When We Are Enough (Valiant Hearts #1)

61. Emmy

Chapter 61

Emmy

P atrick and I watch the rest of the auction side-by-side, Stormy still in my arms. When the last of the bidding for dates with the pageant entrants is done, Nora steps forward again.

“Thank you all so much! This fundraiser has been hugely successful. Now, without further ado, it’s time to crown Miss Harbor’s Edge!”

A hush falls over the crowd as Nora opens an envelope. “And the winner of this year’s Miss Harbor’s Edge pageant is… Blake Summerton!”

The crowd erupts in cheers as Blake steps forward. She catches my eye and smirks, giving a brief roll of her eyes before accepting her crown. Once the applause dies down, Maddy steps down from the stage with the other contestants, her cheeks flushed. She looks so alive, more vibrant than I’ve seen her in years.

As soon as she reaches me, she throws her arms around me in a tight hug, not letting go as she gushes about the pageant. “This was so much fun, and they raised a lot of money. The people here are just so great. I can see why you love it here!”

The warmth of her embrace is a balm to old wounds—forgiveness truly is beautiful, and I’m grateful that our relationship survived the betrayal and pain. Holding her close, it’s clear this—our flourishing sisterhood—is one of the more significant victories of my life.

As the event winds down and the crowd begins to disperse, I glance around at the familiar faces that have become like family to me. But it’s time to say goodbye, at least for a little while.

Turning to Patrick, squeezing his hand. “It’s time to go.”

Everyone gathers around us, all the Valiant Hearts boys, including Jake with his daughter Suzie, and even Ethan. The O’Connors, of course, and Maddy. One by one, they hug us tightly, their words of encouragement and love filling the chilly air.

“Take care of each other,” Ruby says, pulling me into her arms. “I’m going to miss you so much. Thank you for everything you did for Patrick, for all of us.”

Her words take me by surprise. I don’t know when or if I’ll ever get used to being missed, being valued by my chosen family. It’s a warmth that spreads through the depths of my soul, and it never goes away, never gets withdrawn or dimmed. They just love me no matter what.

“We’ll miss you too,” I say, squeezing her back.

Once we’ve said goodbye to everyone once, twice, and then once more for good luck, Patrick, Stormy, and I make our way to the van we bought and converted for our adventure. It’s already packed with everything we need for the next six months of our van life. As we climb inside, I glance back at our friends and family one last time, waving as they cheer us on.

Then Patrick starts the engine and a few moments later, they’re gone. We drive away from Harbor’s Edge, the town that has given me so much, heading toward the open road with no destination in mind.

The Pines soon come into view and Patrick slows down and pulls over into a secluded spot, turning off the engine. “We need to stop and christen the van,” he says, the low of his voice hitting me right in my core.

He gets out and comes around to my side, opening the door and pulling me out, telling Stormy to stay. The cool air wraps around us as he presses me against the side of the van, his lips finding mine, arms bracketing my face.

He pulls back, the light filtering through the trees overhead catching his denim eyes as they roam over my face, wanting. “I love you so damned much. I’m even glad you hit me with that fry pan.”

“I love you too. And any time.”

He takes my hand and opens the back of the van, lifting me in his arms and lowering me to the mattress, before his lips find mine again, slower this time, his hand already working on unbuttoning my jeans.

Roughened fingers slide between me and the material, inside my panties, stroking the slick heat of me, his touch setting my body on fire, flashes pulsating throughout my body, drawing out an involuntary whimper from deep within.

The taste of his kiss lingers on my lips, and I could stay right here forever. His fingers slide deeper into me, finding the spot that makes me gasp.

Hissing out his name: “Patrick.”

I arch into his touch and his eyes glint with desire as he watches me fall apart in the best possible way. He smiles against my mouth before pulling back to slide my low-rise jeans and panties down, moving his way back up my legs, licking and gently nipping the burning skin on the inside of my thighs.

He pauses where my scars are, kissing the ridged skin briefly, and I don’t even flinch. My sweater and T-shirt come off, my bra, and I’m bare to him, all of me.

His hands hold my thighs open to him and he drinks in the sight of me, before his head bows, lips finding my clit, tongue stroking as he plunges two fingers inside me again. Pleasure floods my senses.

I’m holding the mattress, nails digging into the cotton sheets, as his fingers move inside me, heat starting at my core and pulsing through me in waves. He knows me better than I know myself, loves me in every conceivable way, and he brings me over the edge so fast, I’m breaking, the world coming undone around me.

He’s pulling down his own jeans, and I reach for him, begging for him. My hand finds his hardened length. Pushing myself up, guiding him onto the mattress so I’m the one in control, I trail kisses down his chest, teasing him slowly but deliberately, lapping at his tip gently before taking him into my mouth fully.

His taste spreads across my tongue while his fingers weave through my hair, guiding me to a rhythm that has him gasping and thrusting into my welcoming mouth.

“I’m so close,” he growls, stilling me with firm hands. “I need to be inside you.”

He pulls me to him, chest to chest, heart to heart, then rolls us over, the weight of him between my legs, the thick, hard of him pressed against me, his mouth on mine again, hands gently squeezing and tugging my nipples, until I can’t bear it, until I’m moaning his name, needing him.

He lifts his hips, positions himself, then starts to fill me, inching slowly until he’s fully inside me. Our gazes lock. His beautiful face is so close to mine, his exhale becoming my inhale. Nothing could be more perfect than this moment right here. Until he starts to thrust, the working of his hips filling the aching, empty want with him , with his hardness, and I’m closer to heaven than I’ve ever been.

His tongue darts out to taste my lower lip as he goes slower, deeper inside with every stroke, claiming me as his own. He starts moving faster and my hands are tugging at him, wanting more, wanting all of him.

He picks up momentum, thumb swirling over my clit, withdrawing almost completely only to plunge deeper, and everything is liquid and golden and smooth and fast and then I’m on the very edge and then we’re falling. Falling together. Crying out each other’s names.

He’s still inside me, both of us breathing hard, when he lifts himself up, kisses me so tenderly, the love between us somehow both heady and solid at the same time.

“Consider the van christened,” Patrick whispers against my lips, a slow smirk painting his handsome face.

“Does this mean we can finally start our adventure?”

“In a minute.” He pulls out of me, rolls onto his back, then slides his arm around me, drawing me closer. “I just need to hold you like this for a while.”

My eyes close, breathing in the scent of him. Even though we’re leaving our home behind, we’ll always be home as long as we’re together.

My cheek presses against his bare chest, the warmth of his skin heating mine. His hand moves through my hair in a lazy, soothing rhythm. His heartbeat is just below my face, steady and true, a comforting drumbeat that anchors me.

Being with him is like taking a deep breath after being underwater for far too long. His presence is a lifeline, pulling me to the surface where the air is sweet and plentiful. The sun warming my skin, the soft sand slipping between my toes, and the gentle waves lapping at my feet.

Each part of him is a reminder that I am loved and whole, that I have found my place in the world. That life is vast and full of promise.