Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“I loved you,” I whisper into the cold without thinking. “I loved you. Please don’t for one moment think I didn’t. This is just…” I drag in a shaky breath. “This is more. This is everything.”
I jump when arms circle my waist from behind, and I pull in a sharp, startled breath.
“You okay?” Hearing the concern in Denver’s voice, my eyes slide open, seeing the stars that are above us reflecting off the water.
“Yeah.”
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks, nuzzling my neck.
“No,” I answer, placing my hands over his.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Gabe,” I answer, feeling his muscles bunch and his body start to pull away from mine. I don’t let him go. I wrap my arms tighter around his and hold on.
“Bre—”
“He spent a lot of time outside under the night sky after we found out what was wrong with him,” I start, and his arms tighten painfully, making it hard for me to pull in a breath, but I fight through it. “He’d sit in his chair on the deck with his head tipped back, staring at the stars.” My eyes close briefly at the memory. “Once, I asked him what he was looking for, and he told me he was waiting on shooting stars.” My vision goes blurry. “When he’d see one, he’d never make a wish to get better.” My throat starts to tighten. “All his wishes were for me.” I swallow over the lump, breathe through it, and continue, “He was my best friend. He was good to me. We were happy. I don’t regret the life we had together, but I…”
“Don’t,” he growls, his word and his arms squeezing to cut me off. “Don’t even say it. I wouldn’t want that. He meant something to you, baby, and yeah, sometimes it’s hard for me to accept. But you’re right. You were happy. I’m glad you were happy. I always want that for you, then and now.”
“It’s so weird,” I whisper, turning in his arms and looking into his eyes that I have always loved.
“What’s weird?”
“Happiness. Being happy. It’s weird. I thought I was happy then.” I shake my head. “No, I know I was happy then. But I’m happy now.” I slide my hands up and wrap them around both sides of his neck. “It’s a different kind of happiness. A happiness I feel all the way down to my soul. These last two days, I realized that with you I feel full. I feel complete. I didn’t know I wasn’t that before but you gave that to me.”
“Baby—”
I interrupt him, knowing I need to make him understand, even though it hurts. “If I had the power to make things different, I wouldn’t.” I look off into the distance, hating myself for even admitting the truth out loud. “I wouldn’t change losing him.” I drop my head forward as a sob slips from my throat and the tears I’ve been fighting fall free. “I wouldn’t change anything, because without that, I wouldn’t be able to have you. And I can’t imagine not being able to experience this.”
“Bre.” His tone is tortured.
“I know that makes me a horrible person.”
“It doesn’t,” he states firmly, leaning back, taking my face between his large hands, and using his thumbs to wipe away each tear as they fall. “It doesn’t, and baby, he’s not the only one who spent time wishing on stars. I’ve spent the last few years staring up at the night sky, hoping to see the star that would bring you to me.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I hate that you lost him, but I’m not sorry I have a shot at making you happy for the rest of your life.”
“Denver.”
“I love you, Bre, have loved you since I understood what the emotions you gave me meant. If I could take your pain, your hurt, your regret, I would. I’d do anything for you, baby. Anything.” He leans back, looking into my eyes. “This is our story. This is the way our story was meant to unfold. Who knows if we would have ended up taking each other for granted had we found each other so young? Who knows what would have happened between us if things didn’t work out like they did? All I do know is I will cherish every second I have with you, and I will appreciate everything you give me, and I will never take one second with you for granted.”
With his words, the sincerity in his eyes, and his hands gently holding my face, I know things will be okay, that we will find a way to work through whatever life throws at us. We will find a way to give each other the happiness we both deserve.
“I love you,” I tell him through my tears and the pain in my chest. “Thank you for waiting on me to sort my head out. But most of all, thank you for fighting for us.”