Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“Not my fault you can’t keep track of your girlfriend.”
Frustration vibrates through me as I close my eyes, trying to get my feelings under control. I snap my eyes open and lock them with hers. “I know exactly where my girlfriend is. She’s standing in front of me, questioning my true feelings.”
“I can’t do this, Harrison. I’ve gotten an offer to open a new shop in Magnolia Ridge and I’m taking it. I’m starting over. Everywhere I look in this town, all I see is failure. I can’t do it. I won’t do it. I’m leaving.”
Her eyes are filled with unshed tears and my heart cracks in my chest. I wrap my arms around her and she tries to fight, but I tighten my hold. “Magnolia Ridge is a beautiful town. It’s perfect for your new shop. I’ll get my house on the market and we can use that money for a new house for us.”
She stops fighting against my hold and searches my eyes. “What?”
I smile, running my thumb against her bottom lip. “Oh, if you’re leaving, I’m leaving. I don’t care if it’s Magnolia Ridge or Timbuktu. I’m all in, February. Don’t you get that?” I press a soft kiss to her full lips. “I came back here to fulfill my father’s dream, but it was my dream that I found. You, February. You saved me and I didn’t even realize I needed saving. You inspire me to chase what I want and you are what I want. I love you, February, with everything that I am.”
A tear rolls down her cheek, and I quickly wipe it away with my thumb.
“I’m scared, Harrison. Hilary was a reminder of how easy it is to have my heart broken,” she whispers.
“I told you I’m all in. If anyone is at risk of getting their heart broken here, it’s me. I’m not going anywhere, so if you want to get rid of me, you’re going to have to leave me because I’ll never fucking leave you. I’m yours, February.” I search her eyes and swallow nervously. “Please tell me you’re mine.”
Tears run down her cheeks, but she leans forward and presses her lips to mine. I dig my fingers into her arms as I deepen the kiss. My heart beats again and I know without a doubt she’s mine.
When we break the kiss, I rest my forehead against hers. “Say it, February.”
“I’m yours, Harrison.”
I hug her tightly and we both hold on a little longer. I’m not sure why she does, but I do it to remind myself what I could’ve easily lost.
“What about your life here? Your shop?”
“Bren can keep Mug Life up and running. My life is wherever you are. This town holds so many memories for me, but the only reason to stay is you.”
She smiles, placing her hand on my cheek. “What are you going to do there?”
“Well, I have the girl of my dreams, so maybe it’s time I had the job of my dreams.”
“Music,” she states.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Let’s go check out the place, because if you’re interested, I believe it’s big enough to have live music. You can focus on what you love and I’ll focus on what I love. It could be pretty amazing.”
I kiss her quickly and pull back. “Yes, I’d love that.”
“I can’t believe this is all happening so fast. It’s exciting and terrifying,” she says.
I wrap my arms around her from behind, kissing her neck. “I promise it’s going to be worth it. I’m going to make you so damn happy.”
She turns her head and smiles. “You already do.”
This girl went from my competition to the love of my life.
I now understand the love my parents had for each other. The overwhelming, desperate, unconditional love. I know it won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it.
She’s my forever.
The Queen to my King.
The lyrics to my song.
The foam to my latte.
She’s my everything.
“Good news is you won’t need to try to steal my secrets this time.”
We both laugh and she turns in my arms.
“No, I won’t, because you ended up stealing my heart.”
Epilogue
February
“I’m here,” I say as I enter the new coffee shop.
“This place is almost ready,” Harrison says, hanging up the last of the artwork I snagged from a local gallery on the wall. “What do you think?” he asks as he steps back to take a look at his handiwork.
“It’s perfect.” And it really is. It’s everything I ever wanted in a coffee shop.
The walls are decorated with edgy artwork from a local artist, and the place screams originality. There’s a stage in the back of the shop with a few brown and pink couches lined around the space. It’s better than anything I ever could have imagined.
The shop has merged both our styles completely and we decided to call it Pour Some Sugar On Me Coffee and Music Shop.