Loving Lars

23. Loving The Dinner

Elza's POV

It was the day my dad was finally coming home. I woke up this morning, once again, cuddled up to Lars in my small bed. I was going to miss waking up pressed against his warm chest listening to the steady beat of his heart.

As soon as we leave the safe haven that is the cottage, everything's going to go back to normal and I don't think I'm ready for that.

I was currently organising all of my books as it was long overdue and there wasn't much else to do either. I decided it was best to start whilst Lars was in the shower. However, I neglected to think that Lars was going to come in here, in all his naked glory.

Well he wasn't actually naked, but he might as well been. With beads of water dripping down his rippling muscles. My breath got stuck in my throat and I started to feel hot and sweaty. Lars smirked at me, knowing the effects that him and his body had on me.

I turned away and carried on organising the piles whilst Lars rustled around in the corner.

"What are you doing?" His baritone voice startled me.

Thankfully he was now dressed.

"Organising." Duh.

I was too focused to give him anything more than a one word answer.

"Yeah, but why?" He shifted some of the piles around so he could sit in front of me.

"The last time I sorted through any of this is when I was 15." I gave a slight laugh.

He nodded and started looking through the stacks.

"This book has seen better days." He held up the book he was talking about.

It was a copy of Little Women. It was battered and bruised like nobody's business.

I had spent many sleepless nights and lonely days reading that book. I cannot even count the amount of times my fingers have skimmed the pages, I can proudly say that I could recite at least half the book at this point.

"Oh yeah that one's my favourites." I took the book from him, inspecting all the folded corners and the doodles throughout it.

"I always wanted sisters and a big family like they had." I sighed wistfully. "I believe my life would be vastly better had there been people to fill the silence."

Lars looked deep into my eyes and nodded. I felt that he understood what I was saying.

"And plus I had the biggest crush on Laurie." I said to lighten the mood, "and don't even get me started on his proposal to Jo." I gushed.

Lars let out a huff in annoyance. Caveman.

"I've loved you ever since I've known you, Jo, couldn't help it, you've been so good to me." Well would you look at that, the giants read Little Women.

"Yeah that's the one." I said in awe.

"I've tried to show it, but you wouldn't let me. Now I'm going to make you hear, and give me an answer, for I can't go on so any longer." He finished it off.

"I can't believe you've read Little Women! And you can recite it!" I knew in that moment we were meant to be.

"Hmm." He hummed, "it was my mom's favourite."

This is the first time he's spoken about his mom and I couldn't help but notice his use of the word was. Maybe his left like mine did?

"Wow, that's amazing. What else have you read?" I was far too excited at this revelation.