My Forever Valentine

by Melody Heck Gatto

  “Lucky? How?” he exclaimed.

  “Because you were given a second chance. Your dad is going to be okay, and you are getting more time with him. No matter if you believe in a higher power, or luck, or whatever, you have to believe that you were given the gift of time.”

  Spencer didn’t say anything for a few minutes that felt more like hours. He simply stared at the floor.

  “Can I give you a hug?” It was weird to ask him that. He was—used to be—her boyfriend. Hugging him used to be a given. Now she was asking for permission so as not to overstep.

  He finally looked up at her, his eyes heavy. She could almost feel his pain. “Sure. I’d like that.”

  Wrapping her arms around Spencer, she held him tight. She swore he was trembling in her arms. She caressed the nape of his neck and held him the way she had wanted to hold him since the moment they arrived.

  “Thank you,” he mumbled, his face buried in her shoulder.

  She held him until she could finally feel the tension leave his body.

  Taking his cheeks in her grasp, she looked into his eyes. “Spencer, I love you, you fool.”

  “Harley, I love you too. But—”

  “But nothing.” She sat up straight and prepared to fight for this man. “I did not get back with Isaac, and I’m sorry he made you think that I did.”

  “But what was he at your apartment for?”

  Once convinced that he was going to really listen to what she had to say, she began. “You already know he had been calling and texting, and I was uninterested. So, after our encounter at lunch, he showed up at my house. At first, he was trying to convince me that I belonged with him. But his tune quickly changed. He moved on to insulting me by stating that instead of my going into the real world, I had chosen to stay safely in school for two more years, on my parent’s dime. He told me that I have zero ambition, that you and I are made for one another, and then called me a not very nice name for falling for you while I was with him. So, I nicely asked him to leave.”

  “Wow.” Spencer stared at her, his mouth gaping.

  “And that’s when I realized that you weren’t being a macho jerk at lunch that day. There was nothing caveman about your actions. If Isaac put that energy into finding someone that could love him, instead of using it to be bitter, he’d be so much happier.”

  “I didn’t do anything virtuous. I don’t want you to look at me like some hero; I am far from it.” He pouted, not able to pull out of her grasp, and moved his eyes to the floor. “Please don’t put a halo on me.”

  She cocked her head and pursed her lips. “I don’t remember saying that you were an angel. And I don’t want an angel. I want you. You’re my bad boy Valentine, my Mister Right... But you’re mine, and that’s all that matters to me.”

  “Still?”

  “Yes, still.”

  “So, we aren’t broken up?” he asked, pulling her into his arms.

  “Have you been listening?” she teased.

  “Babe, I missed you so much. I hated every second we were apart.”

  “I actually wondered why Mr. I work for a multi-million-dollar security firm would pick our little family run company to work on their project. I tried to convince myself it was simply because we were local, but it just seemed odd. I wonder how much time he put into this plan of his?"

  “It doesn’t even matter—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, he pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her as though he hadn’t kissed her for months.

  Pulling away so she could look at him, slightly embarrassed, she asked, “Should we be doing this here? I mean, your mom could walk in any second.”

  Spencer grinned. “I don’t think she’d be opposed to a little kissing. Especially since she sent me in here to make up with you.”

  Chapter Twenty

  HARLEY

  Harley followed Spencer into his apartment. She hadn’t said much the whole ride home; she just held the new key snugly in her hand. The key to their apartment. She hadn’t added it to her keychain yet; it just sat tightly in her palm, creating an imprint.

  How they made it to this point all seemed like a blur. The week had started off so morose, then detoured to Spencer’s parents’ house in the middle of that nightmare, and somehow, they had ended up here tonight. In a matter of days things had changed so drastically.

  The sound of Spencer’s phone interrupted her thoughts. Checking his messages, he smiled with a sigh. “My Dad is home.”

  The relief on his face said it all. It had been a tumultuous few days in the Wilson house.

  “Sorry you couldn’t stay longer,” she said, taking his hand in her free one.

  Spencer, still smiling, shook his head. “You know as well as I do, when my mom stated that we were to go home, get some rest, and get the apartment lease signed, that she wasn’t going to have it any other way.”

  “I know.” Harley hated that Spencer wasn’t there to see his dad himself. “But...”

  Taking her face gently in his hands, Spencer’s thumbs caressed her cheeks. “I’m fine. I was able to see him before we left. He’s in good hands with my mom, and he needs his rest. Having me and Zane fussing over him... It would be too much.”

  She knew Spencer wouldn’t disobey his mom’s loving orders to return home and take care of what was important—signing their new lease.

  Harley immediately took in all the packed boxes and the almost empty apartment. How did Spencer know they’d still be moving? Had he packed his life away even thinking they might be breaking up?

  “Babe, how did you know we’d work things out? I mean, you never even cancelled the lease signing. And you’re all packed to move.”

  “Faith,” he said softly. “You are the only woman I’ve ever truly loved. And I had faith that we were meant to be together. And it was our apartment. The one we picked together and fell in love with together. And even if you weren’t at my side to sign the papers, I was going to get the apartment and somehow find my way back to you.”

