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“I’m broken, Thea. You should know that.”
My eyes pop open. “Dorian,” I tell him. “We all are.” I plant a kiss on his forearm and snuggle closer to him. “Your past doesn’t scare me. The present is far scarier.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because this feels so good.” My throat suddenly closes up, but I have to get this out or I’ll live to regret it. “I don’t want it to end.”
“Hey.” Dorian adjusts his arm so that I’m forced to roll off and face him. With his dark hair mussed, golden eyes practically glowing at me, he’s a living dream. “It doesn’t have to, Thea. I like you, and it scares me to think…”
“Think what?” My heart races in my chest. Could he possibly be feeling the same intense feelings that I am?
“You’re the kind of woman I could fall in love with. Beautiful, smart, sassy, and above all, you have a kind heart.”
I raise my brow at him, teasing. “How do you know?”
“I just know.” He kisses me softly and I melt into him.
The fear of the future doesn’t subside because he tells me these things. As always, only time will tell, but I’m not afraid to say that this feels right. Everyone always says that when you know, you know. A wide smile spreads across my lips, and I push back from him. “Wait here.”
Naked and not giving a shit about it, I rush to the living room and grab my camera. With the sheets pulled up to just his waist, he looks beautiful. “What are you doing?”
“You look too good right now not to take a picture for my portfolio.” He opens his mouth to object. “Don’t worry, Dorian. No dick pics. It’s not my style.” I stare back into the viewfinder. My camera clicks, capturing this gorgeous man and this crazy, gorgeous moment.
“Now,” I say, holding the camera down and meeting Dorian’s eyes. “Can we try getting one where you’renotsmiling?”
“No,” he says. “At this point, Thea, I don’t think that’s possible.”
Epilogue
Dorian
Two YearsLater
My wife is a bundle of nerves. As we pull up in front of Burly Creek Arts Center, her foot nervously taps against the floorboard. I put the car in park and gently lay my hand on her knee. “Babe, it’s going to be great.”
She looks at me with those gorgeous brown eyes of hers. “I know, but it’s the most personal work I’ve ever done. I don’t want to let anyone down.”
“You won’t.” I lean over the console, take her chin in my hands and press a soft kiss on her lips, careful not to mess up her makeup. “I promise.” Whether she believes me or not, she smiles.
These two years with Thea have been the most wonderful of my entire life. Not only is she understanding beyond belief, putting up with me through my moods and need for solitude, but I was right about her heart. In addition to her job as newly appointed editor ofThe Burly Creek Journal,she sits beside me on the board of Strong Shelter.
I grab her hand and we head inside. People are already milling about. She wanted to arrive late, so as not to make a huge scene.
The oversized black and white portraits fill the walls. Women and men who have lived on the streets, faced their own demons, and are on the other side of a recent life change stare back at us. Their warm, open faces draw in the crowd. Next to the portraits are QR codes, where people can read their personal stories, all interviews conducted by my brilliant wife.
“Wow.” I pull my wife close to me. “Thea, this is amazing.”
“Yeah?” Her ragged breath betrays her nerves. “I just hope people donate.”
“They will.”
All proceeds go to Strong Shelter, which has expanded to three branches across the county. With the money we’ve raised, we have outreach programs, plenty of supplies, and even fine arts programs for both adults and children. It’s a labor of love and we couldn’t be prouder.
I spy my family. My father raises his glass to me, I nod first at him, then tilt my head toward my wife. My brothers are all here. Phoebe is busy chatting up Anthony, a cop my brother, Weston, works with. It’s so good to have them all in my life again, another insistence by Thea.
When everyone catches wind of our presence, the applause starts. Thea turns red and raises her hand, trying to deflect the praise, but I step away from her extending my hand as though presenting her.
She glows in the spotlight. Her humility makes her even more beautiful. She takes a little nod, and tells everyone that if they really want to show their appreciation, they should donate. Afterward, she turns to me.
“I nearly died just now.”
“I wouldn’t let you die, baby.” I pull her close and press my lips against her forehead, taking in her sweet, amber scent. “I’m right here. I’ll always be right here.”
“It’s what gets me through.” She looks into my eyes and my heart races like it’s the first time I’m seeing her. “I’m always here for you, too.” She says and rests her cheek against my chest.
“I’m counting on it, Thea.” I give my wife a squeeze, taking in the goodness pouring out all around us. How tragedy can turn into something beautiful. Nothing in the world feels better than giving back, especially with my beautiful wife right by my side.
