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“I’m turning this hill over to the two of you. Take this time and be honest with each other, make your plans and your promises. Don’t hold back.Neverhold back. I know that your smiles don’t come as easy these days, and I know that every step of this was hard, but I hope it was worth it. I just wanted to give you guys a chance to stay close, to remember why you’re friends, and hopefully to find out what being more means to you.”
We shared a smile this time instead of tears. In the last few weeks we had found solace in each other’s arms.
“Let me go, guys. We’ll always have those memories and I’ll be waiting for you on the other side. I love you both. I hope that you found a way to love each other.”
Everett stared at the screen for a few beats, a soft smile on his face. It was one of contentment and hope.
When it cut off, a notification popped up. It was a picture of the tree that sat behind us, a set of numbers carved into its bark.
The final code.
We sat on the grass side by side, our hands clinging to each other as we silently worked through the pain, the heartbreak, and the love that he left behind.
This was the hill that I’d fallen in love with Everett Green on. It was also the hill that I was going to give my heart to Lake.
“I’m pregnant.”
I hadn’t meant to tell him like this, but now that we were sitting here, needing hope to cling to, I knew it was right.
“What?” he sputtered, turning to me with wide eyes.
A full range of emotions went through those turquoise eyes, but it finally settled on excitement.
He tackled me in a hug that had us both laughing. Lake pinned me to the grass before crushing his lips to mine, kissing me with every ounce of love he had in his soul.
When he pulled away, it felt like life was coming back into his gaze. The Lake I missed was shining through.
He was a different person now, just like I was, but I hoped this was his turning point and he’d let himself truly smile again.
“So, I take it you’re happy?” I asked.
“Happier than I’ve been in a long time,” he admitted, giving me one last kiss before helping me to my feet. “I’m going to let my brother spoil me one last time, and we’re going to build our future.”
His hand went to my stomach as he finished speaking.
“I can’t believe I’m going to be a dad.”
“You’ll be an amazing one, I promise. We’re going to give this baby a family that I never had.”
“We are,” he promised. He leaned in and kissed me one last time.
“Do you want a moment alone?” His eyes dipped down to the journal in my hands, and I nodded.
“I do.” He gave my hand a squeeze before heading down the hill to our pack. I dropped to my knees at the base of the tree, grabbing a fallen stick that was big enough to handle the pressure, and started hacking away at the dirt.
I had to make sure it was deep enough so the small journal wouldn’t be ruined right away. Digging the dirt was cathartic, all the memories flooding my mind as I worked.
When I was happy with it, I pulled out the bag that was tucked in my pocket and stuck the journal inside before putting it in the hole. I was covered in sweat and my hands dirty with mud now, but as I packed the dirt down above the journal and whispered my goodbye into the wind, I knew that it was only up from here.
The pack was still waiting for me at the bottom of the hill. Riven shook his head at the dirt covering me but still placed a kiss on my forehead.
“Are you ready to go home, baby girl?”
I glanced behind me at the hill one last time before turning back to them.
“I’m ready. Take me home and give me your bites. It’s time.”
No one bothered to ask if I was sure. They simply led me to the car and buckled me in, putting Mia in my lap before everybody climbed in. Riven sped across town back to Micah’s place.
