“I’m already yours.” I outline his lips with my finger. “And I can’t wait to be a family with you and Ben.”
“You already are. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Blake rolls on his condom, and I hear it. It’s the strangest gurgle, and it makes that incessant giggle go off in my chest again. It’s amazing that every little detail, every little thing gives birth to a sound. I marvel as he crumples the wrapper, and it sails off the bed right into the trashcan.
“He shoots, he scores.” A devilish smile rides on his lips as he guides himself into my body.
“He scores indeed.” I take a bite out of his lip.
“That’s what I’m talking about.” His chest vibrates over mine, and it feels like home. Blake pushes in deep and moves inside of me slow and easy as if it were our first time, and, in a way, it is. Blake and I make love until well past midnight. Our moans, his wild thunderous groans, sound just as incredible as it’s alwaysfelt. He dives down and loves me with his mouth until I’m right there with him. The sound of my panting catches me off guard as I climax into him. A shrill cry escapes my throat as my body shakes over the bed. I cage him between my legs a moment before pulling him up by the hair.
“Is that what I’ve sounded like?” I’m curious because I never thought I made a squeak.
“Nope, you were a bit toned down.” He peppers my face with hot, wet kisses. “I like this new version. I love hearing you come for me. Never stop making that beautiful sound.” He pushes a careful kiss against my ear. “I love you so much. I thank God for you every day, Annie.” I pull back, and my mouth falls open.
It’s that last part that feels familiar. I’ve felt those same vibrations against my ear each time we finish, and now the last piece to the puzzle has fallen into place. Mystery solved.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Nope, it’s just that I’ve always wondered what you said when you whispered in my ear, and now I know. I never wanted you to stop, so I never asked. I loved that you felt the need to do that. It made me feel like a part of your world. And now, tonight, I am.” I pull him back over me and blink back tears. “I thank God for you every day, too.”
Blake and I lie in bed and whisper sweet nothings to each other for hours.
And I hear every beautiful word.
Once we get backto Hollow Brook, Blake takes me on one adventure after another—a listening tour of the world he calls it. We drive to the four corners of the earth while Blake holds the final location close to the vest.
“Why is it such a secret? Just give me one hint.”
“Okay.” He winces in his reluctance. “It’s something I promised you that first night we went for coffee, and I still haven’t made good on it.”
My mind tries to reel back our conversations from that night, but I keep coming up empty. However, I trust Blake, and I love surprises so this is win, win for me. I lean into my seat and giggle to myself, closing my eyes, letting the warm sun penetrate my lids. This, right here, is heaven—and I can’t believe this is my life. I’ve finally heard all those things I used to have my brothers describe—the slam of the door, the babble of the brook. I’ve yet to hear the angry thunder, but, while holding Blake’s hand, I heard the happy wind, the surprised doorbell—and, of all things to hear this morning, I heard the tired trash truck that used to wake my brothers up early. I no longer sleep like a log. As soon as baby Ben so much as begins to mewl, my eyelids spring open to that sweet melody.
We drive over a ridge, and then I see it.
“The beach!” I shout, ecstatic.
Blake parks in the lot, and we race down the sand, kicking off our shoes, laughing like schoolchildren.
The waves roar. They war against the sky, against each other, as they crash and tumble with an explosive applaud. Tears come to my eyes. I knew something so grand was capable of sounding like God himself.
Blake holds me as we take in the blue, violent sea.
My hips twist into his as I pull him close. “I’m so lucky you’re my someone special. I can’t believe you remembered to bring me here.”
“Are you kidding? I have memorized every single moment I’ve spent with you. If Benji’s death taught me anything, it’s to cherish the ones you love—and I do love you, Annie. I’m the lucky one around here.”
Everything happens for a reason, and if that truck hadn’t driven onto campus, if I would have heard it myself, if I would have let Baya and Bryson walk me to class—well, everything would have turned out different. But here we are, blissfully tangled in one another’s arms as if there were no other possible outcome. I’m glad things turned out the way they did. Blake and I were meant for one another. Fate took what could have been a tragedy that day and turned it into the best moment of my life.
It’s funny how life works.
It’s beautiful how it sounds.
Blake
Iusedto sleep like a dead dog buried under six feet of winter snow. Not a sound could rouse my sorry ass out of bed. And now the slightest twitch sends me flying to my feet. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. A soft rasping sound comes from the front as my lids struggle to unglue themselves this morning. The sun is out—first time in a week. It’s rained on and off as a big cloud cover squatted over all of North Carolina, but today that spotlight shines down from the sky and my eyes can’t quite adjust.
The knock at the door becomes more animated, and I head over before they wake up Ben. I peer into his bassinet a moment. He’s sound asleep with his perfect tiny lips smacking away just the way his dad used to do. His hair is coming in thick and black, he’s unmistakably a Daniels. I know it for a fact because the paternity test came in. That was me removing any shadow of a doubt. Now that the air is clear, I can breathe easy and focus on raising my son. Olivia hasn’t come around once, and there’s a sickening ache in the pit of my stomach wondering if this is her big debut in the role of mommy.
