Whispers of You (Lost & Found #1)(77)

Nathan frowned at me. “You’re sure?”

I patted his chest. “I’m sure.”

When I turned around, Holt had a tender smile on his face. I crossed to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “What’s that about?”

He brushed the hair back from my face. “I’m glad you’ve had them in your corner.”

My heart squeezed. This was the bittersweet truth. If Holt hadn’t left, I might never have forged quite this deep of a bond with his family. It had happened because I was mostly alone in the world. Because Holt was gone. But life was rarely simple and never perfect. It was like the land around us, full of jagged edges and pieces askew. But it was beautiful in its imperfections—more so because of them.

I wrapped a hand around Holt’s neck, pulling him down to me. “I love you.”

“I’m totally getting twenty today.”

I snorted. “Cocky much?”

“Confident. There’s a difference.” He closed the distance, his lips dancing across mine in the gentlest of touches. “Love you always.”

The words wrapped around me like the sweetest music I’d never tire of hearing. “Okay, I’m on board with twenty.”

He chuckled, giving me another kiss.

Nash made a gagging noise. “Seriously? She’s like my sister, and I really don’t need to see you two making out.”

Nathan gave a swift elbow to Nash’s gut, and he let out a wheezing cough.

“I’d think you’d take my side, Dad.”

Nathan grinned, the smile so similar to his son’s. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing these two right where they’re supposed to be.”

The warmth of his words wrapped around me. The Hartleys had always made me feel like a part of their family. But something about letting down my walls with Holt and giving him everything deepened that connection. And to have Nathan and Nash accept it all so readily was a balm to my soul.

Holt searched his father’s face as if looking for any hint of disingenuousness. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Okay, enough with the emo lovefest. We need to hit the road if we want to log some miles today,” Nash said.

Holt nodded, letting out a whistle. Shadow came running from the lake. He bent and latched the leash to her collar.

“You sure you’ll be good with her all day?” I asked.

“I’ve got water and food. You said she’s good with long hikes, right?”

I gave my girl a rub. “She lasts a hell of a lot longer than I do.”

“It’s the sled dog in her. This will be good.”

I linked my fingers with Holt’s and squeezed. “Be safe. Promise?”

“Always. Be home before dark.”

“Call on your way.”

Holt pressed a kiss to my forehead as he released my hand. “Will do.”

The guys and Shadow piled into Nash’s SUV. I stood in the drive until they disappeared from sight.

I didn’t rush back into the cabin. Closing my eyes, I breathed deeply, letting the crisp, clean air sweep through me. It was a reclaiming of sorts. Of this refuge I’d built. It was mine again.

A smile teased my lips. No, it was ours. Because I knew I’d never ask Holt to find his own place. After being without him for so long, all I wanted was him in every way I could have him. Cooking breakfast in the mornings. Playing fetch with Shadow after dinner. Curling up in bed with me every night.

I opened my eyes and started for the cabin. The minute I got inside, I went around to every window and pulled the curtains and blinds. I was done living in the dark.

The morning light made the wood in the cabin glow an almost gold. I’d always loved that but being without it for the past several days had made me appreciate it even more—just like having Holt here with me now after missing him for so long.

I hummed as I moved around the space, tidying as I went. I cleaned up the dishes from breakfast and moved into the bedroom. My mouth curved as I took in the bed, the sheets rumpled, and pillows scattered.

As I put things back to rights, I nibbled the corner of my lip. Holt’s duffel bag sat against the room’s far wall. He’d put a couple of things in the bathroom, but that was it.

Holt was pushy in a lot of ways. When it came to my safety. With letting me know he was here to stay. But not when it came to this.

The permanence of having him here was something that Holt had left entirely up to me. I loved him all the more for it. He’d taken a choice away from me once, but he was giving it back to me now.

Tossing the final pillow into place, I turned to the dresser opposite the bed. It was an antique that had been my grandmother’s, and I loved having it here now. I crossed to it and ran my fingers over the wood. It was worn and showed its age in the grooves and gashes. But they only gave the dresser more character.

That was how I wanted my life to be. I might have scars, but that only meant I had lived this life fully. I’d stopped doing that for a while. But I was changing that now.

My fingers curled around one of the brass pulls, and I slid a drawer open. Carefully, I rearranged my socks and underwear so they could fit in half the space. Then I opened the one next to it and removed all my pajamas, refolding them so they fit next to my undergarments. I did the same thing with the middle two drawers. Then the bottom two.

I went for Holt’s duffel, laying it on the bed. I paused for a moment and wondered if I was overstepping. I had to hope Holt would see the beauty of the gesture and not be annoyed that I was pawing through his stuff.