Chapter Seventeen

“You know, Harper, the worst part is that I actually fell for it.” Nolan’s hand rubbed aggressively across his forehead just before he squeezed his temple. A pinkish tint began creeping from behind his ear and slowly spread across his cheeks. “God dammit!” He growled as his teeth clenched against one another. 

“Nolan,” I tried to speak softly hoping maybe it would calm him down. We were standing in the parking lot of a gas station getting strange looks from people passing by. I had to divert the situation some how. “What’s going on?”

His eyes subtly narrowed in on me as if he couldn’t believe what I’d just asked him. Sure, I may have already known, but that’s because I’d been paranoid about it the whole time. A single day hadn’t gone by where I didn’t imagine that this was how it would play out. But, this sudden outrage of his could have been about anything, really. I just had to play dumb until I knew the facts. 

Without saying a word Nolan walked to the passenger side door and pulled out my notebook. 

Okay, so this was really happening.

I took a deep breath as my mind raced through every excuse I could use. Something that would explain how this whole thing was just a huge misunderstanding. I needed him to know what was really going on in a few short words. Of course, the universe wasn’t on my side. I blurted, “you went through my things?” It was the worst thing I could have said. Almost as if I were confirming his thoughts about how schemingly deceitful I’d been. 

“It makes sense now.” Nolan’s voice dropped down to a calm and collected tone. My tensed brows rose up in confusion. I watched as he took one slow step at a time, wiggling the notebook in one hand as it hit the other. “When I came back here to wait for you, I noticed your purse flipped over on the floor. I didn’t know it was open, so I picked it up and put it back on your seat. That’s when this little guy fell out.” The side of his mouth curled up as if he couldn’t believe what was going on. 

My hands held onto the sides of my temple as my face shriveled into disappointment. I knew I shouldn’t have just ran out of the truck. I felt my purse fall over, why didn’t I just turn around to pick it up. Why??

Despite my reaction Nolan kept going. “It was open on a random page. It’s not in my nature to be nosy or anything, but I’m human. I couldn’t help that as I was shutting the notebook, my eyes caught my name written on the page. Not once, but a few times. I mean, it is your notebook and I’m sure you’re just writing about your experience. No big deal, right?”

My eyes trailed up to meet his at the sound of his question. He raised an eyebrow as if he were waiting for a response, but I knew that was the last thing he wanted to hear. “Except then, for some odd reason, I felt the urge to run my finger over the edge of the pages. My name was written on almost every page. You want to know what’s even funnier?” He tucked his hand that was holding the notebook under his arm as his other hand gently grazed his jawline. “At the bed and breakfast when I found that 20 however many questions book, I felt something weird. Like something wasn’t right. I had just gone through those books the night before trying to find something to read and then out of nowhere this book appears the next morning.”

“Nolan.” I whimpered so quietly he hadn’t even heard me. I knew where he was going and I just wanted this to end already. It was bad enough that I had a guilty conscious this whole time, but hearing him say it out loud made it a million times worse. 

He shrugged his shoulders. “There was only a couple of others staying there, so I told myself maybe it was one of them. It didn’t even take me more than half a second to realize what was going on when I saw my name written in your notebook.” He stopped walking when he was a couple of feet away from me. “I get it, you’re a writer, you wanted to experiment a theory.” He rolled his eyes. “I hope you got the information you were looking for.” 

My eyes were flooded with tears as I watched him hand me my notebook. I didn’t take it at first. I didn’t really want to take it at all. I just wanted to somehow go back to the beginning. I would have done this all differently. If only the new Harper had come sooner I wouldn’t have been in this mess. Maybe if I stood absolutely still and concentrated hard enough I could turn back time. 

“It’s not what it looks like Nolan.” I mumbled between a pathetic sob. “It was a stupid book my friend had given me at a desperate time in my life. I was just testing it out because I didn’t have anything better going on.”

Nolan squinted his eyes. “So, were you just sitting on the side of the road waiting for some guy stupid enough to come along?”

