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She crosses the threshold on a gasp and I know I at least didsomethingright.
“Marcus! Did you do this or did the cabin rental company?”
The room is covered in red paper heart confetti and I’ve got streamers and balloons all over the place. I’m not looking forward to cleaning it up later but it’s already worth it for the awed expression on Avery’s face right now.
I give her a look like I’m offended, clutching my chest to hit it home. “Of course I did this. You think I'm not capable?”
She laughs and moves to hug my waist. “Yes I think you can do this! I just… didn’t expect it,” she says with a laugh.
She turns to me with tears in her eyes. “Marcus, this is perfect. I’m not sure what else to say. Thank you.”
I nod then kiss her forehead. “Avery, you’re my other half—the thing that makes me whole. I love you.”
With a warm smile, she leans in, pulling my mouth to hers for a quick but deep kiss.
“I love you too, even if you are a damn bird!” she mock yells.
Grabbing the back of my neck, I huff and say, “Yeah, about that. You know I wasn’t trying to lie to you, right? I know that’s what happened, and I’m not trying to cover it up now, but I never meant to deceive you. I just couldn’t stand the thought of losing you so I didn’t tell you.”
She looks like she wants to say something but I’m not done. “You’re ours—mine and Bird’s that is—you’re the person we’re meant to spend the rest of our lives with.”
She pokes her finger hard into my chest, keeping it there while she talks and punctuates her words with a jab. “Yours, huh? I do like the sound of that but I can’t believe you’re Bird or Bird is you, I’m still not sure how all that works. I told him so many things, I even told him about you!” She slaps her forehead. “Oh geez, I would say it’s embarrassing but I refuse to feel that way becauseyou’rethe one who should be embarrassed.”
Nodding my head I say, “You’re right, and I am. I fucked up big time, but I plan to spend the rest of our lives making up for it.”
* * *
AVERY
Today was a good day. We spent the afternoon cuddled up by the fireplace in the cabin, telling each other our deepest and darkest secrets. My most scandalous story was about the time I stole a candy bar and soda from a gas station. While his consisted of him backing into a police car and getting a ticket.
We’ve just left the Vinonova wine tasting—which has left me feeling good—and arrived at the restaurant on the vineyard’s grounds. Tables with crisp white tablecloths have a small rose and candle arrangement already set with shiny cutlery and plates. I’m in a tight navy blue dress with black plaid patterned tights and black boots. Marcus is in dark jeans with a tan corded sweater that wraps tightly around his arms.
The waiter is opening the bottle of wine we bought during the tasting as Marcus says on a laugh, “That was fun, better than I thought it’d be.”
The alcohol has me thinking. “You know what?”
“Hmm?”
“I think Laney did this on purpose,” I say using a finger to gesture between us. “Why can’t you just check up on that lazy old cat?”
Marcus pauses mid air as he’s about to take a sip of wine then a crooked grin grows across his sculpted face. “Well damn, I think you’re onto something. She always told me it was because she didn’t want me to do everything for her. But now that I think about it, she only asked you to start helping more after you and I met.”
“Really? So she doesn’t love me as much as I thought? It was all a ruse to get us together?” I joke.
“I’m definitely not saying that. But I am saying she knew I was attracted to you and may have herded us in the right direction.”
“Well then, that sneaky woman deserves all the chocolates and hearts we can give her,” I say, raising my glass to meet his.
Epilogue
AVERY - ONE YEAR LATER
I’m running late, we rented the same cabin we had last year for Valentine’s Day weekend but I got dragged into this wholethingat work so Marcus went on ahead to get us checked in. As I’m driving there, I think about the past year.
He moved into my place last summer. The holidays were spent together with Marcus meeting my family and them all falling in love with him, too.
We’ve looked into his shifter side but have had little luck. We know others have to be out there, we just have to find them. And I hope we will one day, I can’t imagine what Marcus’s gone through in his life, feeling so isolated.
