Chapter Twenty — Moving Forward
374 Words
(Harper’s POV)
The house feels lighter than it ever has.
Noah teases us openly now, laughing at every glance or touch that lingers a second too long. “You two are ridiculous,” he says one morning, shaking his head as Jace drapes an arm around my shoulders. “Get a room already.”
I roll my eyes but laugh, leaning into Jace. “Don’t push it, Noah.”
He smirks. “I’m just keeping you two accountable.”
Jace grins, resting his chin lightly on the top of my head. “Accountable for what?”
“For being sappy,” Noah answers, grabbing a slice of toast.
I glance at Jace, heart still skipping. “Feels good, doesn’t it? Not hiding anymore?”
“Better than I imagined,” he murmurs. “We don’t have to pretend, we don’t have to sneak around, we just… are.”
I squeeze his hand. “Exactly. And somehow… it makes everything that happened before even sweeter.”
The memories rush back — the first moment I noticed him noticing me, the jealous looks he tried to hide, the “research” sessions that made my heart race, the near-misses with Noah, the secret confessions. Every awkward, tense, thrilling step brought us here.
I look out the window at the warm glow of the evening, the air calm, familiar, and full of possibility.
“So… what’s next for us?” I ask.
Jace smirks, that confident glint in his eyes finally softening. “We enjoy this. Us. No hiding, no pretending. And maybe, just maybe… start planning a few more adventures together.”
I laugh softly. “Adventures, huh? Like what?”
He shrugs. “Whatever we want. Together.”
For the first time, it feels like the weight of the past and the tension of the secret never existed. Just Jace, me, and the knowledge that honesty, trust, and a little patience brought us here.
Noah calls from the kitchen, “Dinner! And you two lovebirds better not be sitting out there all night!”
I grin, glancing at Jace. “Let’s go.”
He squeezes my hand before we walk inside, and I know this is just the beginning.
We’re finally moving forward — together.
- Writer