“No, Nolan, no.” I shook my head. “I didn’t even find the book until later. Celeste hid it in my bag. I really didn’t want to read it. I thought the whole idea of it was ridiculous. I just wanted to test it to prove it wrong, but, then I fell for you, Nolan, and because of that I wasn’t going to write the article anymore. Please, believe me. I really like you.”

Nolan’s tensed expression softened. His hand, holding out the notebook, dropped to his side. I stood there with my heart on my sleeve, filled with hopefulness that maybe, just maybe, we could move past this. The darkness that had filled his eyes was now clear. With every slow exhale the electrifying blue tones were restored. The longer we stared at one another the more he seemed sympathetic. 

He shut his eyes slowly as he opened up the notebook. I watched anxiously as he flipped though it. Just when I thought we might have been able to salvage the moment. “I don’t like Nolan. I’m strictly doing this for an article.” He read my words out loud, pausing only to look up at my expression and smile as he called my bullshit. “He is absolutely not my type. He runs away from his problems and is afraid to settle. No wonder he chose to stick with his family business.”  The corners of his mouth turned down as he tilted his head and shrugged. “Not sure where that came from, but to each their own, I guess.” 

I felt a sudden burst of rage. I snapped my hand forward hoping to rip the notebook out of his hands, but he’d moved it just before I could.

“Here’s my favorite part.” He continued. “It’s just a viable excuse …” He read the words slowly as he looked at me. With each passing second his smile disappeared. “…to be like his mother.” He sighed as he handed the notebook to me. “That was a low blow.”

I snatched it from his hand as he walked away. 

Nolan turned back just when he’d gotten half way to his truck. His hands were tucked into his pockets and the look of heartbreak on his face was so intense it was like staring at the afternoon sun, unbearable. “Tell me something. Is your car even broken?”

I stood silently. There wasn’t anything I could say to save myself. Everything was a lie. I closed my eyes for a few beats only to open them and see Nolan shaking his head.

He turned back around and sat in his truck. I felt my lips tremble as his head dropped back against the headrest and his hands covered his face. How could I have done this? How could I have caused someone so much pain. With one rise and fall of his chest he leaned forward to start the engine. He didn’t even bother to look at me one last time. 

I watched as he drove away. 

Just like that he was gone and I was left with nothing but the belongings in the backseat of my Civic, exactly how it should have been from the beginning. 

Chapter Sixteen

“I hope Elizabeth isn’t at my parent's house.” I mumbled under my breath as I buckled myself in.

Nolan stared intently at the GPS system trying to make sure he was typing in the right address. His eyes gazed back and forth between his cell phone and the screen in his dash.

“Huh?” His delayed reaction caused my brows to furrow with a questioning stare.

I sighed and leaned on to the armrest of my door. My chin rested on my hand as I admired the quaint little bed and breakfast one last time before we set off. It wasn’t just the beauty of the cottage style house covered in greenery and blooms, but what had taken place inside. This would remain a pivotal place in my life. Regardless if Nolan and I worked out or not, this tiny little cottage would be where my walls came tumbling down and I, for once, lived.

“Ah!” Nolan had finally managed to find the right address in his system. “Okay, so why are you so worried about your sister again?”

“No reason.” I leaned back into my chair and folded my arms. “She’s just a little judgmental, that’s all.”

Nolan’s brow flinched as he looked at me. “How so?” He turned back to face the road as he switched the gear into drive. 

“Oh, you know,” I began to mock her in a voice that wasn’t even remotely close to her real one. “You’re almost thirty years old with out a job, living off of your parents, and now you’re planning on moving to South Carolina with a guy you just met?”

Nolan laughed, “she sounds like fun.”

“Trust me, she is.” I rolled my eyes. “You know she wasn’t always like this. She was actually cool, and dare I say my best friend, before she went off to college.”

“What happened in college?” 

