Meet Me in the Blue (Hemlock Harbor, #1)

by A.M. Johnson

You and Nora are different. She hovers like a helicopter. It’s her way. It makes her feel necessary. But you… you’re like the sun, I can feel you from millions of miles away.”

I don’t care about whatever sexuality is what. Sometimes love is just love.”

“You give me what I need every time I look at you. By simply… existing.”

more than anything, I didn’t want to be someone he needed to survive.

I needed to be his roots, his refuge. His pain had always been my pain.

I was yours then.

I’m yours now.

“I want you.” More tears spilled over his lashes, and he was all salt and breath as I kissed his top lip. “I didn’t know… but I always have.”

the brown color of his cheeks deepened. “You’re making me crazy.” “I am?” “I was about two seconds away from begging you not to stop.” “I don’t want to stop.”

“I’ve never done this, but I want to. I have this need… to keep going, and I’ve never had that before.”

watched with a scorching fascination.

it was enough to wake me up, to let go of the last pieces of myself that I’d hidden away, that I’d protected just in case. In case he realized this wasn’t what he actually wanted. In case he realized I wasn’t for him.

He’s not in pain anymore, and I have to remember that, even if my pain hasn’t yet passed.”

Luka poured everything into this kiss. Every year we’d spent together, every word we’d never said, every blue hour and every sunrise.

Rook rolled me onto my back and kissed me like forever started now.

If it wasn’t for my mom, I would have never gotten out of there tonight. Nora would have held me hostage in the den with all those design magazines she’s been hoarding her entire life.

And there didn’t have to be an ending. I could be like this, with him, hands on skin, and how was your day, and lips that tasted like sweet mint, and never feel unsatisfied. We’d fallen in love sometime between then and now, between the pages of our youth and climbing trees and the touch of his hand in mine and the heartache of missing each other. We’d found a way to this, to these familiar days and nights, and I couldn’t be happier.

I don’t want to have to try and make it work somewhere else. This is where we make sense. This is our home.” My voice cracked as I reached up and cupped his cheek. He leaned into my hand and turned to press his lips to the center of my palm. “I want to marry you, Rook. Tell me yes… tell me you want that too. To get married here, in our spot… Meet me there, in the blue, one last time?” “Yes,” he said without hesitation and ghosted a kiss across my lips as he whispered, “I will always meet you there.”