“Never,” She said, cutting him off.
“That’s bullshit, and we both know it.” He grabbed a rag and started wiping down the bar, needing to distract himself, but he couldn’t help but glance up.
Tears filled her blue eyes, and damn him for wanting to reach out and wipe them away. Why couldn’t he just hate her? It would make his life so much easier.
“I messed up,” she finally said, a tear falling from her lid and streaking down her cheek. She swiped it away angrily as if she was pissed she’d let it fall in the first place. At least he knew she wasn’t purposely trying to turn on the water works. “I messed up really bad.” Her voice was a mere whisper. She met his gaze, a storm brewing in the deep blue of her eyes. She blinked and the storm cleared, little breaks of light shining through. “I knew it six years ago, and I know it today, and now I’ll never know what could’ve been. What should’ve been… because you’re it for me. I was just too stupid to see it.”
Nick’s hand stilled on the rag as she used his own words.
“I love you. Always have, and no amount of time or distance will ever change that. This time I’m not going anywhere.” She put her scarf down on the bar and slipped out of her coat. “It took me a long time to realize that a part of me has always been missing. I never could figure out what it was until I was standing on that stage in New York and your voice popped into my head.
“I gave you my heart when we were kids, and you were right, it’s been here with you this whole time. And there are no amount of lights around my name that would have changed that.”
He wanted to believe her but the eighteen-year-old kid she walked out on was in the back of his mind telling him not to fall for her act.
He stared at her, taking in how beautiful she looked with her curls out of control and falling in her face, the desperate plea in those bright blue eyes. A half-hearted smile tugged at the edge of her mouth.
“This is usually the part where you say something.”
What was left to say? He told her how he felt, spilled his heart to her, and she still left. Was he supposed to just forget about that because she came back? How was he to know that she wouldn’t leave him again? When times got tough, she wouldn’t just run out on him.
Her smile faltered, lip quivered as she took in a deep defeated breath. “I see,” she said. She pointed over her shoulder to the door. “I’m going to go now but not because I’m running because I meant every word that I said to you. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. But I’m also not going to make this any more uncomfortable than it has to be.”
She was babbling but he couldn’t seem to find the words to make her stop.
“Okay, I’m going now.” She grabbed her coat and walked toward the door then stopped. She turned back to him. “I just have one more thing to say.” She balled her coat in her hands then met his gaze. “I have a lot of regrets but I’ll never regret loving you.”
His throat constricted, raw hot emotion burning a path to his heart. He watched her blonde curls spin around and move farther and farther away.
What the hell was he doing? She might have left but she did come back. She didn’t wait six years this time and if that didn’t speak volumes in itself than he didn’t know what to believe. He couldn’t let her walk out on him again not when they were so close to their forever.
He catapulted himself over the bar and took long strides until he stopped right in front of her. She gasped at the unexpected barrier and she blinked up at him with so much hope it shattered the last of his resolve.
He didn’t need words to tell her he heard her, that he loved her too, not when he could show her. His hand wrapped around her waist, and he pulled her in, capturing her lips in one quick motion. A tiny surprised squeak fell from her mouth, but she quickly melted into his arms.
Every broken promise, every regret and mistake he forgave with each stroke of his tongue against hers. He pulled back, looked into her eyes, and saw his future play out in front of him. Holding onto the past was only a way to keep him from looking to a future without the girl of his dreams by his side, but now he didn’t have to hold onto the lost time.
Their future was in front of them and it was brighter than the lights of Broadway.
Epilogue
4 weeks later
Daisy pulled into Nick’s driveway after a long day at the brewery. She had jumped head first into her new role and couldn’t contain the excitement that seemed to be pouring out of her. The ideas just kept flowing, and with Nick’s help she was setting up a calendar on the website for customers to check. Nick also got her in touch with local hotels and resorts, and she was currently creating a hand out to leave in their lobby, advertising their weekly events.
Nick stepped outside, a box in hand, and stopped when he saw her. A smile curved at the edge of his mouth, causing pure happiness to fill her. For so long she had been searching for that feeling and all along it was exactly where she had left it.
He put the box into the back of his pickup and came over to the Jeep, opening the door for her. “Hey there, beautiful,” he said, bending down and giving her a kiss.
“Hey there yourself.”
“How’s the packing going?” When Nick had told her he’d decided to sell his parents’ house, she couldn’t believe it, but she knew it was a step he had to take, and she was happy to be there with him for every stride.
This time tomorrow they would be moving into their own place a few blocks over, complete with a white picket fence.
“Almost finished. How was the brewery? Mason miss me?”
Daisy laughed. “Not as much as I missed you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. No matter how many times she kissed him, it was never enough. It was as if she had to make up for all the years apart. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get there, and she was okay with that. There were worse things than kissing the man she loved.
