A Simple Love (The Hopetown Series, Book 3)

by Harlow James

  She continues to look at me in silence, so I keep talking. “I know back then I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and your dad, not so graciously, pointed that out to me. He made me see that I needed to make something of myself so that I was worthy of you. And he was right. Even though I hated him at the time, he pushed me to be better. For you. And for myself.”

  “But he never told me what he did. He just always told me to stay away from you. I was so hurt when you never showed up that day, Mike.”

  “I made that choice, and believe me, it killed me. And he made a choice---it wasn’t necessarily the best one---but he made it. Don’t hold it against him though, because I’ve let it go and accepted it. When I finally stood up to him after our date with Lilly, I think he finally realized how much I love you and wasn’t going to let him scare me off this time. He gets it now. He sees what we have. Don’t make him pay for wanting to protect you, Vic. He’s a good dad. I know I have little to compare to, but he loves you, and that’s all he was trying to do.”

  She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, contemplating how much of a grudge she’s willing to hold. I know her though, and Victoria Baker understands the importance of forgiveness. She has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. Even our friends joke that she couldn’t hurt a fly and always knows what to say to help you see reason. I’m sure I’ll be grateful for that at one point down the road when I mess up and she’ll continue to love me regardless of my faults.

  “You’re right.” She goes to stand as I follow her lead. Taking a deep breath, she moves for the front door. I contemplate following her, but then she turns back to me. “Thank you, Mike. I know this will take some time for me to accept, but I don’t want to ruin my relationship with my dad over something that happened so long ago. We are together now, and that’s all that matters.” She shoots me a small smile, blows me a kiss, and then makes her way outside to talk to her dad.

  “Is she okay?” Leslie’s small voice in the hallway scares me half to death.

  I swallow down my fear before I answer. “Yeah, I think they’ll be alright.”

  “You’re right, you know?”

  “About what exactly?”

  She walks further into the room. “I know what Frank did, and back then, I didn’t agree with it. But now looking at where you both are now in your lives, I think it all worked out the way it was supposed to.”

  “I agree, even though it killed me to hurt her that day.”

  “Oh, I wanted to hurt you that day too,” she teases. “But then I realized you didn’t show up because of Frank, and then I wanted to hurt him.”

  I laugh back at her.

  “But I think you’ve more than proven your love for Victoria. You guys deserve your happiness now.”

  I stare at Leslie in admiration. The same heart and sense of humor that I love about Victoria---I can see that it comes from her mom now. I guess I have her to thank for creating and raising the woman that I love, even more than her support for the both of us.

  “How would you feel if I asked Victoria to move in with me?” I break the silence just as Leslie’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

  “I thought that’s why you were here and she was gathering her things?”

  I laugh. “I haven’t asked yet, but I’m going to. I’m gonna marry her too, just so you know.”

  “I expected nothing less, Michael. You’ve lost enough time. Don’t waste another second.”

  Chapter 26

  Victoria

  The next morning, I woke up in an empty bed again. Mike rises before the sun, so I took advantage of the space and stretched across the bed before reaching for my phone to check the time, but I got distracted by something else. Next to my phone was a folded piece of paper. I quickly swiped it from the nightstand and opened it, immediately grinning from ear to ear when I saw what he had written.

  Will you forgive me now? Check Yes or No.

  Flashbacks from elementary to high school flooded my mind as I thought about the hundreds of notes Mike used to write to me like these. There were almost always yes or no boxes to check after he asked me a random question. Then I noticed the pen next to my phone I hadn’t grabbed yet. Clicking the tab down, I drew a heart inside the yes box, folded the paper back up, and took it out to the kitchen with me once I forced myself out of bed.

  On the counter were wildflowers, what looked like a breakfast sandwich of some kind, and another note. This one was not folded though.

  Good morning, beautiful. I’m already out in the shop working on an order, and it will probably be too loud for me to hear you. I made your breakfast and your lunch is packed in the fridge. Have a great day at work and I’ll see you tonight. I love you.

  This man, I swear. Once we got back from my parent’s house, I pushed Mike to recall every detail from five years ago surrounding our date that never happened. He bared his soul to me, offering nothing but the truth. He explained how long he’d loved me, how excited he was at the idea of finally pursuing more, and how devastated he felt after my father confronted him. The image of Mike in his truck in a field, beating himself up after what my dad said to him, instead of being in that booth at the restaurant with me, made me ache for him. I know that if Mike truly felt worthy of me back then, he wouldn’t have let my dad chase him off. But Mike assured me, he knew he had decisions to make and growing up to do. He wasn’t ready to be the man he knew I deserved, but he was ready now. We held each other while we navigated our past and then cemented our future between the sheets until we couldn’t stay awake any longer.

  Understanding my father’s decision will take some time, but I’m not mad anymore. I guess what I’m feeling is grief. We lost so much time that we could have been together. But as Mike said, we ended up where we are now and it all worked out.

  I snag my breakfast off the counter, pack my lunch in a tote I brought from home, grab my teaching bag full of folders and notebooks, and make my way to my car to head for school.