  “And I’m so glad that you did,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Isaac earlier.”

  “And I’m sorry I didn’t just confront you about things.” He shook his head and chuckled to himself. “I could’ve avoided so much of this mess had I just talked to you.”

  She chuckled and patted him on his chest. “Live and learn.”

  “Or just stupid,” he teased. “I risked losing you, too scared to hear the truth.”

  “But the truth wasn’t all that bad. And I think we can give thanks to your mother for making you come up to talk to me,” she said with a smile. Mrs. Wilson obviously knew what she was doing.

  “Somehow, I think we would’ve found our way back to one another, even if fate, and my mother, hadn’t intervened.” He pulled her into his arms, as a smirk slid across his lips.

  “Oh yeah?” Harley softly kissed those irresistible lips.

  In between little kisses, he said, “I never gave up hope.”

  “Neither did I. I drove Lily and Zane crazy, but I wasn’t going to let you go that easily.” She wrapped her arms tightly around him, not ever wanting to let go again. “And look at us now.”

  “Yeah.” He nodded, still grinning. “Look at us.”

  “Stronger than ever.”

  Nodding, he responded, “I agree. Stronger than ever. And speaking of us, are you ready for the big move?” he asked, his eyes shining.

  As cliché as it sounded, she could literally see their future in his deep brown eyes. And she loved the possibilities. “I’m anxious to get moved in.”

  Looking at his watch, he snickered. “I think it’s a little late to start now, don’t you?”

  Her stomach growled, letting her know it was past dinner time, and truthfully, after the last few days, she had no energy to start a project of that magnitude right now. “Yeah, you’re right.”

  “I can think of a few things I’d rather do tonight.” His voice had a sexy growl to it.

&n
bsp; “So can I,” she said with a laugh. “Like find something for dinner!”

  Harley knew he had other things in mind, but food and checking on his dad were more important.

  She looked around at his apartment. Most everything was packed up; there was just enough to live off. “Is there anything to make for dinner? Or are we ordering out?”

  “Well, considering I’ve been gone for a few days, I suggest we order out.”

  “Pizza?”

  “What else?” he chuckled. “Besides, isn’t pizza the required food for moving?”

  She couldn’t help but laugh at his ridiculousness. “Sure, but on the actual moving day!”

  “Minor technicality.” He shrugged with amusement, and placed an order online.

  “Speaking of moving day, why are so many boxes not labeled?” she asked.

  Spencer shrugged. “I was in a hurry. I’ll find everything as I unpack.”

  “That’s going to be a pain.” Lily must’ve really rubbed off on her, because the fact that so many of his boxes weren’t labeled was making her shaky. “Just don’t let Lily see that!” she joked. “While we wait for the pizza, you should call your dad, talk to him, see how he’s feeling. It’ll make both of you feel better,” she suggested.

  “Yeah. That’s a good idea. I think he’ll like that.” Spencer nodded and softly kissed her lips. “How did I get so lucky to find a woman who not only cares about me, but cares about my family too?”

  “I am actually the lucky one.” She tilted her head and couldn’t help the grin that filled her face. “Your parents are wonderful people. When they welcomed me and Lily into their home and their lives, I couldn’t help but care about them. They are more of a family than I’ve ever known.”

  “Like I said, I’m lucky.”

  Harley watched how Spencer’s face lit up when his dad answered the phone. The two of them talked for almost forty minutes. And just as she predicted, Spencer’s whole demeanor was different once he hung up. His body was more relaxed, and his jaw no longer ticked.

  “How is he?” she asked, as Spencer sat down next to her on the couch.

  “He sounds good. A little tired, but I expected that. He said he feels perfectly fine, like nothing ever happened.” Spencer’s voice cracked and he paused.

  She pulled him into her arms to comfort him and held him tight for a moment before either of them spoke.

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Har.” His voice was soft and muffled, since his face was buried in her hair.

  “Spence, your dad is going to be okay. But I’ll be here whenever you feel overwhelmed.” She held him for a few more minutes. Harley wondered what it would be like to have such a connection with your family, to hurt so deeply at the thought of losing them.

  That’s when it hit her. That was the exact connection she had with Spencer. The hurt she felt when she’d thought he was slipping away was a pain she had never known.

  “I am so glad that I have you, Har.” He kissed her lips. “This weekend we’re starting a whole new chapter of our lives together. And I can’t wait.”

  “I do love the sound of that. And just in time for Valentine’s Day.” A day that meant so much to them as a couple. It was their day, the day their relationship had officially begun.

  Valentine’s Day was Monday, and even though she had a class and Spencer had to work, she was sure he had already planned something special. Hoping she was right, she had requested the day off of both of her jobs, just in case. She didn’t need much. All she needed was him.

  She snickered as Spencer kissed the side of her mouth, then her jaw, and finally down her neck. Chills ran through her body.

  Spencer wrapped his arms around her, and she giggled as his scruff tickled.

  A knock at the door interrupted them.

  Spencer groaned at the disruption. “Sounds like the pizza is here.”

