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I… she-she loves me?
Those words are the best words I’ll ever hear because those words are full of hope—hope for our future.
Max was right. We needed to believe we’d lost everything to appreciate what we had.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen today, but I should have known.”
“Should have known what?” I question, shifting closer, thankful when she doesn’t shy away.
“I should have known that nothing will ever change between us. No matter how many miles, how many oceans or seas…” Sheplaces a hand on my cheek, her wavering touch kissing my heart. “Nothing will ever change the fact that I’m forever yours.”
Turning into her, I relish the way she feels, the way she smells. I missed this. I missed all of this. But mostly, I missed us.
I’m not expecting things to go back to the way that they were right away. I want her to know I’m happy to take it as slow as she wants. Besides, in a way, we’re getting to know one another again. “Madison Roberts, can I buy you dinner?”
She strokes over my scruff, choking on a laughing sob. “Dinner is provided tonight.”
I smile, nuzzling into her hand like a docile kitten. “I know, but it’s an open invitation. Whenever you feel like dinner, whether that be tomorrow, next week, month, or year, call me. Just know I’ll be here waiting.”
Not so patiently, but I’ll try.
She appears to ponder over my promise, and I don’t know which way she’ll go. It’s a painstakingly slow few seconds, and when she lightly brushes over my beard, appearing to weigh up what to do, I feel winded and am at her complete mercy.
The anticipation is almost too much to bear, but she cups my cheek with tender fingers before curling her hand around my nape. I freeze, unsure what happens next. She’s in total control when she climbs into my lap, straddling me snugly.
The surprise is clear on my face, and she smiles, wiping her eyes. “How about you buy me dessert?”
Her lips, her smell, her warmth, her entire essence is within reach, but I restrain my need to hold, touch and kiss her. “Dessert isn’t provided tonight?” I ask, feeling her rasping exhalations mingling with mine.
“Yes, it is. But I could always eat two.”
I can’t…this is too much. I need to kiss her. After so long, I need to feel whole again.
She senses my internal war, inching her lips closer and closer until our breaths become one. There is only one thing I can say to sum up how I feel. It’s something I’ve said to her before.
Thumbing her lower lip, I roughly state, “If you kiss me, you can’t take it back.”
She smiles, and a sight has never looked more beautiful. “I don’t want to take it back.” Her warm breath caresses my cheeks, her eyes filled with molten desire.
“Good,” I growl, before swooping forward and taking back what’s always been mine. She groans into my mouth, tightening her hold around me while I clutch onto her waist, basking in what it feels like to come home.
This kiss is filled with so many emotions, so many months of longing, forlornness, and despair, but as her tongue duels with mine and she keeps up with my wanton pace, we fall back into sync, just how it’s supposed to be.
She pushes me down and pulls away, placing frantic little kisses all over my face as I lie back in the sand. Tears wet my cheeks, but I know these tears are the happy kind.
We kiss like starved creatures for minutes, maybe hours, I don’t know. And although we’ve shared countless kisses before, these kisses are my favorite kisses of all.
“Peek-a-boo.”
Not in a million years did I ever think that the high-pitched squeal of a six-month-old drooling baby would be adorable, but as I tickle this little cherub’s tummy, I know I’m a total convert.
Using my hands as a makeshift window over my eyes, I thrive on her giggles when I cluck, “Peek-a-boo,” for the umpteenth time.
“Here, Dix, you want her?” teases Finch as he passes his baby daughter, Simone, my way. I happily accept her, laughing when her chubby little hands reach for my glasses.
“Who’s a grumpy pants?” I coo, bouncing the bundle of joy in my lap. “It’s your daddy, yes it is.” I sound utterly ridiculous, using a high-pitched voice which should only be reserved for grandmas and clucky mothers, but this is the new me. And I’m not ashamed of it.
This crazy journey has taught me many things, but the most important is to be honest with the one person you should love the most, and that person is you. If you can do that, odds are your honesty and happiness will rub off on others.
