Everything in the background melted away. Just like that, all of my anger dropped away. He was right about everything—and the epiphany I felt in the kitchen freed me. They didn’t love me, but Will did. I didn’t have to worry about what they wanted, or if they approved of this or that. I didn’t have to see them ever again, if I wanted. I was—free.
As I watched his lips form those words. I couldn’t quite believe it and yet my body felt like it was soaring. Will didn’t look away. That’s why he came here. That’s why he tolerated my parents. He loved me. And I love him, too. I couldn’t deny that stunning, warm feeling that swelled inside my chest when he smiled at me.
“Okay.” I launched up on my toes and kissed his surprised face. He wrapped his arms around my waist and backed me against the car, stunning me with his lips. Suddenly giddy, I blushed as he leaned forward to kiss me again. I didn’t think I would ever get used to this.
“Let’s go before your parents see us.”
“Okay,” I laughed.
He winked at me as he walked around to open his car door.
“Will! I love you, too.”
A look of wild happiness spread on his face. I don’t think I ever saw him look so ecstatic. He was still smiling when he got into his car.
Chapter 13
I smiled to myself as I walked barefoot on the sand, my heels dangling from my fingers. The ocean roared beside me under a blazing orange sky. My bare shoulders shivered from the freezing wind that rushed over the icy water and my champagne-colored dress whipped around my legs.
Next to me, William walked with his shoes in his hands, looking like a GQ model in his tuxedo.
“That was a really good best man speech.”
He flashed me a brilliant smile. “Yours was good too.”
I smiled sadly. Looking behind me, I could make out Jessica in her huge, billowing wedding dress along with Luke in his dark suit. I couldn’t help but wipe my eyes a little bit as I looked at them.
“Hey, what’s this?”
Will halted me as he stepped in front of me.
“Oh, you know. I’m just sad that we’re all growing up.” And moving out.
He slid his arm around my waist. “You’ll be moving in with me in the Marina and Pacific Heights isn’t that far, babe. You’re not losing her.”
I sighed. “I know, it’s just—ah!”
Icy water suddenly rushed over our bare feet and I giggled as the wet sand gushed around my toes. Will laughed at me as the bottom of my dress was soaked and once again I marveled at how much he changed in a year. He laughed all the time. There was always a smile on his face—and Luke warmed up to him considerably. Nowadays, they were inseparable. Jessica and I joked that they were even closer than we were.
He grabbed my hand once again, and I was surprised by how fast my heart beat. Every time he smiled at me, touched me, it was as exciting as the first time.
“You know what this reminds me of?”
“What?”
“Cinque Terre.”
He smiled wistfully at the memory. “Yeah.”
It was where I fell in love with him. It was where I saw the most incredible sights. In truth, Monterey had very little in common with Cinque Terre. Whenever I saw the ocean, I thought about that brilliant turquoise and azure blue stretched out under a cliff of bright green vineyards.
“You’ll see it again,” he said, noticing my look. “Probably sooner than you think.”
I grinned hard. It was my birthday in a few months. “Don’t spoil anything!”
He held up his hands. “I’m not spoiling! I said, ‘probably.’”
Rolling my eyes, I squeezed his hand and planted a kiss on his cheek. “How’s WPF?”
WFP was the acronym for the William Pardini Foundation, which he launched months ago when we finished the website. Jessica helped write the content. The launch was one of the proudest moments of my life.
“It’s going awesome and it’s all down to you.”
I looked at him. “Will, come on.”
“I would have never done it if you hadn’t pushed me.”
“I did it because I wanted your body,” I ribbed.
I yelped as he spun me around and held me to his chest.
“Well, it worked.” He leaned over me and paused, his eyes looking more serious than usual. “I love you.”
My passionate kiss ended any more idle talk and soon his hands were smoothing my shoulders and his eyes gleamed with the need to have me alone in our vacation rental on the beach. His eyes flicked towards it.
“Let’s go,” I whispered in his ear.
We ran down the beach, hand in hand.