  “Good, I’m starving!” She shrugged apologetically. “Sorry, but I am. I haven’t eaten much today.”

  Spencer sneered at her as he went to the door and retrieved the pizza.

  The plates were packed away, so she grabbed some paper towels, and they took the pizza box to the couch with them.

  “I’m hungry, too, so we’ll eat. But we have all night, and an apartment to ourselves.”

  “True. But with everything packed away, there’s not much to do,” she teased, and began looking through her purse. “I might have a deck of cards in here, though.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry. I have some ideas that won’t don’t require much.” Spencer winked at her as he took a bite of pizza.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  SPENCER

  Spencer looked nervously around their new apartment and then at the clock. He’d spent all day getting as many of his boxes put away as he could. The place didn’t look too bad, well, except for those two boxes that he’d shoved into the spare bedroom closet. He wasn’t even sure what was in those two boxes, because his packing had been haphazard, and he hadn’t labeled his stuff as carefully as Harley had. But if he hadn’t needed whatever was in those boxes yet, then they could stay packed for a bit longer.

  Harley had been able to quickly unpack her important boxes over the weekend, as each box had been labeled with what it contained and what room it was to go in. He had a lot to learn from her.

  But not today. He could take notes later on how she’d perfected the art of “adulting”.

  Today was Valentine’s Day—it was also one year since they had officially started dating. His gifts for Harley sat on their new dining room table.

  The obligatory heart-shaped box of chocolates sat beside a vase of one dozen red roses and a fluffy pink conversation-heart-shaped pillow that read BE MINE.

  The pillow was a last-minute decision. As soon as he’d seen it, he’d known it was perfect, since last year at this time they’d been eating conversation hearts, and the BE MINE candy heart was how their whole relationship started.

  He carefully arranged additional little boxes of candy conversation hearts beside the vase.

  Yes, it was all very cliché, but it was Valentine’s Day, and his girl deserved to be showered with everything hearts and flowers. And admittedly, for once, it was fun to buy all this Valentine’s Day stuff for someone he really cared about.

  He had taken the day off work to make sure everything was perfect. After all, February fourteenth was their day. And after everything they had just gone through, they could use a day to celebrate.

  Rearranging a few things on the kitchen counter, he replaced the cookie jar with the coffee canister, then moved them back again. Spencer just wanted the place to look homey.

  Harley worked so hard in her classes, and he wanted to be the one to take charge of getting everything unpacked and organized. Letting her just come home and relax meant everything to him. He spent the better part of the morning cleaning and organizing so it didn’t look like the only furniture they owned were brown boxes. He was tired, but it was worth it.

  He lit a few candles, and then, grabbing a hot pad, he took the cookies out of the oven. With a warm feeling of satisfaction, he placed each of them gently onto a cooling rack. This time the cookies had come out perfect. Not a burnt one in the batch.

  He even hung a few frames that Harley had hinted about getting on the walls sooner rather than later. It had only taken him three tries to get them straight.

  Taking a breather in his new recliner, Spencer looked around. The apartment looked nice, and he felt as though he’d made good use of his time today. Their place was really starting to feel like theirs.

  He looked at the time. Harley would be back from class soon. He hurried to the kitchen and plated the cookies. Just as he finished washing the cookie sheet, Harley walked through the door.

  “Hey babe. Something smells delicious.” She looked around the apartment. “Wow, you were busy today. All your boxes are gone, and you made cookies. I’m impressed.”

  “Just the refrigerated kind. You k
now, the ones you just put on the cookie sheet and bake. But Lily did send over a tin of cookies that she made from scratch. I just thought a batch of fresh baked ones would be something nice. Especially today,” he rambled nervously, and considered shoving one of those freshly baked cookies into his own mouth to stop him from talking.

  She smiled. “Yes, Lily’s cookies are always good, but I’m more looking forward to the ones you baked—and it doesn’t matter if they were ready to bake or not, you still made them for me. And they do smell delicious.”

  “And I didn’t burn them, so there’s that,” he added, like a child looking for approval, which was silly.

  With a sweet chuckle, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her forehead against his. “How did I get so lucky?”

  “I’m not sure I would call it luck. I mean, after all, I did kind of keep persuading you in my direction,” he teased.

  She beamed. “And I’m glad that you did.”

  That was all the assurance he needed from her. The last few weeks had been rough. “You know,”—he pushed a rogue curl out of her eyes—“I never knew this was what love was supposed to be like.”

  “What do you mean?” She wrinkled her nose and furrowed her brow. She was so darned cute when she did that.

  “I never knew love could be so comfortable, so easy. Getting to spend every day with my best friend. You remember what I was like when you first met me. I had no plans of settling down. But from the moment I saw you, I knew that I wanted you in my life. I went from being a live-in-the-moment kind of guy who only really cared when his next meal was going to be, to a man with a career, an amazing home, and a beautiful girlfriend. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  “Me neither.”

  “And I thought some fresh baked cookies, and a nice clean and organized apartment would be a nice surprise, in addition to having pizza in our new apartment for our Valentine’s day.” He beamed.

  “What’s all this?” She pointed at the dining room table.