Page 107 of Will to Run

She just gives me a tight smile and nods her head.

“I’m serious, though, I am all in on this. On us,” I gesture between our bodies.

She keeps nodding like a bobblehead. I’m not sure if it’s to keep the emotion at bay or if she just can’t think of something to say.

“I’m going to seal my promise with a kiss, Della,” I say, not waiting for a response before I lean in. The moment our lips touch, the rightness of the universe clicks back into place. The kiss turns greedy quickly, and when my fingers weave into her hair, I let the feeling pull me under.

This is where we belong, wrapped up in each other. My other hand finds her waist, and I pull her in, anchoring her to me. She doesn’t know the power of the moment, but with her in my arms, I know this is where I want to be for the rest of my life. The wife comment came out at the wrong time, but the sentiment remains. If she wanted to get married tomorrow, I wouldn’t hesitate. She is my forever.

Pulling away, I see the tight smile has been replaced with the kind of smile that makes her nose crinkle up. It’s my favorite face she makes.

“Okay, but can we talk about tonight? Your art show was arguably the best thing Painted Heart has ever seen. Tell me about it from your point of view,” I ask.

She beams, and her eyes light up in a different way. “It didn’t go how I expected it to, but I was surprised in the best way.”

“How so?” I ask as I sit on the couch and pull her onto my lap. I have weeks of missing her touch to make up for.

“I can’t believe how many red dots there were on my pieces,” she admits.

I’m sure she doesn’t know that everyone in my family purchased one of her pieces, as did Kellen and Molly.

“And beyond that, I can’t believe how many people showed up; both people I knew and strangers. It was unexpected and exciting. I sold all but two paintings, which is…”

“Well deserved,” I interject as my hand can’t help but trace imaginary shapes on her thigh.

“I can’t believe how many ranch people were there. I expected your family to a degree, but so many people I’ve met since I’ve been here came.”

“We’re a family. A twisted, crazy, drink too much, fuck too much, curse too much family, but the way this group of people comes together can’t be quantified. We show up for each other, always. I wish I could keep this staff year-round.”

“I didn’t know what that really meant. I do now,” she says. “So where are you going to put Love’s First Light?”

“Above my bed,” I say without hesitation. I’ve had that mapped out since I knew it was going up for sale.

“Why there?”

“That painting is you, Della. It’s a physical representation of how you are my first thought in the morning and my last thought before I sleep.”

“But what if I’m in your bed?” she asks.

“Then I get a double dose, and I’d never complain about that.”

“You don’t have to pay that amount of money for it,” she says.

“The transaction has already been processed, and I’m not canceling it. I was serious about what I said earlier. You get to choose your path, and that will help support whatever one you choose. Besides my purchase, did you do well?”

“Rose was talking to me, but after I heard about the money spent on the first painting, everything else just kind of got lost. She’s emailing me the spreadsheet; in fact, I bet that email has come through.”

Knowing she’s going to be emotional when she sees who else has supported her, I steal a couple more minutes on the couch before letting her up. If there is any lingering doubt about whether she is meant to stay here, I hope this email squashes it.

She dances over to her phone and dances back, sitting on my lap on her own accord and leaning against the arm of the couch. She’s vibrating with excitement as she opens the email.

I don’t need to read the email. I’m more interested in watching her.

I’m always more interested in watching her.

Her brows furrow up, and her eyes dance around the screen as her finger furiously scrolls back and forth.

“What is this?” she finally lifts her head to look at me.