“How long?”
“It didn’t matter.”
“Right. You said it didn’t matter how long she needed. That you’d work your whole life to make things right. And you have. Jesus Christ. The way you’ve given her space for nearly a year. I couldn’t do it. But that’s just it. You didn’t do what was easy for you. You didn’t put your needs in front of hers. Everything you’ve done this last year… the schooling, the therapy, the renovations, the leadership roles at work, everything has been to shape you into the version of the man you wanted to be for her. You’re there, Doc. So go talk to my sister and help fix this broken family.”
The air in November was always one of her favorite things about the season. Especially in Silver Springs. It was so crisp. She could almost taste the ice in the air, even though it was still above the temperature that any ice or snow would form.
Still, she wrapped her arms around herself, reaching up to dust away the tear leaking from the corner of her eye. If there was only one thing Mae wanted, it was to never cry again.
Good grief! She had never been an overly emotional person, but the way the last year broke her and stitched her back together, Mae feared her newfound sensitivities might be a part of her forever.
“Michaela.”
The lump in her throat made it hard to answer. Mae loosened her locked knees and forced herself to turn around. There was no reason they couldn’t be friendly towards each other. The love she had for him, the feelings that made her chest ache and her heart go into overdrive, could be pushed down. Turned into something that worked platonically if he had moved on.
“Sully.”
His lips tipped up in a smirk. God, he looked incredible. His eyes were clear, his skin still deliciously tanned and smooth. Stone was clearly letting his facial hair grow in, a well-kept beard now in the place where his five o’clock shadow had always grown. It suited him. And Mae couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like for him to kiss her with all that facial hair. She’d normally giggle against the stubble, and tease that she didn’t like the scruff… Her eyes dropped down his body. Oh hell, she would have sworn he wasn’t that fit when she’d left last year. He must be working out more.
Stone took another step towards her, raising his hand as if he wanted to touch her to make sure she was real. And god, she wished he would.
“How are you? How have you been?” Mae blurted out,trying to take a step back. But damn, she was already up against the railing.
“I’m okay.”
“Your head? Are you?—”
“All better.” He chuckled, taking a step closer. “Maybe notallbetter. But the therapist I’ve been seeing now for about… yeah, ten months… he’s a nice guy, and he’s helped put a lot of things into perspective.”
“Perspective is good.” Stone took another step towards her, and her breath hitched.
“Yeah.”
She cleared her throat. “And physically? You’re okay?”
“Yeah.” Another step. He was close enough now that if she gave in, if she launched herself at him, he would no doubt catch her. Was that what she wanted? To be held in his arms again? Who was she trying to fool? Of course it was!
“Have you been seeing anyone?” she whispered, terrified of the answer he was about to give her.
But he just sighed. “No, Michaela.” He pressed his lips up close to her ear. “It’s always been you. It will always be you. I’ll wait my whole life for you to come back to me. I’ll wait into eternity if that’s the time you need.”
He swept his lips across her cheek, so light she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t imagined the touch. And then Stone turned, heading back to the door.
Just as his hand reached out to the handle, he stopped.
“I’m really happy you’re back. Whether it’s just for this week leading up to the vow renewal or back forever, I’m glad you’re here.”
Thirty
“This life we’ve built together… I’m so damn proud, Lily Kate. I feel like the luckiest man to wake up next to you every day. To watch our daughter grow. To build a home together.” Lily reached up to wipe a tear off of Gunner’s cheek. “You’ve given me the greatest gifts a man could receive in his life. I love you. Forever. Always.”
Stone’s eyes drifted across the aisle, to where Mae was sitting with the rest of the women. Her eyes were focused on the vows being exchanged, tears tracking down her own cheeks at the sweet sentiments Lily and Gunner were sharing with one another.
He tried to focus on the ceremony, but his eyes just kept getting pulled back to her. Their friends were living the moments he always thought he’d get to have with Mae. The moments he prayed every night that they would still get to have one day.
Two new keys sat heavy in his pocket. A years worth of blood, sweat, and tears boiled down to a few minutes of hope. If he pulled his plan off, they’d each carry one in their pockets aftertonight.
Hoots and hollers from his friends brought Stone back into the moment, where Gunner was busy pressing his wife into a careful dip and kiss maneuver. He smiled, clapping and whistling at the newly vow-renewed couple.
