Free Wishful Kisses: A Fountain of Love Novella by Krista Lakes

known the things you told me," he said, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than me. "The invasion... hell, just the name of the operation is top secret right now. I'm not even really supposed to know it, but you just say it like it's common knowledge."
    "Where—or rather when I'm from, it is." I chewed on my lip before I put my hand on his. "I made a wish in a fountain. I wished that I could come back and save you. Stop you from going. The Fountain granted my wish and sent me back to warn you."
    His hand went through his hair again. I didn't envy his position. He had to decide to do something crazy. Something that would forever change both our worlds. To be honest, I was a little afraid of what was going to happen myself.
    "Please don't go. I don't want to lose you again." My throat tightened at the words, as if it was trying to keep my heart from escaping out my mouth.
    He paused, closing his eyes as he came to decision. My stomach was threatening to be sick. This was it.
    Tony put his hand to my chin, tipping my face up to meet his eyes. He smiled, his eyes soft and comforting. "I believe you, Ladybug. It's kind of scary, but I believe you."
    All the air in my lungs rushed out in a breath I didn't even know I was holding. A weight lifted from my shoulders and tears welled in my eyes from sheer relief. He believed me. And he called me Ladybug.
    "What do we do now?" he asked. He smiled and wiped the tears from my cheek.
    "We're about two and a half hours from the Mexico border. We run," I said simply. I couldn't have kept the smile off my face if someone had paid me. He believed me. We were going to be together.
    Tony took a deep, shaky breath and twisted his hat in his hands. "That means I'll have to leave Dean and Matt. I'll be considered a deserter. Can't I just go with them and just not go to work that day? Be sick or something?"
    I shook my head sadly. "No. The Fountain said that if you step foot in that country, your fate is sealed. You have to leave them."
    He closed his eyes, debate clearly raging in his mind. I hoped my position was winning. "I hate the idea of leaving them."
    "But you'll be alive," I countered gently. He opened his eyes as if the argument in his head was finally decided.
    "And I'll be with you." He smiled and touched my cheek again. His brows tightened and he glanced out the window toward the base. "Will they be okay without me? I mean, if I'm not there, what's going to happen to them?"
    "I don't know," I answered honestly. "They survive it the first time, though. I would imagine they will survive it again. They were injured mostly because they tried so hard to save you."
    Tony looked out the window for another moment before turning back to me. He smiled, putting his faith in me completely. "Let's do this then. My bag's packed, I just need to go get it."
    I frowned. "How are you going to leave an army base with your duffel bag when you're on high alert?"
    He shrugged. "I think you met the gate guard yesterday. He talked about you at the poker game last night. He said I was a lucky guy, and I think he believed it. I believed it too. I was so lucky that I won $200 from him." He grinned at me again. "I gave it back to him to look the other way today."
    I leaned over and kissed him. He was coming, and we were going to make it. As long as we made it to the Mexico border, he was safe.
    "You have no idea how much I've missed you," I whispered as we pulled apart. I wanted to cry in relief. I wanted to stand on the roof of the car and whoop for joy. I was going to be with my Tony.
    "Enough that you apparently traveled back in time to come get me," he said. His eyes met mine, warm and brown like a sunlit wooded glade. Like the picture I had been trying to paint. "You know I love you, right?"
    I nodded, unable to find the words. Words were inadequate. I kissed him again, sending happiness straight down through my toes. He left me breathless and full of joy.
    "I love you, too," I finally