“The harsh reality of life managed to miss me and smacked her instead.” I sunk into my seat to get more comfortable. There was still a long way before we’d be making a stop. “I don’t know, I guess she’s more of a realist than I was. She did exactly what our parents wanted for us to do. Went to college, got a job, got married, had kids.” 

“I take that back.” Nolan briefly looked over at me with half a smile. “She doesn’t sound like too much fun.”

“Yeah well, at least she doesn’t have to live with regrets.” 

“Isn’t life all about trial and error?” Nolan’s smile had been replaced with a more serious stare. “You went for a career in something that excites you. You moved out to L.A to find a job. So what if that opportunity hasn’t knocked yet? At least you know you tried. Imagine how many things you’ve experienced that she never will because she chose to play it safe.” 

My eyes grazed from the empty road ahead of us to over my shoulder at Nolan.

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I just wasn’t raised like that. We were always told to strive for what ever made us happy.”

“Must be nice.” I huffed. “Do you think we might be crazy for doing this?”

“Do I think it’s crazy that a random impulse to help a stranger out while driving on an empty highway in the dessert and then spending every waking hour with that stranger only to find out that I’ve never quiet had a connection with anyone in that way? Yes. Do I think we’re crazy for trying to explore the potential? No.”

I laughed at Nolan’s synopsis. He was right. It was one thing that I felt a certain unexplainable way about him, but knowing he felt it too made it that much more interesting.

I reached over to grab his hand and smiled. “Well, I think it’s crazy and I’m not gonna lie…” He looked over at me waiting for me to finish my thought. “I’m starting to like crazy.”

“Welcome to the party.” Nolan smiled back as he squeezed my hand.

When I lived in my hometown I was always busy with the little things in life. From high school drama to being locked away in my dorm studying all night. I never appreciated the beauty of the East Coast. Ironically coming back home with Nolan as a “new” Harper, it was like I was experiencing it for the first time. I’d never taken the time to really look at the cobblestone pathways, the old English architecture, the way the chilly winter air made the naked trees dance along the road. 

It only made me think about what else I might have missed out on. All I cared about was becoming the best journalist the world had ever seen, and now that I was thinking about it, I’d lived in L.A for years and had only been to the beach twice. Twice. I was so consumed with wanting success that I missed out on the little things. 

The deeper I buried myself into my thoughts the more upset I became. I almost missed out on finding Mr. Right because I would’ve rather written an article exploiting a fake connection I was desperate to make in order to catch the attention of publications. If I hadn’t actually fallen for Nolan, I would still be stuck in that same pessimistic cycle. 

“Do you need to stop?” I heard Nolan’s voice and snapped back to reality. 

It had almost been four hours since we’d been driving on the road. Most days the time couldn’t have gone slower, but today, the closer we got to home, the faster it flew by.

“No, no,” I shook my head as I stretched and sat upright. “I’m fine.”

“I’m a little thirsty.” He reached for an empty bottle sitting in the console and swiveled around the droplets of water. “There’s a gas station up ahead, you sure you don’t want anything?”

I thought about it for a good second before I shook my head. 

Nolan pulled into a parking spot and made his way inside. I sat in the car quietly fiddling my thumbs as I people watched. There was a couple a few parking spots down with a young little boy in the back seat. I watched as he opened up his mom’s bag and pulled out a packet of gum. The sheer look of joy that consumed his face as he stuck the gum in his mouth was enough to make me crave a piece. 

I leaned over and grabbed my bag from the floor and dug around. I knew I had a packet in here somewhere. I continued to dig until finally I opened my bag up and took a peek inside. Crumpled up in the side pocket was an empty package. I sighed in defeat before realizing that Nolan was still inside. I shoved my bag over and jumped out the car. 

By the time I made it to the door, Nolan was already on his way out. “What happened?” He looked concerned when he saw my frantic expression.

“Nothing, I just wanted to grab some gum.”

“Let me get it.” He insisted as he turned around and proceeded back inside. 

I stopped him. “It’s okay, I got it. Besides, I want to see what all flavors they have.”

