Chapter 15

 

Hutch

A little over a week had passed since Lilly left. Time and distance may have increased the gap between us, but my love for her only continued to grow stronger with each passing day. She texted me on arrival. That was the last I’d heard from her. We’d both agreed we shouldn’t keep in touch. It would make the transition too difficult. I missed her every day. I saw her in all the places we’d gone to—the bridge, Blues and BBQ, at my condo, lying next to me in bed on my crumpled sheets.

Roasted was exceptionally busy today. Gage snagged us a table by the door. I shook off the snowflakes clinging to my coat before I set it on the back of a chair. Depositing my textbook on the table, I frowned at the line.

“I’ll get the coffee,” I offered.

It was as if everyone on campus had decided to get coffee at the same time. Damn, finals. To top it off, someone must have gotten a hold of the soundtrack labeled “Lilly and Hutch.” Every fucking song held a memory of us. I considered covering my ears when Matt Nathanson’s Come On Get Higher mocked me.

By the time I got our coffee, there was no sign of Gage. He was gone and so were his books. In fact, the other chair at the table had been snagged, too.

Even worse, despite my books and coat, someone was sitting in my seat, reading a newspaper.

What kind of asshole plants himself in someone else’s seat? I set down the cardboard cups, but the newspaper remained, blocking my view of the person.

“Excuse me, this is my seat.”

No acknowledgement.

“Hello?”

This time, a page of the newspaper flipped. I caught a whiff of vanilla. It wasn’t coming from the coffee bar. I shook my head and took a deep breath, ready to have words with the seat stealer. I was no mood for this. “Get your ass out of my seat.”

The paper folded. The girl smiled. My heart went still.

“You’re lucky I’m willing to share, Corporal Hutchinson.”

She stood, reducing the space between us.

“What are you doing here, Lilly?”

“Hayden said you’d be here.”

“I mean, why aren’t you in Paris?”

“I was, for a few days.”

I grabbed her arm and led her out the door.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m driving you back to the airport. Maybe you can get your spot back. Tell them you had a lapse in judgment.”

“Stop!” She pulled her hand from mine. “It’s over. I got out of my contract.”

The snow circled around us. I watched as the flakes danced and melted against her skin. I took a deep breath, drawing the energy needed for this conversation. “Why would you do that?”

“I want to be here. Here with you, James.”

“I won’t let you do this.”

The wounded look on her face was enough to kill a man, especially when her lower lip quivered. Don’t make this harder than it is, Lilly.

“I don’t understand. I saw the video on my camera. You said you loved me.”

“I also said I wasn’t going to stop you.” I looked down. The emotions fired at me in successive rounds—hope, hurt and fear. “I will not let you give up your dreams for me.”

“I’m not, James. This is what I want. You are what I want.”

I kicked a fresh pile of snow. The drift flew against the brick façade of Roasted. The move provided no satisfaction, but it did release an avalanche in my heart. I had to make her understand. I had to be as naked with my emotions as I had been with my body.

I flattened my palm against the building, covering her body with my mine. “I don’t want you to ever have regrets. Not now, not a year from now and especially not ten years from now.”

“I won’t.”

“You say that—”

She grabbed a fistful of my shirt and pulled me toward her. Either my balance was off or she really was freakishly strong. Probably both. Her lips met mine. Whatever shred of fight I had evaporated in the aggressive kiss. God, how I’d ached to taste her. I’d spent so many lonely nights clinging to the memories of us.

She backed away, breathless. “Hutch.” She chuckled at my expression. “That’s right. I’m calling you Hutch.” I opened my mouth, but she clapped her hand against it before I could form a word. “Shut up and listen to me. I didn’t come to this decision lightly. I wondered on the flight to Paris why you didn’t ask me to stay with you. Then I read the book, and I got it. I know why Colton calls you the Tin Man.”

“Care to enlighten me?”

“The Tin Man was a good man, a brave man who loved fiercely. He gave up everything he had…sacrificed it away for others. The last thing to go was his heart. I know the things you’ve done for the people you love. And you didn’t fight for me, but that’s just another example of the kind of honest, protective man you are.”

“Baby, I was fighting myself every day.”

“Me, too. But you let me go because you are selfless. You didn’t want to walk between me and my dream.”

“That’s right.”

“But I’m not selfless. I’m selfish. I want you more than anything else. I can dance anywhere, even this small one-coffee-shop town has a dance studio. I don’t care where I dance as long as you’re my partner.”

“I hope you mean that figuratively cause I’m a crappy dancer.”

She chuckled. “In every way. I love you, James Hutchinson.”

“I have nothing to give you.”

“You have your heart. I promise if you give it to me, I’ll take care of it.”

“Sweetheart, it was yours the day you climbed out of that basket.”

I kissed the tear from her cheek before wrapping my arms around her. “How did you get out of your contract?”

“It was clear how miserable I was. Madame M asked me what was wrong. I told her our story, and she cut me loose. As it turns out, she knew my mother. They danced together in New York.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I didn’t know that myself. I’d always thought Mom’s life was somewhat tragic because of her fall, but Madame put it into perspective. She told me how Mom said the fall was painful, and it made her sad. But it was also one of the best things that happened because she met my dad. You’re right, James. Their story was romantic. I was just too cynical to see past my misery and remember how much they really loved each other. I should have recognized it in us. It’s the same way I love you. Guess what James Hutchinson? I finally found my way home because you are my home.”

I crushed my lips to hers, sweeping her hair away. I picked her up and squeezed her so hard she squealed.

“I love you so much, Lilly. You’re my home too. I’m never gonna let you go again.”

“You better not.”

“Never. You. Are. Mine,” I proclaimed, wanting to scream the simple statement from every building.

“I’m yours, James. Only yours.”

A harsh sneer interrupted us. “Get a room,” someone said, trudging through the snow.

We laughed. We kissed. We got a room, eventually. But one thing we never did…we never let each other go again.

 

The End