Free Wildflower (Colors #4) by Jessica Prince

finally admitting the reason behind the nickname. And that reason warmed me from the inside out.
    “Because until the moment I saw you, I was convinced I wouldn’t be happy living here. But I walked into that school and you were the first thing I saw. You stood out from everyone around you. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in the most unexpected place,” he admitted, taking my breath away. “You were my wildflower.” As he talked, his expression remained earnest, letting me know just how serious he was. But once he’d finished, that seriousness melted into a heart stopping smile. “Now say it.”
    “Hmmm,” I hummed, tapping my chin in mock thought as I looked up at the sky. “I’m not sure—” Before I could finish, Noah’s strong body had me pinned to the ground. The grass pricked my skin as I tried my best to roll away from him. “Noah!” I shouted. “Stop tickling me!”
    “Say it and I will.”
    My hysterical laughter bounced through the air as I looked up into his smiling eyes and my heart melted a little bit more. That was how every day had been for the past six months. Every day with Noah was just a little better than the last. Every second with him, I fell even more in love with him. “I’m your girl,” I spoke, still somewhat breathless from laughing so hard.
    “Again.”
    My voice got quiet as my lips tilted into a smile. “I’m your girl.”
    “You know I love you, right?”
    My voice stayed a whisper as I nodded against the grass. “Yeah.”
    “And you love me too?”
    “You know I do.” I ran my hand over his short hair, loving the way it felt against my fingers. There wasn’t much of anything about Noah I didn’t love. From the first time we talked, I knew he was it for me. I didn’t care that we were young. What the future held didn’t matter. I loved him and he loved me. As long as I had him, there wasn’t anything that could bring me down.
    I heard the squeak of the screen door before Grammy’s voice called out into the back yard.
    “Noah, sweetie. Your mom just called. It’s getting dark and she wants you to head home.”
    My stomach sank at the same time Noah released a frustrated breath. “Thanks, Ms. Lucille. We’ll be in in just a sec.”
    “Okay, honey.”
    The screen door closed and I started to push up, making him roll off as I sat, my gaze trained on the tree line that enclosed the very back of my grandmother’s yard.
    “You better go,” I told him, trying to keep my voice light as I offered him a small smile that didn’t meet my eyes.
    I felt the gentle pressure of Noah’s fingers under my chin. “Hey,” he coaxed gently. “It’s not always gonna be like this, wildflower. I promise. Before you know it, we’ll be eighteen and no one will have any business telling us what we can or can’t do.”
    “I’m just worried your parents are never going to like me.”
    “Baby, they like you.”
    I let out a snort and rolled my eyes, pulling my chin away. “Please, Noah. I’m not an idiot.”
    “Harlow, look at me.” When I met his gaze, he continued. “You know how they are. It’s not that they don’t like you. They just wish you were a part of their church, and they’re worried we’re moving too fast.”
    I chest squeezed tight with worry. “Do you?”
    “Do I what?”
    “Do you…” A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to choke out the words. “Do you think we’re… moving too fast? Do you want to slow down?”
    He blinked in surprise. “What? No, of course not.”
    My entire body slumped in relief.
    Noah’s tone was strong and sure as he cupped my cheeks in his hands and turned me fully to him. “I’m gonna marry you one day, wildflower. I’m gonna buy you your dream house and we’re gonna fill it with our own family. It’s me and you, baby. Now and always.”
    “Me and you,” I repeated, his declaration making me feel lighter than air. “I love you.”
    “I love you too, wildflower.”

    The shrill ring