Chuck pushes a loose lock of hair behind my ear. “Want to know something else funny?”
“Always.”
“Do you realize what day today is?” he asks.
“The day we ran away from our own wedding?”
Chuck laughs. “Besides that. Technically, it’s our tenth anniversary. Remember New Year’s Eve? Aspen?”
“How could I ever forget?”
That Christmas, my dad had gotten into his head that he should learn how to ski and convinced the entire gang to go to Colorado for the holidays. Our parents rented a beautiful cabin in the woods and, while no one actually learned how to ski—Dad was the most tenacious, but gave up after three days, declaring the task impossible—it was a great vacation full of scenic walks in the forest, sleigh rides, and delicious food.
On New Year’s Eve, we were all playing a game of Risk during which Chuck and I got eliminated spectacularly fast. So while our parents finished the game, we decided to go wait for the New Year on the roof of the cabin, figuring we’d have a better view of the fireworks from up there.
The night was clear and bitterly cold. Chuck and I changed into full mountain wear and, all puffy and clumsy, we climbed out the window and cleared a patch of snow to sit on the roof, snuggling close together under a heavy wool blanket.
At the stroke of midnight, fireworks exploded all around us, and we looked into each other’s eyes, neither of us speaking as if we both just knew. That was the first time we kissed.
Now, ten years later, Chuck is staring at me with the same wonder I saw in his blue eyes all those years ago. And when he kisses me, I swear I see fireworks again.
Gosh, I hope this lodge has a few vacancies left because I have two weeks’ worth of pent-up sexual tension to let free.
Chuck breaks the kiss all too soon and takes my hands into his.
“I know we’re not getting married today. But would it be okay if we still exchanged vows?”
“Vows? What do you mean?”
“I never want to lose you again, Kate. From this day forward, I vow to come to boring vernissages of modern art neither of us understands with you whenever you want.”
I smile. “In that case, I vow to come to the next Star Whatever movie premiere in full cosplay.”
“I vow to have sex with you every time you come anywhere near me wearing a towel,” Chuck says, making me laugh. “Or, you know, whenever you feel like ravaging me since I’m so good in bed apparently…”
My cheeks flush a little, which is ridiculous considering how many times he’s seen me naked. Not in a while, though, but hopefully soon.
“I vow to never assume I know best, and to always talk things through with you,” I say, a bit breathlessly.
Circling his thumb over my hand, Chuck says, “I vow to take you on romantic breaks at least once a month, homework-permitting.”
“I vow never ever to complain again about you not being a morning person.” No more pre-dawn runs for me, thank you very much. I’ll run at a civilized time on my own schedule.
Chuck laughs, then turns deadly serious. “I vow to come to London with you next year and stay in the UK for as long you want.”
Tears well in my eyes. “Oh, Chuck, would you, really?”
He nods solemnly. “I’ve given it a lot of thought. London is a great city for design. I could learn a ton there, and I can still work for the company from the UK offices. My job is location-independent, anyway. And besides, how are we going to visit every landmark on your giant list if I’m on the wrong continent?”
“We don’t have to visit every landmark,” I protest.
He kisses me again. “Kate, you were right. I was being lazy, wanting to move back home as soon as we graduated. It was comfortable, and safe. But we only live once, and I want to see it all, Kate. I want to see it all with you.”
I hug him and hold on tightly.
“Thank you,” I say, half-giggling, half joy-crying. “Turns out Pastor Grant’s premarital course wasn’t such a waste of time after all. We’re pros at handling conflict now. We’ve sorted out all our issues…”
“Well…” Chuck looks at me with a cheeky grin. “All except for one.”
“Which one?”
“How to tell our parents we’re back together!”
###
Want more? Join my Readers’ Group and read a deleted epilog. (Plus many other extra reads and a free eBook)
Please note the epilog is an unedited, un-proofed, deleted scene. Something I wrote and then decided not to include in the book. But many of you told me you enjoy this sort of “behind the scenes” extra reads, so please take it with a grain of salt as a look into what one of my first drafts might look like. With that said, have fun!
Happy reading,
Camilla, x