He bent down and scooped her up into his arms as he deepened the kiss. She melted into his familiar warmth, and he dragged his mouth down her neck, sending a flurry of sparks through her body.
“We need to get going,” she said. “Grandma will never forgive me if we miss her welcome home party.”
He moaned against her skin, and she laughed.
“I can blame you.”
He put her down. “Let’s go.”
“Just like that?” she asked.
“I do not want to be on the other end of Betty’s wrath. She remembers things I did when I was twelve.”
“Oh trust me, I know.” She held her keys out to him. “You want to drive?”
“Is this what my life is going to be? Chauffeuring you around?”
She dropped the keys in his outstretched hand. “You love it,” she said as she stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
She went to walk around him, and he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her back. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She kissed him again then patted his chest. “But we have to go.” She walked around the Jeep and stopped before getting to the passenger door. She looked over at Nick and smiled. “Then when we get home…” She bit her lip, insinuating so many things.
“You’re lucky I don’t throw you over my shoulders right now.”
“You wouldn’t. We can’t be late.” She laughed and got in the Jeep.
Nick shook his head and slid into the driver’s seat. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” he said as he put the Jeep in reverse.
Ten minutes later, they pulled up to Basil Hill farm and into her parents’ driveway. Everyone was already there, and Daisy hopped out of the Jeep, excited to see everyone even though she’d seen most of them earlier.
Tommy ran out the front door and met her at the porch, throwing his arms around her waist. “Daisy! Daisy! Guess what?”
“What?” she asked so happy the kid didn’t hate her for flaking out on him. Showing up with a box of cupcakes seemed to help her apology. She didn’t miss a single one
of his practices after that, and she was front row opening night, cheering him on.
“The school is doing another play! And Mrs. Littleton said I did such a good job as Hook that she thinks I should audition for the lead, but I told her no.”
“Why would you tell her no?”
“Because I don’t want to be the hero. I want to be the villain. Their role is more important.”
Daisy pressed a hand to her chest, touched that Tommy took her advice to heart. She couldn’t even describe how happy that made her. She bent down and gave him a hug. “I bet whatever role you get you’ll be the best at.”
“I audition on Wednesday. Can you practice with me tomorrow?”
“I’d love to.”
“Yes! I got to go tell mom.” Tommy took off, running into the house.
Nick wrapped his arm around Daisy’s shoulder and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to the mess of curls on her head. “I think you have a little actor on your hands.”
“I think he can be whatever he wants to be.”
Carol met them at the door, pulling them inside and giving them a round of hugs. Marshmallow and Bubbles ran past them, nearly knocking little Matthew over, but Matt swooped in and scooped him up.
“I’m going to have to put this kid in a bubble,” he said, blowing raspberries on Matthew’s stomach and causing an adorable string of giggles to erupt.
“The sad thing is he’s not joking,” Daisy said.
“Come help me in the kitchen,” Carol said, taking Daisy’s hand. “I already put Cassie and Shay to work. Well, Shay wanted to hide from your brother. He practically had a chair for her to sit in as soon as she walked in the door.”
Daisy laughed. “That sounds about right. And what about Kate and Hadley?”
“Those two disappeared as soon they got here. Probably having drinks with your brothers in the living room. Grandma got Sarah’s ear, asking her when she’s having another baby.”
“Theo isn’t even a year old yet.”
“I know, but you know your grandmother.”
“Let me go rescue her.”
Daisy and Nick walked toward the living room. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and bent down, kissing her cheek.
“We could sneak off to the barn,” he said against her ear, causing a chill to run up her spine in the most delicious way.
“Behave yourself. I don’t think Dylan is fully recovered from the last time we did that,” she said.
“That was seven years ago. I’m sure he’s over it.”
She stepped out of his arms, dodging his reach and stepped into the living room before he could stop her.
“If you’re not going to get married the least you can do is have another baby,” Daisy heard Betty say to Sarah as she and Nick walked in.
“Grandma,” Cooper said, resting his hand on her shoulder. “We have two kids; we’re practically married already.”
“Not until she has a ring on her finger.”
“She makes jewelry for a living. She has plenty of rings.”
Mason stepped forward, his gold medal stout in hand. “Coop, would you like a shovel to dig the hole you’re in a little faster?”
“Shut up,” Cooper said, and Daisy stifled a laugh.
“Can you leave the poor girl alone?” Harold said to Betty. “If they want to get married they’ll get married.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Cooper said.
“Besides, it’s not her fault. A real man would’ve put a ring on her finger by now,” Harold said. “But that’s none of our business.”
“Seriously?” Cooper threw his hands into the air. “I thought you were on my team.”
“Want to go in?” Nick asked as they lingered in the doorway.
“Not yet,” she said. She stood back and watched, loving the back and forth between her family. This is exactly what she missed in New York, and she would never take it for granted again.
