Page 96 of Harper's Holiday Romance

My eyes filled like an hourglass, slowly but surely, until the tears crept over the edge and flowed silently down my cheeks.

“You know when you said you were scared of never finding the one?” Julia asked. “I told you someone will love you unconditionally one day. I told you you’ll love like the movies, and someone will sweep you off your feet and take you to a place where you don’t have to be scared anymore.”

Julia reached across the table and took my hand in hers. “Let me be that someone for you, Harper. I want to be that someone.”

That was all it took. I was a blubbering mess. I had to use the fresh white napkin to attempt damage control on my makeup.

“You actually told me I was hideous, and you weren’t sure I’d ever find love.” I laughed.

“I happen to really like hideous women.”

I grinned.

“What does this mean? What do we do?”

“I’m going to throw caution to the wind here and say something crazy. How would you feel about maybe, coming back to the states with me? Just for a few weeks, let’s call it an extended vacation. There doesn’t have to be any pressure,”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“You can leave whenever you want. We don’t have to put a label on anything,”

“Yes,” I interrupted.

“We can take it at our own pace.”

“Julia Hanlow! I said yes, for Christ’s sake.” I laughed.

“Really? You’re going to come back with me?”

“Yes. I’d love to.”

“What about work?”

I waved it off. “My mum is best friends with my boss, plus I have a ton of holiday days saved up.”

“Okay, so, I guess we need to book you a flight then.” Julia pulled her phone from her pocket. I reached over and placed my hand on hers.

“Let’s just enjoy this for a moment. Come closer to me.”

Julia placed her chair next to mine, so we were both facing the performers and the dark night sea view. She tilted her head to kiss me. I cradled her face with my hands, pressing her lips closer to mine.

God, I wanted her so bad.

I had no idea how it would work or even if it would work. I didn’t know what would happen after our two-week vacation. What would life with Julia in her country, in her home, in her world, be like? What would my friends, my family, and my job think of my sudden urge to extend my vacation? What if the extension went beyond those two weeks? Those were questions I didn’t have answers for, and there was beauty in not knowing. It terrified the life out of me, but it terrified me more to think I might never see her again.

17

The world was asleep, but I was wide awake, crippled by unyielding desires. Foolish desires? To some, maybe. The opinion of my closest friends was all that mattered to me now. I heard the familiar clatter of cutlery as the kitchen staff set up for a new day; Groundhog Day for them, but this day was far different from the first for me.

“It’s crazy, right? Like, who do I think I am?”

Billie and Sarah helped pack my suitcase.

“What about Lady? And Gaga? And work? And what if we don’t get along? What if I get there and then we can’t stand each other? Then what? I’m stuck.”

The thought had crossed my mind for a split second. The doubt naturally wanted to worm its way back in, but I’d done the unthinkable now. The flight was booked.

“You’re not stuck,” Sarah said.