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He nods, seeming to understand my sentiments. I’d be surprised if he didn’t think the same, especially after what happened with Caleb.
“You won’t regret it. I promise.”
“I know.” I know because I know Madden Taylor. Even after everything, he’s the boy I’ve been best friends with since childhood, and I understand now how his thought process went; why he acted the way he did. Not that it’s an excuse—it’s not—but I get it.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispers.
“I know that too.”
He smiles then, a huge, relieved grin that makes his eyes shine. “It’s me and you, Harper. This is it.”
I nod against his hands, and he slides one into my hair, the other pulling me against him. “Me and you,” I tell him, meaning every word as he dips his head to finally kiss me. It’s soft and sweet, and it heals something inside of me. All too soon, he’s pulling back, dipping to grab a bag I hadn’t noticed from the floor. I watch with curiosity as he pulls a gift box out of it and hands it to me, nerves flitting across his face.
“Madden, you don’t need to—”
“It’s not a sorry gift. I mean, it’s not like a bribe or anything. It’s your graduation present.”
“What?” Graduation was a long time ago.
“I wanted to give it to you when we were alone, but I never got the chance.” Before everything went to shit, I guess he means. I look down at the pretty box in my hands and butterflies take flight in my stomach. “Open it,” he says gently.
I tug at the bow and lift the lid, then take in the jewelry lying on the cushion below.
“What is this?”
He doesn’t answer, though, and I don’t really need him to. I can see the delicate gold necklace inside, an envelope charm sitting snugly in the velvet, a soft pouch alongside it.
“Open it,” he says again as he takes the box from me, and I delicately lift the intricate chain. The envelope does indeed open, and there’s a gold plate inside, acting as a letter. Stamped in the center is a date from long, long ago, but one I’ll always remember. The date we first met.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, tracing the engraved numbers with my fingertip. The whole thing is so small and dainty, and I love it. Madden hands me the pouch, and I put the necklace into his palm instead, untying the string and pouring the contents into my hand.
There are four more of the little “letters,” each with dates on. My 18th birthday; my graduation; a blank one; and a date in December.
“What’s—” but I realize before the question has even left my mouth. The date we first slept together. “When did you get this?”
“The day after,” he says softly, and tears fill my eyes. He was still collecting these special moments for me, even when there might never have been any intention to give it to me. “I was hoping this one would have today’s date on it,” he explains as he points to the empty gold plate before cupping my face again, his eyes shining with hope andlove. “The day you officially become mine?”
We’ve always been inevitable. Without a second thought, I promise, “I’m yours.”
Epilogue
Harper
Thesunbeatsdownon the car window, almost blinding me as I grab my sunglasses and shove them over my watering eyes.
My fingers tap against the steering wheel, beating in time to the sounds of Kendrick Lamar as he blares through the speakers. I hold my breath as the engine comes to life, the familiar sparks of anxiety igniting in my stomach.
“You can do it, baby.”
Flicking my gaze to the right, I smile at Madden, who wears a determined expression. He’s been trying to encourage me to drive for the last few months, but I’ve been adamantly against it. Even after learning I wasn’t the one who caused the wreck that hurt Caleb, the fear of being behind a wheel was too ingrained. I couldn’t find a way past it … until now.
Caleb finally snapped and refused to come back to DU with us unless I willingly took a portion of the drive, just like we planned all those years ago. So, finally, I caved, asking Madden if I could borrow his car … and him, of course.
He was ready instantly, tossing me the keys and racing downstairs to meet me outside.
Life has been like a dream since Caleb woke up. Each day, it gets a little easier to breathe, with both my guys back at my side again. In the beginning, I wondered if I was being naive. If I should be worried about Madden turning back into the guy I didn’t recognize—the one who wouldn’t believe in me. But I can’t live life like that. If I’m going to forgive him—and I do—then I needed to be all in and can’t keep looking back. As Caleb loves to say, “Life is about the journey, but we’re always moving forward.” And I am, with Madden by my side.
“Come on, slowpoke. Take off the parking brake and let’s go,” Caleb screeches from the back, forcing his head between the seats and flicking his gaze between Madden and me. “Or do you want to keep eye-fucking? If I’d known you’d be like this, I’d have rather stayed unconscious for a few more months.”
