Page 158 of The Spring in My Heart

He moves and presses a kiss to Ayla’s cheek. She squeals and hugs him.

Then he steps closer, leans in, and presses a kiss to my cheek. He tries to pull back, but I hold onto his hand.

I’m not wasting my chance. In truth, I don’t want to be alone. I can’t think of anyone else I would want to be with but these two.

“You can stay too.”

Ollie

I don’t think I heard Lux right.

My pulse quickens, and my jaw drops. “Did you just say I can stay?”

Lux chuckles and hooks a thumb to the stairs. “You can sleep in the guest room.”

The guest room in her house. She’s letting me stay.

“Are you giving us…” I trail off because I don’t dare hope.

But she nods, her lips still curved.

The long breath I didn’t know I was holding flows right out of me. She’s giving us another chance. I lean in and brush my lips against hers.

It’s soft and chaste and quick because my heart is trying to find its way out of my chest, because I don’t think the happiness fits in it any longer.

When I pull back, she’s smiling, and her gaze immediately goes to Ayla, whom I forgot for a minute, but her face matches the joy in Lux.

“Okay, we’ll all be together.”

“We are,” Lux says and looks at me. “Right?”

“Yes.” My voice is louder than I meant it, and we both chuckle.

We say good night, and I head downstairs while they go to Lux’s room. Once I’m in the guest room, I take out my phone and shoot a message to Lauren and Adri.

Me

So…I got the opportunity of a lifetime.

Their replies are quick.

Lauren

Adri

Yes! How can we help?

Me

I don’t want to impose, but can one of you pick up Ayla in the morning?

Adri

I’ll be there bright and early.

Me

Thanks.