Flashing lights surround us as three police cars roll up on the scene. Soon after, an ambulance arrives, and Cat is loaded onto a stretcher into the back of the vehicle. While they assess her injuries and the paramedic starts an IV line, her grandfather sits with her. I keep my eyes trained on my woman from a few feet away while answering questions. Finally, I peel my eyes off Cat long enough to watch an officer leading a defiant Mallory to a waiting patrol car, with her hands cuffed behind her back. She suffered no injuries from my truck ramming into the side of her car but will be taken to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation before taking a trip to jail.
"Let me go!"Mallory screams, flailing her legs and trying to break free. "He loves me—not her." She looks at me. "Easton, tell them. Tell them you love me—tell them!" Mallory continues to wail as they place her in the backseat of the patrol car. I saynothing in return and feel nothing while the vehicle drives away from the scene.
A couple of hours later, I'm sitting beside Cat while we wait for her discharge papers and for her grandfather to return with transportation home. The blow Cat suffered to the side of her head gave her a mild concussion and required eight stitches and she has a sprained wrist. I stare at her bruised cheek, and guilt eats at my insides. This should have never happened to her. It's my fault.
"I'm sorry about your truck," Cat gives me a half-smile.
"My truck is replaceable—you are not." I stroke the back of her hand.
"She wanted to kill me." Cat's words cut deep, and I hang my head.
"I'm so fucking sorry for putting you in harm's way."
Cat touches my cheek. "You didn't do this, Easton. Mallory's choices belong to her alone."
"Her choices were directly affected by the obsession she has for me." I close my eyes, trying to push away thoughts of what could have happened. The situation could have taken a far worse turn. Cat could have died tonight, and her death would…"Stop," Cat says. "You are not to blame."
"You could have died." My voice breaks. I take her hand in mine and kiss her knuckle. "I just found you, and I'm not ready for what we have to be taken away from me. I'll never be ready," I confess.
Cat tilts her head, and her fingers brush across my forehead. Cat takes my hand and places it over her heart. "You feel that? Because of you, it still beats."
How did I get so lucky? Cat is the best thing to happen in my life. She's the one who sets my soul on fire. I'm not the least bitworthy of the love she feeds to me, but I crave it more than life itself.
I bring myself closer to Cat. The gravity of what I feel for her at this moment is inescapable. I hover my lips above hers, and she smiles at me. "I love you."
"I love you too," she breathes, then adds, "so, kiss me already."
She's perfect.
And I kiss her.
EPILOGUE
CAT
"When is Easton getting back into town?"
I take a sip of my beer and smile at Carter from across the table. "Tomorrow morning. And thank God too because I've missed him like crazy."
"It's only been a week, Cat."
"It felt like a year." I laugh. "Just wait until the season starts, then you'll know what I'm talking about." I watch as Carter's eyes slide across the bar and land on Lulu. Carter met Lulu two months ago, and I could tell from the first minute he talked about her to me, he was totally gone over her. I was further proved right when he showed up in town two days ago with her. Lulu is perfect for Carter. She is a shy and easy-going person but also never hesitates to put Carter in his place. She's also the complete opposite of Lana, who, by the way, is finally getting everything she deserves.
Lana was fired from the bank when she was caught having an affair with one of her coworkers who happened to be married. Rumor has it, her dad is so fed up with her behavior that he kicked her out of the house. She's now shacked up with BrodyMiller, one of the biggest assholes we went to high school with. Match made in heaven if you ask me.
I hadn't realized how much time had passed since I last saw Lana until spotting her at the gas station last week, sporting a baby bump. She looked miserable. Part of me feels sorry for her, because rumor has it Brody is cheating on her. All I can say is Karma is one nasty bitch.
I'm so happy Carter dodged that bullet and landed himself a woman who loves and appreciates all that he has to offer.
Carter groans. "Don't remind me. I can't stand the thought of leaving Lulu for that amount of time."
"So, when is Lulu moving?" I ask. Lulu lives four hours away from Carter and decided a few weeks ago to take the leap and move in with him.
Carter grins. "Three weeks. She already put in her two weeks’ notice with her employer last week and is taking another week to settle her other affairs."
Reaching my hand across the table, I give Carter's arm a slight squeeze. "I'm really happy for you, Carter. Lulu is great."
Just then, Lulu makes her way back to the table. She sighs, plopping down in the seat beside Carter. "Why is it that men outnumber the women in this place, yet we still have to wait forever to use the restroom?"
