“The figurine in the emerald green dress on the piano,” Matt called after her, “It was a gift I’d brought you from Ireland.” Liz didn’t turn around, but kept listening. “I had gone off to Ireland after grad school—just as you and I were—well, getting serious and it was time for that next step,” he paused. “When I saw that figurine…with her long brown hair and beautiful green gown, I thought it looked just like you, and how I wished you were with me. It’s when I realized I never wanted to be without you,” he paused and she turned. He threw his arms up. “There was really no sentimental value to it, Liz. It just always meant a lot to you, that thing. Because in your eyes, it’s what brought me back to you.”
She stood in place, afraid that any move, in either direction would make him stop.
He laughed lightly. “That’s why you’re drawn to it now, your heart is telling you to trust it.”
Liz flushed. “How did you know…”
“Because it moves a little bit every day,” he said, with a small smile.
Liz studied him for a moment, appreciating the way he openly let her in on what he’d noticed. She took a small step, but hesitated, which made Matt take a few steps towards her.
“And I never told you exactly how we met and fell in love, did I?” He stopped inches from her and proceeded to tell her the details of how they came to fall in love. From the first bonfire, down to the spare key under her mat.
Liz narrowed her eyes at the new openly in love man standing before her holding out his hand.
* * *
After clearing the dishes of the romantic meal he’d made for them, Matt joined Liz on the couch with refilled glasses of her favorite merlot.
“Where were we?” he asked, bouncing down next to her.
“You were just telling me—no sorry—reminding me,” as he had insisted they call it, “about the time I would wake up at five a.m. every morning for a week to deviously dump all the coffee in both lounge rooms in the dorms until they started stocking coffee that didn’t taste like mud.”
“Oh, yes,” he grinned. “You said it was a necessary evil. Then you made me have everyone on my side of the dorms sign a ‘petition’—I lost respect from a lot of people that week.”
Liz laughed whole-heartedly out loud. Freer than she had with her own brother. This was different. Being with Matt now felt real. “I can’t believe you let me do that,” she wiped at a tear. “You didn’t go running for the nearest exit?”
Matt smiled at her thoughtfully, “Oh Lizzy, there isn’t much you could do that would make me turn away from you.”
As his words were spoken, Liz thought she caught a glimpse of doubt and hurt in his eyes. It could have just been her imagination, but it was the same look she’d seen on him before. She didn’t have far back to remember, so memorizing every expression and emotion from him was everything to her.
Liz put her glass down, suddenly losing appetite for any more alcohol.
“Something wrong?” he asked her, frowning.
“I don’t know yet.”
Matt nodded.
“I think I’ve had enough stories for one night, though.” Liz stood, “Thank you for dinner and for tonight,” she smiled down at him and turned.
As she reached the stairs, Matt grabbed and spun her to face him. His face nearly an inch from hers.
“Liz,” he breathed.
Her eyes found his and then dropped to his lips. She’d been longing to feel them again since he’d kissed her before leaving for his parent’s beach house. Whatever happened there to change his mind when he got home, was something she figured she’d never learn.
He traced his fingers up her arms, sending chills down her spine. She inhaled deeply, trying desperately to control herself. To resist wanting more from him. Hoping that he didn’t feel like she needed this, she backed up two more steps.
Following her, he kept his hands around her waist and pinned her against the wall, facing him.
She let out a low whimper with the need for him to follow through. His hands traced up her shoulders and neck and cupped her face. He gave her one last hungry look before crushing her lips with his. She let him devour her for a mere few seconds before fully engaging in the kiss herself, giving him all she had.
“Tell me this is what you want,” he murmured against her lips.
“For as long as I can remember,” she replied honestly.
He smiled against her lips and slowly pulled them up the stairs. Halfway up they crashed and laughed, only parting lips for a second. Finally making it up the stairs, Matt led her into their dimly lit bedroom.
