“Only if you come with me.” His voice was dead serious.
Butterflies danced in her stomach. “I will,” she said, matching his tone. “But I think she’ll be happy if I’m happy.”
“And?”
“And what?” she asked.
“Are you happy?”
“I haven’t been this happy since I blew up the playground in fifth grade.” She stroked his cheek. “No, I’m even happier.”
He gave her a goofy grin. “And that’s really saying something.”
“It really is.”
Sighing, he tightened his arms around her, pulling her against him under his chin. She rested against him and ran her palm over the soft hair of his chest, without a care in the world.
“I love you,” she said softly. Finally, she’d said it.
His chest rose and fell with his breath. His heartbeat thudded under her ear, a little faster than it had been a minute earlier. “I love you, too,” he whispered.
“This is going to sound silly, but…” She trailed off, suddenly choked up.
He tipped her chin up to look at him. “What?”
Laugh lines creased the corners of his eyes, and his face was more angular, but the friend she’d had in her childhood was right there, smiling at her.
“I missed you,” she said. “That’s all. I missed you.”
He closed his eyes and pulled her against him. “I’m here now.” He stroked the back of her head, twisting a long lock between his fingers. “And I’m not going anywhere this time.”
“Good. Because I won’t let you,” she said.
“That really means something, coming from you. You’d probably blow up my car or something if I tried to escape.”
Grinning, she pinched his nipple. “I just might.”
“Good thing I’m staying right here, then.”
“Good thing.”
“I love you, Simon.”
“I love you too, Jody.” He rolled her onto her back. “Let’s see if we can spark another explosion, shall we?”
Author's Note
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed Can’t Stop Wanting You, a story in my Oakland Hills series. If you sign up for my mailing list at www.gretchengalway.com, you’ll hear about sales and new releases, and get a FREE short story sent directly to you!
Also by Gretchen Galway:
Love Handles (Oakland Hills #1)
This Time Next Door (Oakland Hills #2)
Not Quite Perfect (Oakland Hills #3)
The Supermodel’s Best Friend
Diving In
About the Author
GRETCHEN GALWAY IS A USA Today bestselling author who writes romantic comedies because love is too painful to survive without laughing. Raised in the American Midwest, she now lives in California with her husband and two kids.
To get an email alert about sales and new releases, (and get a free short story!) please sign up at www.gretchengalway.com.
Can't Stop Wanting You: (Oakland Hills Short Story 1) Page 4
