Page 51 of Finding My Forever

Slowly, we walked around the rest of the room and saw more Van Gough and Picasso before he tugged my hand and led me out of the exhibit. He pulled out his phone and I saw Eli’s name at the top of the screen.

“They’re down on the first floor.”

He slipped his hand back in mine, and we crossed over the open walkway again. Once we were on the escalator going down, he turned to face me.

“April, I know tomorrow is your last full day here and you and Sophia probably have something planned, but would you spend the day with me?”

A few hours ago, I would have turned him down, but this place had changed things. We showed each other a different, more vulnerable, side. Not only did I like him, but now I trusted him.

“Yes.”

His smile grew. “Thank you.”

I knew love wasn’t instant. It didn’t happen just because the necklace had changed, but in that moment, I felt it bud, just a little, in my heart.

I could only pray he felt it, too.

Chapter 15

“This is one of my favorite places to see during fall and winter.”

Eli led us a few blocks from the museum to Rockefeller Center. The central area was decorated with pumpkins and fall foliage.

“Oh wow!” It was magical. I paused at each planter to take it in before my brain clicked, and I realized exactly where we were.

I broke free from the group and hurried down the steps toward the center area framed with flags.

It was real! In the center was the ice rink I’d always seen on TV. There wasn’t anyone on it, but I didn’t care. When the other three caught up I pointed to the ice.

“I want to go.”

Sophia laughed. “You sound like a little kid.”

I began jumping up and down and grabbed Liam’s hand. “Please, oh please!”

He laughed. “Fine. We’ll be the only ones out there, but we can do it.”

It was still fairly warm out, so it wouldn’t be the full winter wonderland I imagined, but beggars couldn’t be choosers when it came to crossing things off their bucket list.

Liam led me down to purchase tickets and get skates. When I looked behind us, Sophia and Eli were missing. I scanned the walls overlooking the rink. They were leaning over the edge watching us. They waved. I pouted, but they didn’t come. Oh well. We have it to ourselves.

Once we were laced up, Liam guided me onto the ice. Music was playing, and I almost instantly forgot we were the only ones skating even though we had an audience watching us from nearly every side.

Liam held my hand tightly. I’d been ice skating enough times to feel comfortable, and he looked like a natural. We glided along, going around and around in slow circles.

“I have to admit, this is better than I thought it would be.”

I smiled at him and spun so I was skating backward, facing him. “This is a dream come true. Thanks for doing it with me.”

A small, incredibly cute smile was his response.

We held hands going around again when he met my eyes with a look of mischief. “Do you trust me?”

That seemed to be a reoccurring theme with us. Trusting.

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

He began skating a bit faster, his arms locked pushing me forward. With a swift motion, his hands were on my waist. “Jump.”