“Worth waiting for,” I manage to choke out. “But not for so long next time.”
A breathless laugh. “We’re going again as soon as I can move my legs. I don’t plan on stopping.”
“Jared?”
“Yeah, Em?”
I rub his back with my foot. “Thank you for my flowers.”
They must have taken him the whole time I was gone, to create that many.
“You’re welcome. I thought they might work as decoration for the shop. I can put them up, create a wall.”
Yes. I can see it, so clearly. “Perfect.”
Clearing my throat, I nudge him again. “Also, I need a cloth. Or another shower.”
“Another shower,” he mumbles. “I have ideas.”
Oh.
As it turns out, he has lots of ideas. Enough that when my eyes blink open a few hours later, I’m sprawled upside down on the bed. My hair hangs off the end.
Jared trails his fingers over my stomach, his smile flashing. “Hey, you.”
“Hey.” My voice is sleepy. I look up at the stars on the ceiling above us. “I missed these.”
“You had real stars.” He kisses my collarbone. “I saw the pictures.”
But it wasn’t the same, not without him beside me.
“Will you come with me?” I ask. I don’t quite dare to look at him. “Next time?”
Jared rolls over me, pushing damp hair away from my face. “I don’t plan on leaving your side ever again, Em. This is it. If you want it. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt me. And we can go wherever you want to go.”
My smile grows. “Think you’re up to the challenge?”
“I do.” He bites down over my pulse. “And we’re going to find out.”
Yes, we are.
I want all the little moments with Jared Bennett.
Every last one.
75
Fifteen years later - Emmy
The warm sand shifts beneath me as I lean back on my elbows, watching them.
Down the beach, a tall man is chasing two smaller figures in circles. The screaming laughter reaches me, carried along by the breeze as Jared scoops up Rissa and runs in the opposite direction. He swings her around in a circle before he tosses her over his shoulder.
The taller one runs straight for me.
Ben climbs into my lap, still giggling as he buries under my arm. “Hide me!”
Jared is puffing slightly as he catches up. “We have to stop feeding these pets, Em. They just keep growing.”
