Love, Redefined: A Contemporary Romance Novel (Love Lessons Book 1)

by Brynn North

  “Are these for me?” I gasped. Nobody had ever sent me such a gorgeous gift in my life.

  Instead of answering, he held out his arms, and I leaped into them, wrapping my legs around his waist.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  He started to say something in return, but the words were lost as I bent my head down to his, and kissed him, hard. My lips moved against his, and I got drunk on his taste of cherry ChapStick and smell of Dolce and Gabbana cologne. I kept kissing him and kissing him, not letting go until Boston set me down, putting his arms around my waist. He pulled me against him where I could feel the outline of his entire body. I reached up again, twining my fingers through his hair until they rested on the back of his neck, pulling him even closer until our lips touched again, hungrily, wanting more. I was totally, utterly lost in the kiss and the untold future it meant for us. I knew without question this is exactly what I wanted.

  Just then, Boston broke apart. “Uh, Vi, can you stop it with the pictures?”

  I turned and gave her the evil eye.

  “Sorry,” Vi said, looking not at all sorry. “Just wanted to get this on camera for you. You’ll thank me one day. I’ll be inside now if you need me.” She grabbed the flowers and ran for the door.

  “That Vi.” He shook his head as she closed the door behind her. “Care for a walk?”

  “Sure, I need a sweater first.” It was a perfect fall night, with just a hint of chill in the air.

  “Here, take mine.” He handed over his hoodie, and I happily put it on. It was warm with his body heat and smelled exactly like Boston - citrus with a hint of sandalwood.

  He held out his hand, and I took it, melting into his side, knowing that’s where I belonged now. We strolled toward the walking path until we hit the trail by the river.

  “Sit down for a second?” He gestured toward a bench. The same bench where I asked him out over a month ago. Nobody was around, it was just us by the beautiful river. If I didn’t just have the most romantic moment of my life, I’d think this was some kind of setup or something.

  “I’ve always loved you, and when you love someone, you love the whole person,” he started. Then I joined in.

  Together, we recited, “. . . just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.”

  “Tolstoy,” Boston finished at the end, and I teared up a little.

  “Kat,” he started again, “I had a massive crush on you my senior year, but I couldn’t do anything about it. You were younger than me. My sister’s best friend. And I was heading to college out of state. There wasn’t anything I could do. Then you came back into town, even more gorgeous than I remembered, and funnier to boot. But I knew you weren’t ready for me, even if I was ready for you.”

  I started to say something, but he stopped me. “Please let me finish.” I nodded, tears starting to pool. I didn’t even know how my tear ducts kept up with production over the last few months.

  “I want to make it clear to you though, that I’m in this for you. As you are. You’re perfect the way you are. Any of life’s problems and decisions, we’ll work through those together. But you can’t push me away, okay? Tell yourself something that isn’t true about me just because you had a terrible experience.”

  I nodded, unable to speak. I stared at the graffiti on the bridge post instead, fearing if I looked directly at him, my tears would start falling and I wouldn’t be able to stop them.

  “Now, are you willing to give me a chance? Because if you’ll have me, I want one. The biggest chance you will give me. Because I want you exactly how you come. The rest, we’ll figure out.”

  Instead of answering him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him again. This time, not with the pure animalistic hunger of our first kiss all those weeks ago, but sweetly. Tenderly. One that showed we had plenty of time ahead of us.

  “Yes,” I whispered. The pent-up crush I had on him over the years that I thought laid dormant came roaring back. This was Boston, the boy I had known when I was a kid, and the man I was excited to get to know as an adult.

  I paused for a second, mid-kiss, and pulled back. “Boston, I have to say something.”

  He stroked my hair. “It’s okay,” he assured me.

  I shook my head, so close to his own. “No, I need to say this. I’m sorry I ditched you before our date. I was just so panicked because someone I cared about got hurt, then I thought you rejected me when we talked that one day on the phone…I made the wrong decision. I should have stayed here. I should have spoken up when I misunderstood you, and I should have never been so stubborn that I refused to admit to myself that you are what I wanted. I have to do a better job figuring this stuff out sooner.”

  His fingers intertwined with mine and his thumb stroked the top of my hand, causing me to almost lose my mind with desire. He raised my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers. “We’ll figure it out together,” he assured me, making my heart explode.

  I was just about to lean in and kiss him again when my watch went off.

  Vi: Are ya'll done making out yet? I’m hungry for lobster mac & cheese. I made a reservation for 3, meet me there in fifteen. We’ll get Boston to pay cuz he’s my brother and your new boyfriend, so he’s obligated now.