I can tell by the tone in his voice he isn’t going to let me distract him again. When Archer has something on his mind he dwells on it until he finds the solution. It seems he hasn’t changed. I snuggle back onto his chest and stare at the sky.

“I forgot how beautiful the stars were. It’s hard to see them in New York.”

Archer sighs deeply and I brace myself for whatever it is he’s going to say. Wishing I could hold onto the night and all the feelings he dredged up not ready for whatever it is he needs to say.

“I asked you earlier before you distracted me with your naked body.”

I giggle and he kisses the top of my head sniffing my hair lightly.

“Is it so bad here?”

I stare hard at the sky and the twinkling lights and wonder if it really is so bad.

“Nicole?”

“I’m thinking,” I tell him truthfully.

His body goes tight under mine and I can tell he is worried about my answer.

“No, I don’t think it’s bad to be here. I was scared when I graduated high school and all I could think of was getting away and finding a good job. I didn’t want to live like my parents did but now that I have a life I dreamed about I’m still not happy.”

“Could you be happy here?”

“Archer. I don’t know. I guess I could find a job here. I have savings.” The idea of being in Archer’s life in his arms starts to take hold.

“I promise you we wouldn’t ever have to live like your parents. Since you left I’ve been working on some projects that would ensure our future together.”

I lift up on my elbow and stare at him. I don’t bother hiding my shock. Archer was never the planner and hearing him say he has been thinking of not only his future but ours stuns me into silence.

“Don’t look so surprised. I know you think I’m this immature little boy who only wanted to have fun, but as you saw tonight you can have fun and still be responsible.”

I roll my eyes and put my hand out into the night sky. “Yes, having sex in the middle of the open where anyone could see us is being responsible.”

“Nobody was going to walk in on us.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I own this part of the lake. It’s my own private beach.”

“You own this? How?”

Archer rubs his hand over his face before looking at me. He looks worried and fear skitters up my spine.

“Don’t get mad but I own a couple online companies. Matters of the Heart being one of them.”

“You what?” I move to stand but Archer grabs my hand and keeps me sitting on the blanket. “It was you asking me all of those questions wasn’t it?”

Archer face looks pained and I don’t need him to answer, I already know.

“You manipulated me into thinking about you and convincing me to come to the reunion.”

“Yes, it was me. And no I don’t apologize for it. I wanted you here. Nicole can’t you see we are meant to be together?”

“No, we aren’t meant to be together. You influenced me at a low point in my life. How does that make us right?”

“Babe, stop. You’re the smartest girl I know. I need you to let go of the anger you’re feeling right now and really look into your heart. Answer me this. Do you love me? Have you ever stopped?”

I open my mouth wanting to spew hatred out to him. He read the most vulnerable outpouring I’d ever admitted. Archer read things I’ve never told anyone else and then used the information I provided to get me back to Texas and ultimately into his bed.

Archer places his finger on my lips and stops me from yelling at him. His brown eyes are open wide letting me see the love he feels for me. All the anger deflates out of me and he grins knowing he won.

“I promise I did it because I love you. My heart broke reading the letter you sent. It took everything in me not to jump on a plane and pull you into my arms never letting you go. I should have never let you go and I won’t let you go again.”

“What if I want to live in New York?” I ask.

“Then I’ll move to New York. I love you Nicole I’ve never stopped but seeing you, being with you shows me just how in love I am with you. If New York is where you want to be then that is where we will be. Maria told me you weren’t happy so that is why I pushed you to coming back here.”

“You’ve talked to Maria?” I’m dumbfounded.

“I contacted her to see if you were happy. When she told me that all you do is work I knew you hadn’t moved on from me. I convinced her to get you to get on Matters of the Heart so I could see if we really were meant to be together like I knew we were.”

“I can’t believe her.” I fume but I’m not really mad this exactly why I love Maria.

“Don’t be mad at her. She made me promise her that I would leave you alone if your answers didn’t show you were still thinking about me. She is loyal to you.”

I smile and lean into Archer’s chest. “I don’t want you to move to New York. There are too many bad memories there. I want to start over fresh with you. Like I said I have a pretty big savings we can live off of until I get settled here.”

“Nicole, I have something else I need to tell you.”

I stiffen against him not sure if I’m ready for more confessions.

“Actually it would be easier for me to show you.”

Archer helps me up and pulls his shirt down over me. We walk in the moon light up a paved path leading to a two story house over looking the lake.

“Who’s house it that?” I ask unable to tear my eyes away from it. The house is as close to my dream house as I’ve ever seen except for the drawing Archer made for me in high school after talking about where we wanted to live when we moved out.

“It’s mine,” Archer answers rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.

My feet are unable to move I stare at Archer in amazement. He winks at me and lifts me up bride style carrying me toward our dream house.

“It’s perfect,” I whisper as we get closer.

Archer added everything we had talked about all those years ago. The wrap around porch, the big bay windows over looking the lake, even the color is exactly what I wanted.

Tears pour down my face when he carries me through the house pointing out everything we discussed all those years ago.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I say in awe as I lightly run my hands over the kitchen counter.

“There is something else I need to show you.” Archer tugs at my hand and leads me up the stairs into a huge room over looking the lake.

“Archer it’s perfect.”

The art studio is just how I would have designed it. With the large window over looking the lake inspiration was everywhere. My favorite canvases and paints were organized and ready for me to create masterpieces on them. On the wall were paintings I had done in high school and front and center is the blueprints we created for the very house I was standing in framed with pride.

“All it needs is an artist,” Archer says into my ear pulling me to him. “Say you’ll stay. I did this all for you. If you want to change anything just say the word. I want you to be happy here.”

“I love you,” I tell him kissing him hard on the lips trying to convey how much I love him and how much everything he has done for me means to me.

“I love you too,” Archer says pulling back before kissing me lightly on the lips again.

“Ribbit.” He croaks and we both laugh knowing I have finally kissed the right frog and found my prince.

* * *

I hope you enjoyed The Reunion. Turn the page for a preview of Beneath the Lights.

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