Page 12 of Nail Me Down

“Ya. I am. It’s just hard to know what’s true. I feel like I can’t trust myself.”

“Holly, I can’t prove anything to you.” He reaches for my hand, and I let him take it in both of his. “All I can say is that I hope you can trust what you felt with me that night.”

Just from the way he’s encasing my hand, I can feel the warmth and steadiness he emits.

I nod. “I felt…a lot that night.”

“Me too.” He squeezes my hand. “This sounds so cliche, but that night changed my life.”

“Ya. Me too.”

“I’m serious, Holly. There’s no one else for me. You’re it.”

“What?”

“I love you, Holly.” I’m floored. Shocked. Stunned. Frozen. No words. Just a blubbering mess of emotions inside because I know I love him, too. Which is crazy. But I do. I’m about to say something, but he’s not done talking.

“I’ll wait if you’re not ready.”

My heart just melts at how earnest he looks. And maybe Dakota is right. Maybe I’m living by some weird sense of loyalty to something unknown. Like, why was I loyal to Damon for so long? Look what that cost me. So what am I being loyal to now? Some bizarre sense of appropriateness. It’s like shackles fall from my eyes and I can see something clearly that I’ve never noticed before.

Before confessing anything, I have to ask though, “For how long?”

“As long as it takes, Holly. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, what?”

“Okay. You can wait.” Though I try to remain serious, there’s an invisible hook pulling the corner of my lips in an upward direction.

I see his lips kick up into a half grin too. “I will then.” He puts our entwined hands on his thigh. “What should I drop off tomorrow? I’ve got a whole list of gifts I haven’t gotten to yet.”

“Oh you do, do you?”

“Ya. I’ve got some cute sticker ideas and relaxing—”

“Just you.” I fist his shirt. “Just drop off yourself, Ford. We’ll figure out the rest as we go.”

“I like that plan.” He leans in to kiss me and brushes his lips against mine. “So you forgive me then?”

“Ya. I do. Because I love you, too.”

He whispers into my ear, “Sweeter words have never been spoken.”

And I know this is real. This is what love is supposed to feel like. Someone who sees you. Who’s willing to do anything to make you happy and feel good about yourself. Someone who apologizes, even if they’re not wrong. Someone who’s willing to wait. Who’s willing to go the extra mile, even when I can’t. But I’m ready now. I’m ready to love and be loved, and I couldn’t be happier. I know this is how it’s going to be with him forever.

Epilogue

Dakota

“You guys are the worst,” I make a face at Holly as she yanks her lips off of Ford’s. “You guys have been together, what, a month? And you’re still sucking face like that in public. Come on.”

Holly just giggles and cuddles closer to Ford. I mean, I don’t hate them. I’m just the third wheel. Again. Story of my life.

“You’re the one that got us together, Dakota. You have only yourself to blame.” Holly wraps her arms around me now and plants a wet kiss on my cheek.

“Gross!” I push her away.