Hadley sat in the corner chair beer in hand, Lady at her feet and Sam sitting on the arm of the chair while he talked with Caleb, Kate, and Matt who was holding a restless Matthew. Her dad was in the other corner listening to Tommy tell him a story about school.
It was pure perfection.
“My favorite couple is here!” Betty exclaimed when she spotted them in the doorway.
“I see how it is,” Mason said. “I get engaged and now you have no use for me.”
“Dude, don’t question it,” Cooper said, and Betty swatted him in the gut. He grabbed his stomach and laughed.
Betty got up from the couch and everybody moved toward her at once.
“Will you all knock it off? I have a new hip to break my fall.”
“If you fall again, so help me,” Harold said and Betty rolled her eyes.
“Stop fussing before you put yourself in an early grave.”
“Bite your tongue,” Daisy said as she finally walked into the living room and gave her grandma a hug. “How are you feeling?”
“Couldn’t be better. But enough about me, tomorrow is the big move in day!”
Nick draped his arm on Daisy’s shoulders. “Sure is.”
“In my day, we married before we moved in together.”
“I already asked her. I’m just waiting on an answer.”
Daisy’s eyes widened, and she turned to Nick. “What? That was six years ago.”
“And you never gave me an answer.”
“I assumed the offer was off the table.”
“The ring is yours whenever you want it.”
“Wait, you still have it?”
“Of course I do. It’s right here.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar black velvet box.
Betty clapped her hands together and let out a squeak. Her dad slipped out the door.
Daisy stared up into his golden brown eyes. “You have it with you?”
“I had a feeling Betty would ask about it.” He winked over at Betty, and Daisy had a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t as impromptu as she thought.
“Great,” Cooper said. “Way to make me look bad.”
Sarah elbowed him in the stomach. “Can you let them have their moment?”
Jonathon returned with Carol, Cassie, and Shay in tow.
“What’s going on?” Shay asked.
Daisy turned to her, so many emotions running through her she couldn’t decipher them all. Shay slapped a hand over her mouth, and Daisy turned around to find Nick on his knee.
The last time he was on one knee in front of her she’d felt like it was her death sentence. This time though it felt like life had come full circle. Looking down at him she could see their future. Growing old together, having a family of their own, and spending their final days holding hands on their porch…
“What do you say, Daze?”
“Are you ready to give me an answer?” Worry lines appeared around his eyes, probably afraid of having a repeat of before.
Tears pressed against her lids and she smiled, causing his worry lines to vanish. “I should have said this six years ago. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Nick jumped up, tossing his arms in the air then scooping her up into his arms. He kissed her, and everything in her world righted itself. Her family cheered around them, yelling their congratulations and pulling them into celebratory hugs.
“I’m pregnant!” Kate blurted, and Betty squeaked.
Everyone spun around to where Kate and Caleb stood. Caleb looked at her with shock in his eyes. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to steal your thunder, but I’ve been holding it in for a week now and if I didn’t let it out I was going to explode.”
“You’re pregnant?” Daisy said, tears falling freely now.
Kate nodded. “It’s early and I probably shouldn’t be telling you guys but it’s been such a long road that you’ve all been a part of and I just want you to know.”
“I am so happy for you,” Daisy said, wrapping her arms around her.
“I’m so happy for you, too!” Kate said, squeezing her tight
er.
Daisy caught Hadley over Kate’s shoulder, a happy smirk on her face. “You already knew!” Daisy exclaimed. She turned to Shay who had the same look on her face. “You too!”
“I knew, too,” Cassie and Sarah said at the same time.
“I had to tell someone, and you weren’t here. And if I tell Hadley I have to tell Shay and Cassie and Sarah… we’re all a unit,” Kate said.
“In Kate’s defense, I guessed,” Sarah said.
“She can spot a pregnant girl from a mile away. Besides, it’s not my fault you got here late.”
Daisy smiled. “I might’ve been late, but I’m here now. I’m always going to be here.”
Daisy hugged Kate again before the two of them got tugged into more hugs from everyone else.
Betty came over to her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy for you two. It took long enough.”
Nick laughed. “You have no idea.”
“Trust me I do, but it’s okay because everything went exactly as I planned. The broken hip just helped move things along,” she said and walked away, leaving Nick and Daisy to wonder after her.
“She didn’t,” Nick said, and he and Daisy shook their heads. “No,” they said with a laugh but honestly Daisy wouldn’t be surprised if her grandmother somehow managed to get them back together. When that woman wanted something, she didn’t stop until it happened.
Nick pulled her in for another hug and kissed her forehead. “You ready to spend the rest of your life with me?” he asked.
She turned in his arms, looking up at him. “I couldn’t imagine anything better.”
Thank you for reading! Daisy and Nick’s story has been with me since the very beginning, and I am so happy to have finally brought it to you. I hope you enjoyed their story as much I enjoyed telling it.
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Dreaming of Daisy (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #6) Page 19