  After a long day of work, I arrive back at Mike’s house, where a home-cooked meal is waiting for me, along with a freshly showered man that I climb the second I walk in the door, making our food cold by the time we ate it, but completely worth it.

  I repeat the same routine all week---waking up at Mike’s and sleeping there too---until Friday arrives and we make plans to join our friends at BJ’s to unwind from the long week.

  “Vic, before we leave, I need to ask you something,” Mike states confidently as he comes up behind me in the bathroom. I’m leaning over the counter, touching up my make-up and doing one more fluff of my hair.

  “Ok, what’s up?” I reply as I glide my lip gloss over my mouth.

  “I want you to move in with me.”

  I turn around to face him slowly, absorbing his words while the seconds tick by. “That wasn’t a question,” I finally manage to spit out.

  He laughs at me. “Yeah, I guess not. But what do you say? Will you move in with me, Victoria?”

  I jump in his arms and seal my lips to his in a sloppy kiss that ends too quickly.

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Hell yes! I’ve been here all week anyway, so I guess it’s time,” I tease, as he kisses me once more and then plants me back down on the ground.

  “Good. We’ll get the rest of your stuff this weekend then. I’ve already told your parents, so they're expecting us tomorrow morning.”

  “Isn’t that a little presumptuous of you?”

  “I just like to be prepared,” he fires back.

  Once we compose ourselves, convinced we don’t have enough time to attack each other and then get ready again before we have to meet our friends, we make our way to Mike’s truck and drive into town, arriving at BJ’s right on time.

  “Hey, you two lovebirds!” Hayley shouts across the bar as soon as we walk through the door.

  “We could say the same about you,” I mock her as she pulls me in for a hug. “Look at you all tanned. I take it Hawaii was nice then?”<
br />
  Hayley makes googly eyes over at Tyler before she turns back to me. “It was amazing and so romantic! I didn’t want to leave!”

  “I bet.”

  “Hey, babe? What do you want to drink?” Mike interrupts our reunion, his hand coming around my waist to get my attention.

  “Rum and coke, babe. Thanks.” I seal our embrace with a kiss before he walks away to the bar with Tyler.

  “Ok, spill! I want all the details and leave nothing out.” Hayley sits down next to me at our usual table as I divulge as much information to her as possible before the boys return.

  “So, you’re in love and not a virgin anymore?”

  “Is that your summary of everything I just told you?”

  She shrugs. “Those are the most important details, as far as I’m concerned.”

  I look across the bar as Mike is smiling and conversing with Tyler, his drink in his hand. He’s so handsome and all mine. I sigh as I realize how utterly happy I am right now.

  “You’re right. The rest doesn’t matter. He actually asked me to move in with him right before we left his house to drive here.”

  “Oh my God! Vic! That’s so perfect! Ugh, I’m so freaking happy you two have finally stopped with the mind games and made it official. It’s about damn time.”

  Her outbursts always make me laugh, her honesty so blunt. I feel like she’s channeling Pauline right now.

  “Me too, Hayley. Have you guys seen Pauline and Dean yet since you got home?”

  “We actually stopped by earlier today. Axel is giving me baby fever bad, Vic. But Tyler and I talked in Hawaii and decided to wait at least a year before we try for a baby. He wants us to have some time together before we throw a kid in the mix. I understand, but my ovaries are barking at me.”

  I giggle. “Well, my vagina was just recently introduced to the world of sex, so I just want to enjoy that before there’s any talk about babies.”

  She smiles coyly over at me. “Well practicing is half the fun.”

  “So, everything is perfect then with you and Mike?”

  “Scarily, yes. I get what you meant now when you said that being so deliriously happy is terrifying. But I know the fear is worth it.” I think back to what Hayley mentioned at Thanksgiving last year. She was recently engaged and living with Tyler. But her words ring truer now to me than they did back then because now I understand how overwhelming true love can feel.

  “What about Ben?”

  I turn back to face her. “What do you mean? What about Ben?”

  “Well, aren’t you mad about what he said about you?”

  “Yeah, I guess. I haven’t given it much thought since I broke things off with him though. I was just so anxious to move on with Mike. I kinda forgot about him….”

  “I would definitely want some sort of revenge. He was such a dick once you dumped him, and he acted nice to your face and then talked shit about you behind your back. I mean, Mike obviously got his rebuttal in, but you haven’t been able to give him a piece of your mind yet.”

  I think about Hayley’s statement. I mean, I guess I can see where she’s coming from. I let Ben in, as much as I could anyway. I kissed him when obviously he wanted more. I honestly wasn’t upset about it and just wanted to move on with my life with Mike once I ended things with him. I shrug her off, not wanting to give him any more thought or energy until he walks through the employee entrance and behind the bar for his shift.

  Red. All I see is red. And fire. And lava. Holy anger! Is this what rage feels like? I didn’t think I was that upset until I physically saw him. What a dick! After the chance I gave him? After how vulnerable I was with him? All for him to turn around and act like an ass because I rejected him. My eyes wander over to Mike, whose face instantly changed at the sight of Ben as well.