Nolan shook his head and laughed. “Fine, suit yourself. I’ll be in the car.” He cracked his bottle of water open and took a gulp.

I perused through the candy aisle marveling at the endless options. I hadn’t seen some of these companies since I was a kid. Most of my gum buying took place at the last minute before checking out groceries. 

My attention was diverted to the front of the store as a crowd of people walked in. I grabbed a random packet of gum in hopes of making it in line before any of them had gotten in front of me.

I wasn’t so lucky. Five of the family of eight that walked in had already managed to get to the register. They obviously knew exactly what they wanted before they came inside, unlike me.

The old Harper would have been irritated, but I on the other hand smiled when the remaining family members cut in front of me to join the rest of their tribe. And I continued to smile even when the younger kids of the group couldn’t figure out which candy they wanted even though their parents kept yelling across the store for them to hurry up. Or when the adults of the family chatted up a storm with the cashier for a good ten minutes about a local event taking place that night. Honestly, there wasn’t much that could bother me at this point. 

I patiently waited for my turn, paid for the gum, and pranced out of the gas station. I smiled when I saw Nolan standing against his truck waiting for me. I ripped open the package and held it out. “You want?”

Nolan didn’t move. He was as still as a statue. I slowly pulled my hand back when I saw his jaw clenching beneath his skin. His mesmerizing blue eyes had darken with anger under his furrowed brows. 

“What’s wrong?” I asked as gently as possible. Almost like my words were tiptoeing around him.

He opened his mouth slightly, but then shut it almost immediately. His head shook in disappointment as he exhaled a heavy breath. He took another moment to collect himself.

I watched as he walked over to my car and began unhooking the chains he’d used to attach it to his truck. “Call your dad. Tell him to come pick you up.”

Chapter Fifteen

“Harper?” The slight curves of Nolan lips slowly began to fall flat as the concern on his face grew. 

What felt like an eternity to me was actually only a few seconds. In that moment I’d already imagined a hundred different ways in which this conversation was going to end. Unless, of course, I did exactly what I’d been doing this whole trip and lied to Nolan…one last time.

I exhaled a gust of air from my lungs. 

“Are you feeling okay?” Nolan asked as he set the book down on the window bench and stood in front of me. This was it, if I distracted him enough he’d forget about the whole thing.

“Sorry.” I took in another breath and exhaled. “I just, I…I had the hiccups!” 

“Oh.” Nolan’s look of concern quickly dissolved. “You looked like you were about to pass out or something.”

“Yeah, sorry, dramatically holding my breath is the only way I can ever get rid of them.” I nervously laughed as I tugged on his arm, trying to pull him away from the library nook. “Hey, are you sure you got everything from your room?” 

Nolan and I began walking back towards the stairs. Just when I thought I was getting away with the whole thing a spark lit up his face. “Wait,” he turned back around to pick up 21 Questions from the window bench. “I should put this back.” 

I smiled at him approving his good deed, but on the inside my bodily functions had taken another momentary break and they weren’t going to resume until that God forsaken book was back on the shelf. 

I watched in silence as he skimmed through the shelf to find it’s original spot. He glanced at the book one more time. Don’t do it, Nolan. Don’t do it. The voice in my head chanted.

My eyes shut slowly in disappointment when he did exactly what I didn’t want him to do. Nolan’s finger ran across the pages of the book causing them to flutter open. “I don’t know why I was even reading this.” He laughed. “I guess a couple of the questions caught my attention.”

I peeked through my lashes. Nolan had stopped on a random page as he read one of the question’s aloud. “Doesn’t that sound familiar?”

“What do you mean?” I used every muscle in my body to force myself to walk towards him.

“I mean, some of these questions sound like the ones you asked me.” His eyes questioningly glanced up at me.

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed the book from Nolan’s hand. “Let me see.” I couldn’t actually make out the words on the page because my vision was hazed from sheer terror. I huffed and skipped to another page, and then another, and then another, making sure to laugh at how ridiculous each one was as I past it.  I shut the book and placed it back on the shelf, where it should have never left. “Nolan, these are such typical questions.”

