I can’t do this anymore.
I’d never love anyone like I loved Luke, but my heart couldn’t take the pain any longer.
He stepped closer, and my breathing increased. I longed for his touch, for his lips to softly brush against mine, and for him to whisper he loved me.
“Hey, Lib.”
His voice made my heart drop and my stomach flip.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to face him. “Hey, Luke.”
His smile was forced. Something was on his mind, like something was on mine.
I started walking along the beach, and Luke followed. My phone beeped in my pocket, and I pulled it out. It was Zach.
Luke let out a laugh, and I looked over at him. He was walking next to me but looking straight ahead.
“Do you remember the time we put salt in your mom’s sugar container and Alex put three huge scoops in her oatmeal?”
Luke somehow always talked me into doing his crazy pranks with him.
Smiling, I nodded my head as I said, “Yeah, I remember.”
Luke started talking about how he’d gotten grounded for that prank as I opened up Zach’s text.
Zach: Libby, I’m so glad you texted me back. Baby, I understand you were confused, but I’m here. I’m waiting for you if you want to make this work.
I quickly hit the Home button on my phone and pushed it back into my back pocket. My heart was pounding.
Shit. I shouldn’t have responded back to Zach.
No, I did the right thing. Didn’t I?
My head was spinning, and Luke was talking about damn pranks.
I stopped walking and turned to him. I shook my head. “I really need to be alone right now, Luke. I have to think, and I can’t think with you living in the past.”
His smile dropped, and he nodded his head. I turned and started walking away from him.
“Libby, wait. Please.”
The moment his hand touched my arm, I felt the most amazing rush sweep through my body. I almost wanted to whimper with the way his touch affected me. Zach’s touch never did this to me.
I looked into Luke’s eyes. He had the most beautiful green eyes. I could see why women melted when he looked at them. I quickly looked away.
I can’t do this anymore. I can’t.
My eyes burned with the tears I fought to hold back. “Luke, I can’t stand here and pretend like nothing is wrong. Everything is wrong, and I … I need to move on with my life, and I can’t with—”
He held up his hand and shook his head. I stopped talking. His eyes searched my face and then moved to my lips. I instinctively licked them, and he snapped his eyes back up to mine where he searched them intently.
I held my breath and waited for what he was about to say.
“Libby, I have something I need to tell you.”
Swallowing hard, my heart slammed against my chest. Was he going to tell me he was moving on? I didn’t want to let him go. I didn’t want to be with Zach. I wanted Luke. Closing my eyes, I inhaled a shaky breath.
Luke placed his hands on the sides of my face and my eyes opened. I frantically searched his face for a sign of what was about to come from his lips. My breathing picked up and I became acutely aware of everything around me. Ocean waves crashing at our feet as the warm water surrounded us. The smell of Luke’s cologne filled my senses as the warm ocean breeze blew my blonde hair around. Birds flying over our heads searching for their evening meal.
“I love you, Libby. I’ve loved you for so long and I’ve been an idiot for pushing you away. If I could go back in time, I swear to God, Libby, I’d never hurt you. I’d tell you every single day how much I love you.” Luke closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. He opened his eyes again and began softly moving his thumbs against my skin. I placed my hands over his and smiled as I felt my tears slide down my overly sensitive skin. “Libby, I’ve laid in bed at night and dreamed of feeling your soft skin against mine. Dreaming of my lips exploring every single inch of your body. I’ve wasted so much time trying to figure things out and all I’ve done is hurt you in the process. I’m tired of running, Lib. I’m tired of feeling like I’m drowning in a sea of doubt and fear. I want to figure this out—together.”
A small sob escaped through my lips as Luke leaned down closer. His lips barely brushed against mine. “Please tell me I’m not too late, Libby.”
I placed my hands on his strong arms and whispered, “Kiss me. Please kiss me so I know I’m not dreaming.”
The smile that moved across Luke’s face caused my knees to weaken. Was it finally happening? Was Luke finally giving himself to me and allowing me to give myself to him? He pressed his lips to mine as we moved our arms around each other. My lips felt as if they were on fire. My fingers pushed into his hair as he pulled my body closer to him. Our kiss started off slow and easy, but quickly turned into raw passion. Our tongues moved and explored each other as we kissed liked we couldn’t get enough of each other. I wanted to crawl into his body and stay there forever. I was never going to let him go. I was never going to forget this moment.
Luke slowly pulled his lips back from mine and leaned his forehead against mine. “Libby,” he whispered. His breathing was fast and short. “I’m sorry … I’m so sorry it wasn’t me.”
Closing my eyes, I knew what he was talking about. “If I could go back in time, I would have never—”
Placing his lips back to mine, he kissed me again. It was slow, passionate and filled with love. Pulling back some, Luke whispered against my lips, “Let me love you, Libby.”
I let out a soft low moan, but then a thought occurred to me. The idea of Luke walking away caused my heart to begin beating harder within my chest. “I want you too, Luke. But my heart can’t take it if you were to push me away again.”
Time stopped the moment I saw the tear slowly begin to move down his cheek.
“I swear to you, Libby. I’ll never walk away from us again. I want to be forever yours.
Smiling, I reached up and wiped his tear way. “Yes. Love me, Luke. Please.”
LIBBY AND I walked back to the beach house. We stopped outside the pool house and Libby leaned against the door, smiling that smile that stole my heart so many years ago. “I feel like I’m dreaming, Luke. I don’t want this to be a dream.”
Placing my hand on the side of her face, I brushed my thumb against her cheek. “I promise you, you’re not dreaming.”
Smiling bigger, Libby bit down on her lower lip. I’d dreamed of making love to Libby for the last few years. I wasn’t about to rush this. I wanted to erase all memories of her night with Zach. And the only way to do that was showering her body with love and attention. I reached down and picked her up as I pushed open the door to the pool house. Walking in, I kicked the door shut with my foot.