Page 109 of Fierce-Matt

“On July Fourth?” she asked. “It will be slammed.”

“It’s going to be on the beach too. But this is your weekend.”

She twirled around the room, her sun-kissed hair floating in the air around her, then rushed to hug him. “Our weekend. I can’t tell you how much I need this.”

“I think we needed it together,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ears. “I’d planned on telling you how I felt here. If I could get the words out of my mouth.”

She put a big smacking kiss on his lips. “You got them out easily enough in the car on the drive.”

“It felt as if it was the right time. And we know my timing of things hasn’t always been that great.”

She let out a quiet giggle. “It hasn’t, but it’s gotten so much better. I can’t wait to have some fun.”

He looked at his watch. “I had something I thought we could do. Tonight will be a good time to do it since it might rain later. I’m hoping the rain stays away and we’ll be able to see the fireworks from our balcony tomorrow night.”

“That’s perfect. What was it you wanted to do?”

“The fun park,” he said.

She pointed her finger. “Look at your face. You want to go back there so bad. You and whoever you brought with you that year kicked mine and Phoebe’s butt in everything. Every time I feel an ache in my neck I swear it was from you hitting me in the bumper cars.”

He laughed and picked her up. Her legs went around his waist for the tight hug.

“I rememberthatabout this trip. It was Lonnie that came with us.”

“He was nice,” she said. “Much nicer to me than you were, but that’s because he had a crush on Phoebe.”

“What?! No, he didn’t.”

“Yes,” she said, “he did. You couldn’t see it, but Phoebe and I did. He was treating her the same way you were me. But he was nicer about it.”

“Phoebe has a good man in her life.”

He expected his sister might have found her match. He hoped for her that was the case.

“Elias seemed like a great guy,” she said. “I’m glad I found out after the fact who his brother was. That’s a bit hard to get around.”

“He’s just a guy. West is his brother who I’m sure I won’t cross paths with much.”

“Unless they get married,” she said. “Then you will for that. Or any other family things they might do.”

“True. But West lives in New York and though Elias’s mother lives in Fayetteville, I don’t believe he’s in this area much. Or not enough that his family would be part of it.”

She wiggled to get down. “It’s still intimidating if I’m with you and that happens.”

“You’ll be with me,” he said confidently. “You’re not going anywhere.”

She turned and squinted one eye at him.

Maybe his words came out a little harsh, but that hadn’t been the intent.

It was more about the two of them being in love and he’d be damned if he let something come between them.

“We can unpack later. I want to beat you at something today. Even if it’s only mini golf.”

“I might let you win there,” he said. “But Go-Karts are mine.”

“No bumper cars,” she said, her hand going to her neck. “I’m serious. It still hurts.”