Nolan shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It just seemed a little weird, you know?”

“The only concerning thing is that this guy probably made a killing off of a book filled with all these cliche questions.” I laughed uneasily as I looked over at Nolan. The corner of his lips curved into half a smile as he came to the realization that I might have been right.

“Come on!” I tugged his hand as I walked away. 

“Why are you in such a hurry to leave?” He stood behind me as his arms wrapped across my body and his chin lied gently on my shoulder. “Did you really have that terrible of a time with me that you’re so eager to go home?” 

I was in such a rush to get Nolan out of the library nook that I’d completely forgotten where our next destination was; home. I turned around and held Nolan’s face between my hands. “I don’t want this to be the last time we’re together.” I didn’t even think about what I was saying, I just said what I’d come to feel. It was weird to be so attached to something I’d only just discovered and yet have such a strong connection with. This wasn’t the same Harper who left L.A. This wasn’t even the Harper I knew growing up. This was a new Harper that had only just found herself.

The room was silent as we stared at one another. A few seconds went by before Nolan laughed. “Well, of course I don’t want this to be the last time either.”

“Then?” I asked in all seriousness. My hands gently fell down to his shoulders and rested around his neck. “Why can’t you just make a Fletcher’s in Boston? I’m not just saying that because I used to shop at Fletcher’s in L.A and I’m really disappointed that there isn’t one in my hometown, but really, Boston is a big city you’d be hitting a great market!” My words were spewing out a mile a minute. 

Nolan continued to smile and nod the same way you would when a child is telling a ridiculous story and you’re just trying to go along with it because they’re a child who knows nothing. 

“Nolan.” I said disapprovingly.

“Not only has staying here with you been more than I could ever expect, but our whole trip together has been a whirlwind. I really like you, hell, you’re the first girl I’ve ever been fascinated with, but it’s not that easy.” He brushed my hair away from my face, resting his fingers beneath my chin to stop my disappointment. “My family is in South Carolina. My business is there. My whole life is there. I can’t just uproot and leave everything behind.”

I sighed heavily as I looked away. 

Nolan nudged my chin to regain my attention. “Come with me.”

I leaned my head back to get a better look. 

“I know South Carolina isn’t ideal for you, but just come with me for now until we can figure something out.”

I hesitated to answer. In all honesty I wanted to say yes a million times over, but that’s when old realistic Harper conveniently made an appearance just in time to crush my hopes. I needed to go back home because it was the financially responsible thing to do. I had to find a job and settle my debts once and for all. I couldn’t just let the suave, handsome, tall, rugged yet sensitive, mesmerizing blue eyed…snap out of it Harper!

I sighed. 

I couldn’t just swoon over Nolan and let him take me away from everything I’d been trying to accomplish my whole life. I needed to hit the restart button and that began with going home.

“Okay.” I nodded.

“Okay, you’ll come?” Nolan’s hands were planted on my shoulders as he took a step back.

“Yes, I’ll come with you.” I heard her yelling at the top of her lungs. Old Harper wasn’t happy. Maybe she was right about going home, but I couldn’t let her win again. She’d been so miserable the last few years that I was slowly convinced that I’d been her the whole time. The truth was, I never was her. She was a pessimistic ego-maniac that slowly settled her way into my soul with every crushing disappointment that came my way. Instead of holding my ground and believing things could get better, I let her become me. 

Nolan leaned in and kissed my forehead. It was almost like a moment of magic. As I closed my eyes and opened them, her voice was gone. All it took was putting my happiness first.

“Since we’re close enough to your parent’s house maybe we can swing by to drop off your car and stuff.” I held Nolan’s hand that was draped over my shoulder as we walked out of the bed and breakfast. “You can pack the things you’ll need and we’ll head down from there.”

I looked up at him and smiled, “sounds like a good idea to me.”

Chapter Fourteen

I hesitated to open my eyes. I could feel the sun peaking in through the sheer curtains across from my bed, so I grabbed the extra pillows next to me and covered my face with them. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a hangover, but this was exactly why I never let it happen.

