Page 153 of Come Back to Me

“I want you to listen to every word I’m going to say to you, and please don’t interrupt me.” He exhales deeply. “I never stopped loving you, Violet.I. Never. Stopped.I tried so hard to, but I couldn’t. It was damn near impossible. I could never get you out of my head because you have a face that’s impossible to forget. I loved you when we were teenagers. I love you as I’m standing here right now. All I want is to be with you. All I want is to be around you.” His voice is shaky, the words coming out of his mouth as a whisper. His breathing is heavy as his eyes wander down to my lips.

“I can’t believe this is happening right now. You still love me? Wh?—”

“Shut up, Vi.” He interrupts me by slamming his lips onto mine and running his hand down to my hip to secure me in his grip. He pushes me up against the wall closest to the entrance door.

I feel like I’ve been transported back to when we were teenagers. This kiss is urgent, exploratory, and passionate. One I’ve never experienced with him until this very moment.

I break the kiss. “Wait, you didn’t let me respond to what you said.”

“Sorry, I know. I had to get that out of my system, but it’s not enough. Anyway, go ahead.”

“Okay, here it goes. I never stopped loving you, Gray. I was scared to tell you how I feel because I thought you wouldn’t feel the same way. I wouldn’t go back and do anything differently because everything happens for a reason. Life worked its magic and brought us back together. Getting to know this version of you has been so humbling and beautiful because you’ve become more of an incredible person.You’ve been through so much, and you bounced back because you’re strong as hell. You’re my superhero.” My lips curve up to reveal a smile.

“Hell yeah, I am.” He seals the gap between us, grabbing a tendril of my hair between his index finger and thumb. His eyes meet mine. “It’s always been you, Vi.”

“It’s always been you, too, Gray,” I say without any hesitation.

We move towards the middle of the store, surrounding ourselves with bookshelves full of romance books.

“So, what now?” He takes a lock of hair and twists it around his index finger.

“Do you want to meet me back at my apartment?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I need to close up the store, so I guess I’ll meet you there.”

He gives me a tender kiss that transforms into fireworks exploding in my mouth, rendering me speechless. After his lips pull away from mine, his hands interlock with mine as we stare into each other’s eyes. The pure love and admiration on his face tells me everything I need to know. He grins at me before he leaves, and I can’t stop myself from smiling uncontrollably.

The universe decided to bring us back together in the place where happily ever afters thrive, and I couldn’t be more thankful that this might be the place where we get our happily ever after.

now

GRAYSON

I wanted to wait to talk to Violet after she got home from work, but I was too impatient.

Oh, I missed how her lips felt on mine more than I originally thought. The feeling of my hands wrapped around her waist and our breaths intertwining are things I will never get over.

I’m pacing back and forth near her front door. I have my duffel bag I brought with me sitting next to the door. She texted me that she left the store a half an hour ago. I don’t know why she isn’t back yet.

Also, I’m more drenched than I was when I got to Sweet & Salty because it’s pouring harder near campus. Ugh, and I’m a dumbass who didn’t bring an umbrella.

“I’m here!” Violet takes off her cardigan and hangs it over her shoulder.

The whole front of her graphic tee is soaking wet, along with her dirty blonde hair, her beautiful face, and her legs.

All I want to do is kiss every inch of her body and study every crevice until the sun rises.

She pulls out her keys, unlocking the front door and gesturing to me to come inside.

I shut the door behind me, dragging my duffel bag inside her place. “Is Sage home?”

She shakes her head. “Did you bring pajamas with you?

“Oh, I have a lot of things in this duffel bag.”

“We should get out of these wet clothes. How are you not shivering? Aren’t you cold? I’m freezing.”