Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Yeah?” A shadow of his old smile.
I nodded. “When did you get that?”
“Last week.”
“I thought it was against your rules to tattoo a name on someone.”
“Not when the someone is me, and not when the name is yours.”
My throat closed, and I squeezed his hand.
“I still won’t do it for anyone else, because I don’t know how they feel. But I know how I feel.” His blue eyes looked dark and intense. “And I know it’s forever.”
I sniffed again, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. “I love you, too.”
“No more tears, you.” He closed his eyes. The talking was tiring him out, I could tell.
“No more tears,” I promised, looking around for somewhere to sit while he slept. “And you need to rest. I’ll just sit here in this chair, okay? I won’t leave.”
“No. Come here.” He tugged on my hand.
“What?”
“Come here. In bed with me.”
“Dallas, I can’t—”
“Please?” His eyes opened again. “I missed you so much.”
My heart couldn’t take it. I glanced at the nurse’s station. “Okay. But only for a minute.”
Somehow, despite the rails and the oxygen and the IVs and machines, I managed to crawl into the twin bed next to him and cuddle up to his side.
“Much better,” he said.
I kissed his scruffy cheek. “Yes.”
“So you want to move to Portland?”
Smiling, I patted his chest. “Why don’t we wait until after the drugs wear off to talk about that?”
“I’m not high, Maren. I’m just done wasting time. I want you to live with me.”
“You do?” I could hardly breathe. Was this the same guy who told me he was too selfish to be a good boyfriend?
“Yes.”
“Won’t … won’t everyone think it’s a little sudden? And maybe crazy?”
“Fuck everyone. I don’t care what they think.”
Yeah, it was him.
I snuggled closer. “I’d love to. Let’s get you better first, and then we’ll figure it out. Deal?”
“Deal.” With effort, he shifted a little and kissed my head. “I’m just going to say it once more, and then we’re leaving the past behind. I’m sorry for what I put you through. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course I can.”
He kissed me again. “If you told me I died on the table and this was heaven, I’d believe you.”
I smiled. “It’s not, babe. This is your life. And it’s only gonna get better.”
He sighed contentedly. “Good.”
I lay there with him for a few more minutes, listening to him breathe, reassured by the solid warmth of his body and by his words.
We would have our second chance.
Maybe it was sudden. Maybe it had always been destined.
Maybe it was crazy. Maybe it made perfect sense.
Maybe love was a game of chance, played at the whims of Cupid, as random as the roll of the dice.
Or maybe it was a story written in the stars, about a boy and a girl whose hearts wouldn’t rest until they were together again.
Either way, it was always and only him.
Three Months Later
Dallas
The shop was nearly empty, and everything was in place.
Even so, I was still a little nervous. Not about what I was about to do, just about making everything perfect. Maren deserved perfection.
“You ready?” Beatriz came by my station with a grin.
“I think so.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. “Fuck, I hope she says yes.”
“Are you kidding me? This girl fell in love with you twelve years ago, you broke her heart—twice—she takes you back, moves across the country to be with you, nurses you back to health after brain surgery, says she’ll move to bumfuck Oregon with you to live on a ranch she’s never even seen and teach yoga to a bunch of angry teenagers, and you’re wondering if she’s gonna say yes?” She thumped me affectionately on the shoulder. “What’s wrong with you?”
I laughed. “It seems too good to be true, that’s all.”
“Well, you deserve it. You’ve been through a lot.”
“What if she thinks it’s too soon?”
She rolled her eyes. “When you know, you know. And trust me—she knows.”
“Thanks.” I stood up and gave her a hug.
“Okay, I’m getting out of here. The champagne and cake are in the fridge and the food will be delivered as soon as I let them know to bring it, so text me when that ring is on her finger.” Beatriz, Evan, and a few other friends were going to wait at a bar down the street, then come back to celebrate with us.
“I will.”
She gave me one last smile as she headed for the front. “Good luck.”
I double-checked my station to make sure I had everything I needed, then wandered up front to wait for Maren.
It was just after nine, and already dark outside. Autumn had come quickly—it seemed like we’d barely had time to blink, and summer was over.
After the surgery, Maren had remained in Boston for several days, and she hardly left my side while I was in the hospital. We agreed to table any major decisions about moving until after I got stronger, but having something to work for motivated me to follow all instructions and recover as quickly as I could.