I inhaled a deep breath and felt the muscles in my body release from their previously tense state. I was just another deep breath away from falling back asleep.

ring!

I groaned as the tension I was so desperate to get rid of quickly found it’s way back into my body. 

ring!

Oh, for crying out loud. I huffed as I lifted the pillow from my face, keeping my eyes closed, and reached towards the sound of the phone.

“Hello?” I croaked.

“Hey!” Nolan chirped. He was obviously more accustomed to dealing with hangovers than I was. “You wanna meet me downstairs for breakfast?” There was only silence from my end of the conversation. He continued, “there’s a really nice garden behind the bed and breakfast where we can eat. I thought we might be able to spend some time out there before we head out.”

I dropped my head back onto the pillow and sighed. “Sure.”

It took me three times longer to get ready than it normally would have. I was moving at a pace of a sloth. By the time I made it outside Nolan was already enjoying a cup of coffee. The table in front of him was filled with breakfast food.

“I’m sorry.” I griped as I sunk into my chair. “I had a hard time getting up this morning.”

Nolan smiled. He didn’t even need to know what was wrong, he just picked up a pitcher of water and poured out a glass for me. “Mint water helps every time.”

“Thanks.” My eyes widened when a burst of ice cold freshness hit my taste buds. Before I knew it my glass was empty. Nolan hadn’t even put the pitcher down and he was already pouring out more. 

“Whoa, easy there girl.” He laughed.

“Ugh,” I groaned. “It’s been years since I’ve felt like this.”

“You barely had anything.”

“Barely? I was trying to keep up with you.”

Nolan shook his head. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” I stabbed a stack of pancakes with my fork and dropped them onto my plate. I watched from the corner of my eye as Nolan opted to go for the bowl of mixed fruits instead. Maybe I should skip buttering my pancakes…

“So,” Nolan cleared his throat. “Last night I was thinking about how,” He furrowed his brows and sank into a deep concentration as he paused. A second later his eyes met mine again and he continued, “different you are.”

I stopped mid-pancake cutting and let out a laugh. “Thanks, I guess?”

The skin between his brows loosened when he realized what he’d said. “What I mean is I’ve never met a girl like you before. To tell you the truth, I don’t think we would have been in each other’s lives as long if we’d met more casually.”

I slowly chewed my food in guilt. We wouldn’t have been in each other’s lives if I hadn’t forcefully interjected myself. Here Nolan was thinking this whole thing was fate, but little did he know he was just a pawn I was using to win a game in my career.

“It’s taken me some time to realize it, but you’re not like most girls I’ve met. Just thinking about how I won’t see you after tomorrow makes me feel like I’m going to be missing out on something.”

I set down my fork and knife and wiped the corners of my mouth. “I know how you feel because it’s exactly how I’ve been feeling. You’re the first guy I’ve had a connection with in a long, long time. You don’t even irritate me anymore.”

Nolan laughed. “Did I ever?”

“Yes!” I said without any hesitation. “Definitely in the beginning, but then the more I got to know you the more…you know.” I shrugged my shoulders.

Nolan’s smile flashed for a second before it was gone. “The problem is that I have a business to run in Charleston and you have a better chance of finding work in Boston.”

I pushed my plate away as I let his words resonate. 

After breakfast we decided to walk through the garden. It was quiet and peaceful with only the flutters of butterflies and occasional chirping of birds. Most of the plants hadn’t bloomed yet, but it was still a beautiful sight. A dirt pathway weaved in and out of canopies covered in vines. We stopped to sit down at a bench that overlooked the hills beyond the bed and breakfast. It was a shame more people didn’t visit this place. 

Nolan wrapped his arm across my shoulders as a cool breeze sent a shiver through my body. I snuggled in close to his chest and rested my head on his shoulder. “Do I have to go home tomorrow?” I asked as I pretended to whimper.

“I could always kidnap you.” I felt his chest gently rise and fall as he laughed. 

