Page 103
“I’m used to that by now.”
“I love you, Oliver. I don’t know if I’d have liked the old you. But I love you. The whole you. Make love to me again.”
How could he refuse?
Chapter 53
The notary public came to the hospital, where Kyle signed over Netta’s temporary guardianship to Addison’s parents. Addison had never been so happy to send that paperwork to her attorney. She almost wept when she received his confirmation.
She, Oliver, Roman, and Mandy returned to Seattle, leaving Kyle to recover from his surgery alone. One day, she’d be able to have a conversation with him, but not yet. Everything was still too raw.
And although Kyle wasn’t arrested overnight, his ever-emerging slew of ex-girlfriends, and Oliver’s evidence, were enough for him to be charged, which happened several weeks later. Lorcan, however, was charged right away. Addy couldn’t let the boy go to prison and, as angry as Oliver had been at the kid for almost killing her, neither could he. It was a goal that Caity and Patty shared, too.
Caity’s baby had come early, but she and the little boy were doing just fine, and Patty had realized what he’d lost. There was some begging involved on Patty’s part, but the two got back together and married not too long after that. Addy had gotten to know them well as she and Oliver worked with them to advocate for Lorcan. The teen was not yet seventeen and received two years’ probation and mandatory counseling.
Addison had worried that Netta would be desolate without her dad, but the little girl had been thrilled to stay with her grandparents. Little by little, that anxiety eased. Addy’s parents had fully embraced the role—providing the girl with more love and attention than Addison could have dreamed. And because she and Roman lived nearby too, Netta didn’t lack for family.
To Addison’s lack of surprise, Harley got back together with her sex offender boyfriend. Once her divorce from Kyle was finalized, the two got married. Harley had never wanted Netta, and this sealed it. She’d been bitter about serving time while Kyle lived freely, but now that he had been arrested, she no longer cared to take Netta from him. As part of the divorce settlement, and with no resistance from the court given the circumstances, Harley had relinquished her parental rights to Netta entirely. It was, Addy thought, the one decent thing Harley had done for the child. She and her husband lived clear across the country now.
Because Addy couldn’t leave Washington while Netta was still so young, she’d assumed she and Oliver would make long distance work, but he had other plans, putting his LA house up for sale not long after they’d come back to the States.
“There’s nothing left for me in LA anymore. A new state, a new university, getting back to my research is what I need,” he’d said.
“You’d have to get a thick wet suit if you wanted to pick up surfing again.”
“Done.”
It was Evie’s birthday, and everyone had gathered in San Diego to celebrate. Evie and Jackson had recently welcomed twin girls on top of their three kids at home, so going out wasn’t an option.
Addison and Oliver had flown in that morning from Seattle.
San Diego was a beautiful seventy-two degrees and sunny. Jackson and Evie lived close to the beach, and the palms lining the street swayed gently in the salt-scented air.
“I love this area,” said Addy as Oliver parked their rental.
Almost reflexively, he reached for the baseball cap in the back of the car—then dropped his hand. He still wore his caps when they went out in public, still kept the trimmed beard, but he didn’t need the armor around his family. Around her.
The day prior, Oliver had accepted an offer from University of Washington, Seattle. He was officially a faculty member again, soon to teach art history to a lecture hall of undergraduates. He didn’t know it yet, but Addy planned to sneak into his first class and watch him be in his element again.
She’d just reached for her car door when Oliver stopped her with a gentle hand on her knee.
“You okay?” She turned to him, but his gaze was serious. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s something I haven’t asked you yet, and I want to do it now, before we go inside.” He grinned that lopsided grin she loved. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Addy couldn’t hold in her laugh. After months of living together, of mapping out the future together, the one question he’d never asked her.
“How official.” Reaching across the console, she caught his mouth in a kiss. “Yes. Yes, I will.”
Epilogue
A year later
The Kefalonian setting sun turned the sky a watercolor of plums, purples, and pinks. Addison and Oliver walked across the beach hand in hand, the engagement ring he’d purchased back in Seattle burning a hole in his pocket.
A warm evening breeze tossed up the red locks of Addison’s hair, sending one to catch across her cheek. He tucked it behind her ear.
He’d never get tired of touching her. Of kissing her. He did just that, lowering his mouth to hers.
