I’m pretty sure he only agreed to do it because he doesn’t believe in it either. Though, he would never tell me that because he doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. He has told me before that he doesn’t believe in true love, but I know it exists. My parents and grandparents are tried-and-true versions of it. Whether the legend of this mountain had anything to do with it, we will soon find out …
After passing the wooden marker that declares we are now on property that belongs to Heart Mountain, Gunnar and I climb up the slippery slope that leads to the base of the mountain.
“Watch your step,” he cautions, keeping a firm hold of my hand.
Once we’re on more solid ground, we stop our climb and tilt our heads back. Rain trickles into our squinting eyes as we take in the heart-shaped peak.
“It’s even more beautiful up close like this,” I comment softly, but loud enough for Gunnar to hear. “Don’t ya think?”
“I guess,” he mutters, not sounding very convincing. “I still think the peak looks more like an upside-down triangle than a heart.”
He has always thought this. I guess I can see why, since it’s not the most perfect shape, but that’s where your faith comes in.
“How much time is left?” I ask.
He looks down at the watch again. “Two minutes.”
My heart pitter-patters in my chest, both in excitement and fear, but it’s the latter that takes over.
Gunnar senses it. “What’s wrong?”
I peer into his honey-brown eyes and tell him a fear I have yet to voice out loud. “What if the legend isn’t true, Gunnar? What if everything my parents and Paw told me turns out to be a myth, just like so many believe?”
He shrugs. “So what? It’s not like it changes anything.”
My mouth drops at the statement. “What the heck are you talking about? It changes everything!”
“How?” he challenges. “You still have your memories of them, Elle. Of how much they loved each other. The truth about some stupid legend doesn’t change that.”
I think about what he says and realize he’s right.
“I guess, but I still want it to be true. I want to believe magic like this exists. I also don’t want Kevin to be right,” I grumble. “He’ll just be even meaner to me.”
“Forget that jerk,” he spits out angrily. “If he says anything to you, I’ll bust his mouth open and make him run home crying to his mommy like the baby he is.”
I smile at the image that pops into my head, then burst into a fit of laughter. It triggers one from Gunnar, the two of us in stitches over the thought.
Leave it to Gunnar to make me laugh, even at a time like this.
The town’s church bells chime, signaling midnight. Our laughter abruptly ceases, eyes locking in a timeless moment.
I shift on my feet, suddenly feeling awkward.
“You ready?” he asks, looking as nervous as I feel.
I nod, knowing it’s now or never.
We step forward at the same time, my hands move to his shoulders while his find their place on my hips. Then, ever so slowly, we lean in, our gazes never wavering until the last second.
My eyes flutter closed as our lips touch, the melody of the church bells fading into the echoes of the storm.
His lips are softer than I imagined, and warm—so warm it feels like a comforting hug on a cold winter’s day.
I brace myself for the monumental shift that’s surely about to come. Like a crack in the earth’s core or a spark of electricity that will bind us in everlasting love…
But nothing like that happens. In fact, nothing happens at all.
The church bells eventually fade into silence, ending the moment.
Pulling back, I gaze into Gunnar’s rain-soaked face and notice his eyes are still closed. When he finally opens them, the warmth of their color strikes me in the chest.
“Well?” I ask, noting my voice is raspier than usual. “Do you feel any different?”
“Not really,” he admits, almost apologetically. “You?”
I shake my head, feeling despair wash over me.
“Maybe it takes time?” he says, trying to stay optimistic for my sake. “Maybe we’ll feel differently tomorrow?”
We both know that’s not going to happen, but I play along anyway, offering him a sad smile. “Yeah, maybe.”
Despite my best effort, there is no hope in my voice because there is none left in my heart. My disappointment is immeasurable.
Gunnar wraps a gentle arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s head home before Ryland and Paw realize we’re gone.”
Dejected, I follow him down the mountain.
Gunnar remains by my side the entire walk home, unaware that the wetness sliding down my cheeks is from my broken heart and not the steady rain.