I smiled as I looked up at him. Nolan’s electric blue eyes stared back at me. It might have been our conversation from earlier or just the way we both hopelessly gazed into each others eyes, but in that moment I don’t think either one of us wanted to let go.

My arms were covered in goosebumps as Nolan’s hand swept across my cheek and rested on the nape of my neck. His fingers wove through my hair as he leaned forward and pulled me in for a kiss. It wasn’t like any other one that we’d shared. It was filled with passion and lined with regrets.

Regrets that the spark between us had been there all long, but we were just too stubborn to recognize it. Maybe that’s why Alexander Nottingham had written 21 Questions. For people like us, who needed a reminder to pause their daily struggles just to engage in a simple conversation. 

Nolan’s hand softly ran down my body and gripped onto my thighs. He pulled my body over his and began tugging at my clothes.

I pulled away from him and froze. He hadn’t gotten the hint and continued to kiss his way down my neck. “Nolan.” I whispered for his attention.

“You sound so sexy.” He managed to whisper back between kisses.

“What? No.” I pushed his shoulders back so he could see the concerned look on my face. “I think someone’s coming.”

He shook his head. “It’s no one.” 

Nolan’s eyes were set on my bare skin beyond the buttons that he’d managed to wrestle open. He bit his lip as he began to undo the rest. Another shiver ran through my body when his skin touched mine. The rush of adrenaline and sheer joy made me lose my train of thought. 

Somehow our clothes had ended up on the bench and our bodies on the ground below. We were so exhausted that just dusting the dirt off one another sent us into a hysterical laughing fit. 

Nolan and I went back to his room to clean up and spent the rest of the afternoon cuddled up in his bed. 

“Today was definitely an adventure.” I smiled 

“Everyday since the day I met you has been an adventure.” 

“What’s been your favorite part so far?” I asked as my finger traced the edges of his ear. 

“You mean aside from today?” He turned his head and playfully bit my hand. “I’d have to say the night we danced in that gazebo.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that pie was totally worth it.” He rubbed his nose against mine as he joked. “What about you?”

“Aside from today, the day we were snowed into that hotel.”

Nolan leaned away from me and furrowed his brows. “I thought you hated me then.” 

I laughed when I remembered how hard of a time I’d given Nolan that day. “I didn’t hate you. I just didn’t know you. I tend to put up these walls to intimidate people.I guess I’m too afraid to show everyone the real me. That night you looked beyond the walls and opened up to me. No one’s ever done that before. It changed everything because I knew if you could open up to me after everything you’d been through, I at the very least owed you the same.”

“You’re beautiful inside and out. You have nothing to be afraid of.” 

Despite our desperate prayers for the day to never end the sun came up right on schedule the next morning. I’d gone back to my room to finish packing before I came downstairs.

Nolan was sitting on the window bench in the library nook. As I was about to approach him I felt a tug on my arm. I turned around to find Jean with a smirk on her face. “I’m glad you decided to take my advice.”

I laughed uneasily. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know.” She wiggled her brows. “Marty and I saw what you two were up to in the garden.”

I covered my mouth with my hand as I gasped. “I knew I heard someone.”

“It was quiet a show I must say.” She laughed as she slowly walked back up the stairs.

I turned back around and headed to the library nook. “What are you reading?” I asked Nolan.

A confused look flashed across his face as he let out a slight laugh. “This book is so ridiculous.” He had been leaning his back on the windowsill before he pushed himself upright. “I grabbed it cause I didn’t recognize it from yesterday, but it’s about asking a series of questions to make people fall in love.”

It’s amazing how something as vital as breathing comes naturally to us. We don’t even have to think about it, it just happens. No matter how much of a stressful situation we might be in, our bodies force our lungs to fill with oxygen.

“You look pale.” Nolan said as he looked up at me.

It was only in that second that my body had failed me. I had forgotten to breathe because every last atom in my body had frozen, leaving me paralyzed, when I saw the cover of the book.