Overruled

by Lana Ferguson

We both startle as loud popping sounds begin to go off outside, jolting apart as I try to place them. “Fireworks,” I say after a beat. “I’d better go check on them before Dad blows a hand off.” Ezra is still smiling that shit-eating grin, and I shoot him a wary look. “What?” “You and I make sparks fly,” he says, looking proud of himself. I groan. “That was awful.” “You’ll laugh about it later.”

“Dani,” he laughs, actually laughs. “I walked away from that woman whose face I can’t even remember because from the second I saw you, for every fucking moment since—there hasn’t been anyone in my head but you.” He laughs again. “You might as well live there now.”

“You are sounding dangerously wise.” “Don’t worry, I’ll go back to being an intolerable asshole by tomorrow, I’m sure.” “Unfortunately, you keep getting more tolerable by the minute.” “Wow.” He barks out a laugh. “Did you read that off of a Hallmark card?” “Yeah, well, you’re not the only one well versed in being an intolerable asshole, I guess.” “But I like you prickly, Sour Patch,” he says with a kiss on my cheek.

“I’ve been yours for ages, Dani,” he says, his voice a low, sweet murmur. “I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.”

I’m suddenly struck with the realization that there is absolutely nowhere I would rather be. That this prickly woman with her hidden smile and her fierce demeanor has somehow become the reason I get out of bed in the morning, the person I think about just before I go to sleep. She’s become everything. And I’m completely, irrevocably in love with her.

“If you think I’m letting you out of my sight for another second…” She stops fighting my grip, her eyes softening. “What?” “Don’t you know?” I lean in, brushing my lips across hers, smiling. “I’ve loved you for ages, Dani. I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.”

Just realized he says this to her twice… 😬