her head. “Time has never mattered with us, and it never will.”
“What if I die tomorrow?”
Taylor’s grip on my face tightens. “Then love me today.”
Chapter 19
Taylor
Last night was a rough one. I blame the moon. Weird things always happen during the full moon and Conner’s emotional breakdown was no exception. I can count on one finger how many times I’ve seen him upset to the point of tears and last night was it.
Sure, he’s been mad, sad, annoyed, and petty, but never has he been so raw his eyes leaked. I’m honored he felt safe enough to show that level of vulnerability to me. It’s not something to take lightly.
But I went to bed last night in his arms determined to make today way happier and lighter and more fun for us both. I will not dwell on our past mistakes and misunderstandings. What’s the point? It would only waste the present moment… which is what I live for.
“Okay, one last time. I swear.”
Conner grumbles and heads back to the stream, splashes some water on his chest, and then faces the camera and slides his fingers down his abs. “Good?”
