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“Told me what?”
Something warm moved through their expressions as Lily patted the seat beside her and said, “Settle in. This might take a bit.”
Nervously, I moved and sat down between Lily and Mallory. Once there, Tarryn said, “It all started with me.”
The next thing I knew, I was regaled with tales of everything these five beautiful women had endured recently. My mind was blown to learn how awful things had been for each of them, but there was something oddly comforting about being part of a group of strong women who understood just what I’d been through. Granted, each of our situations was different, but it didn’t change the fact that we could have lost our lives. It was just as Avalon had said. I was one of them now, and after feeling so alone for so many years, I liked being right where I was.
I’d had such a wonderful time with them, learning more about what they’d all gone through, that I never even noticed how late it got.
Before I knew it, I felt a pair of hands settle on my shoulders. When I twisted my neck to look up and behind me, something indescribable moved through me.
Jesse was there.
He looked unbelievably handsome, too. Maybe it was because he no longer had the worry and fear etched into his features. I was safe now, and he’d made it so.
“Hey,” I greeted him.
He leaned down, kissed me, and replied, “Hey. Sorry if I’m interrupting girls’ night too early. I missed you.”
He missed me.
Jesse had seen me when he dropped me off at work earlier today—something he did not because it was necessary for my safety any longer, but rather because we both enjoyed spending that time together.
Apparently, it had been too long for him to be away from me. I loved how much he loved me.
“You’re not interrupting,” I assured him.
“Yeah, we should probably call it a night at this point,” Mallory noted. “It’s been quite a few hours.”
Jesse’s eyes moved through the group. “Are you all safe to drive?”
God, he was such a good man.
“We’re good,” Tarryn assured him.
With that, the girls and I said goodbye to one another. We all promised to get together again as a group soon, and I secretly wondered if perhaps we’d eventually be able to add anyone else to the mix. There were a lot of guys that worked with Jesse. I had to believe that someone else was eventually going to find a special woman he couldn’t live without. It just remained to be seen who that guy would be, and if the lady in his life would find herself in a precarious position. It might not have been fun while going through it, but there was no way I could deny just how great it felt to know I’d gotten through something like this the same as each of these other women had. Surely, there’d have to be more.
By the time Jesse had gotten us back to his place, I had to admit that I felt nothing but overwhelmingly content.
What had started off as such a dreadful and horrific situation turned into the biggest blessing of my life.
It brought me back to Steel Ridge.
I found forgiveness and friendship here again. I found love. And I intended to spend the rest of my life going after the life my father had always wanted me to have.
With the people I’d found here, especially with Jesse by my side, I knew it was going to be a great life.
EPILOGUE
Jesse
Six Months Later
“I can’t believe I did it.”
“I had not a single doubt about it.”
Sawyer rolled her eyes at me. “I think that was just wishful thinking on your part.”