  “You know what, Hayley? Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do need to say my peace.” I stand, bracing myself for my next move.

  “Didn’t get mad until you just saw him, huh?” She pries nonchalantly while taking a sip of her drink.

  “Yup. Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” I stride across the room, holding my hand up to Mike as I see him reach out for me.

  “It’s okay, Mike,” I assure him once he gets close enough. “I just need to wrap up some loose ends.” I offer him a smile, then turn my attention back on Ben. By this time, he’s fully aware that Mike and I are standing just a few feet away from him, and he freezes, anticipating my next move. Truth is, I’m not sure what that is yet. And then I think back to the words he used in his fight with Mike, details I asked him to tell me the night we confessed all of our stories to each other. And then it comes to me. The nail in the coffin.

  “Excuse me, Ben?” I ask politely, feigning innocence, which I’m sure he can read.

  “Uh, yeah? What’s up, Vic?” The confidence he exuded before is nowhere to be found right now.

  “Can I have a glass of water, please?” I bat my eyelashes at him for effect.

  “Uh, sure.” Ben walks away to fill a glass for me and slides it across the bar to my hand.

  “Thank you.” I take a quick sip, then examine the glass, pausing for emphasis before throwing the contents across the bar and right into Ben’s face.

  Ben’s face scrunches up immediately, his eyes sewn shut from the water seeping down his skin and over his eyes. Peering through the moisture, Ben wipes his face clean before grimacing back at me.

  “There. That’s better, don’t you think?”

  “What’s better?” He questions through a clenched jaw. He knows better than to pop off at me right now. He’s lucky that a face full of water is all I gave him.

  “Well, now everything BUT your dick is wet. Asshole.”

  I twist back to my friends as Mike rushes over to my side. “Damn, that was sexy, Vic,” he growls in my ear.

  I grin over at him then rush his body, forcefully attacking his mouth, not caring at all about anyone watching. I’ve waited so long to be able to love him in front of everyone. I don’t care who has a problem with it. I’ll kiss him any time I want. It’s just that simple.

  Chapter 27

  Mike

  It’s the night of Victoria’s class Christmas performance. For the past four weeks, all I’ve heard about is rehearsals and costume fittings interspersed between the end of the grading period and decorating art projects for the gifts her students will give their families over the holiday break. My poor woman has been running herself ragged, but after tonight, she’ll finally be able to relax for a few weeks and celebrate the gift I’m giving her this evening.

  It’s been difficult to keep my plans from her, particularly because we talk to each other about everything. We’ve established a routine at the end of our day when we’ve finished eating and we lay on the couch. We tell each other every detail that happened while we were apart, all while I rub her feet and she runs her fingers through my hair. Victoria is not just my girlfriend; she’s my best friend. I never understood what Dean meant by that when he was describing his relationship with Pauline not too long ago. But now I get it. Having a person who you can be yourself with completely, that accepts you for all of your faults and shortcomings, but also makes your toes curl at the end of the day… yeah, there’s nothing like it.

  I convince myself then that all the scheming and secrets I’ve been keeping from her will pay off tonight when I finally get down on one knee and propose. Victoria moved in with me that week after Labor Day, and she hasn’t left since. We took Lilly trick-or-treating on Halloween together, spent Thanksgiving at her parent’s house where my mom and Pauline and Dean joined us, and now hopefully we’ll be spending our first Christmas together engaged.

  “Hey bro,” Dean greets me from behind, holding Axel in his arms dressed in a Santa onesie, his dark hair covered by a matching hat. “Everything ready to go for tonight?”

  My stomach is in knots, not over the nervousness of asking Victoria to marry me, but more so over the fact that I have to rely on a handful of first g
raders to do their jobs.

  “I hope so. Little kids are so unpredictable. I hope they remember their cues.” Just as I say the words, Jacob tumbles around the corner of the stage to deliver the first note to Victoria.

  “Well, looks like things are underway. I’ll see you when it’s over,” I inform Dean, placing my hand on his shoulder before I duck to the back of the room. I’ve chosen to hide out in the lobby between the front doors and the doors leading into the multi-purpose room where the performance will take place. Parents are seated along the benches, and little kids are running around frantically hyped up on sugar from the cookies and hot chocolate offered for sale near the back of the room. A sizeable portion of the town has appeared tonight to support our elementary school and the beloved Miss Baker.

  When I was thinking of how I wanted to propose to Victoria, I knew I had to incorporate her students somehow. That woman loves to teach, and her students are such a monumental part of her life. They’re a part of mine now too. Even though I don’t see them every day, I feel like I know them just based on what Victoria has told me. The heart and soul she pours into her job is plain as day to anyone who watches her, so I knew that they had to be involved when I offered her my heart and soul.

  Jacob hands Victoria the first piece of folded paper and a pen while she eyes him suspiciously. I watch her, peering around the wall so she hopefully won’t see me. Her shaking hands unfold the note, her mouth smiles wide, and then her eyes glimpse around the room for me. Her search is short, given the million other things she’s responsible for tonight, but she checks the box and hands the note back to Jacob before she’s distracted by another teacher.