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I picked up my phone, and Tori narrowed her eyes. “Ridge, I swear if you even think about checking your emails…”
It was strange, this temporary reprieve from my duties. I wasn’t used to doing nothing. If I wasn’t working as the mayor of Blackwood Creek, I was busy managing my company or fulfilling the role of alpha of the Northeast Pack, with all the responsibilities involved in overseeing the pack. It didn’t leave much time to relax or lie around doing nothing, but Tori’s presence made it bearable, even enjoyable. Once the threat of the hunters were eliminated, I would make sure we’d spend more days like this.
On the screen, a wedding scene was playing out. Tori let out a wistful sigh, and I turned to look at her. “Are you okay?”
“I’ve been thinking about wedding dresses lately,” she said, beaming at me. “I went into The Bridal Suite last week and had a look around.”
“Really?” I asked, pleasantly surprised.
“Yeah. I’ve even considered what kind of cake we should have, too. Nothing too fancy, just something that reflects us as a couple.” She paused. “I want our wedding to be simple. I thought we could hold it here…well, not inherebut outside, in the clearing. A short and sweet ceremony, and a celebration after with our closest loved ones.”
I leaned over and kissed her softly. “I’m excited, too. And I’ll help with the planning to make sure it’s exactly what you want.”
“Promise?” she asked, her eyes searching mine.
“Promise.”
Tori looked down and traced patterns on the comforter.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked.
She bit her lip, then reached into a drawer beside the bed. “I came up with something I thought you might like.” She pulled out a folded paper. As she handed it to me, I saw faint pencil lines from where she’d been sketching earlier.
Unfolding the paper, I stared at the clean, minimalistic tattoo design. It consisted of a mountain range that looked like aheartbeat on a hospital monitor, and underneath the mountains were the initials V.E.B.
“Vincent Evans Blackwood?” I asked, recognizing my uncle’s initials. Tori nodded, looking hopeful.
“Yeah. I thought it would be a nice tribute to him. What do you think?”
I stared at the sketch, genuinely touched by her thoughtfulness. I’d never considered getting a tattoo before, but this simple and meaningful design resonated with me in a way I hadn’t expected. “Tori, I love it.” I was surprised to find I truly did.
Her face broke into a relieved smile. “Really? I’m so glad you like it.”
“Where do you think I should get it inked?” I asked, already imagining the tattoo on my body.
“It’s completely up to you. You could put it on the side of your torso, similar to mine, or on your lower biceps. Or your shoulder blade, perhaps.”
I pondered the options she’d suggested. Wherever I chose, it would be there forever, so I needed to be certain. “I’ll think it over, but thank you, Tori. This is an amazing design, and I’m excited about it.”
Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Who knew I’d be the one to convince you to get a tattoo?”
“Only you.” I grinned. “Only you could find a way to make me want something I never thought I would.”
As we sat there, the sketch between us, I felt a warmth that had nothing to do with my recent illness. Tori understood me on a deeper level than anyone else, and it was moments like this that made me realize just how lucky I was to have her in my life.
“Promise me you’ll really think about it?” she asked, her eyes searching mine.
“Promise.” Everything was falling into place, and the future would be promising as long as I had Tori by my side.
The sound of Tori’s phone ringing for the umpteenth time that day echoed through the room, breaking the peaceful mood. Right. We had responsibilities. With a sigh, she pressed her lips against my forehead before slipping out of my embrace and heading for the door.
“I’ll be back soon. I need to take this call.” She flashed me a reassuring smile before quietly stepping out.
As the door clicked shut behind her, I was left alone with my thoughts. The lingering exhaustion from the vampire venom still weighed me down, making it difficult to stay awake despite the stimulating conversation we’d been having. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier until I finally succumbed to sleep.
When I awoke again, it was still dark outside, the initial hints of dawn just beginning to paint the sky with pale shades of blue and pink. I felt renewed. For the first time in days, I had no more pain, no more disorientation, no more fever dreams.
I turned my head and found Tori curled up beside me, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm as she slept. She’d taken such good care of me. I hadn’t thought it possible, but I had fallen even more in love with her.
