“I learned when Kat was little. Her mother died in childbirth, and none of the other staff were gentle enough. I always hated hearing her scream, so I learned how to do it. And do it gently as well.” I pause, letting out a low chuckle. “But I’ve since learned there are other advantages to the skill.”
“Sasha! You’re the worst,” she says, but she can’t hide her laughter.
“Don’t act like you wouldn’t enjoy it. You’re as dirty as I am, baby, and you know it,” I say, and I can practically hear her eyes roll. “Anyway, back to why you’re sad…”
“This has been the best weekend, Sasha. I’m scared that when we go back, everything will change. I’ve felt more peace here than I can remember, and I wish it could be like this always.”
I should tell her that it can’t be. That this was just a fun little getaway and nothing more. I should get her back to the cottage and leave before I break us both past the point of repair. Before she wedges herself so deep into my soul that I can’t let her go. Before I force her into a life so dark, evenherlight wouldn’t survive.
Instead, I kiss the uncovered skin on her shoulder and continue braiding her hair. “I don’t want it to end either, baby.”
Truth.
“And you’re not the only one who’s felt peace this weekend.”
Truth.
“But we’re going home together. There’s no reason we can’t have this in our cottage as well.”
Truth.
“There’s no reason we can’t have this always.”
Lie.
“What does that mean?” When I don’t answer, she turns, forcing me to let go of her hair. “What are we, Sasha?” she asks, searching my eyes for an answer I’ll never be able to give.
“I…I don’t know.”
She deflates in my arms, every bit of her joy stolen by my words. I wish I could promise her more than this. I would already have my ring on her finger if circumstances were any different. If it didn’t endanger her life. I take her face in my hands and carefully pull her face to mine, and kissing her softly. Breaking our connection, I keep her close enough that she doesn’t have a choice but to meet my gaze.
“Lucy, I can’t promise you forever, but no matter where this life takes us, I will always belong to you. And you will always bemy Sunshine. If I could give you more, I would, baby. But trust me, you’ll thank your stars if I’m ever able to let you go.”
“No…I wouldn’t,” she whispers.
Smiling softly, I kiss the tip of her nose, then turn her back around so that I can pick back up on my braid. The silence in the air kills me. It’s so unlike Lucy not to be chatty, and I hate it. Tying off her braid, I get up, pulling her with me as I stand.
“You have ten seconds.” I smirk.
She turns to face me, her brows drawn in confusion. “Until what?”
“Until I chase you!”
Rolling her eyes, she softly punches my chest. “No way. I’m way too worn out from this weekend for you to fuck me like that right now.”
I can’t stop the grin on my face as I lower my hands to her ribs. “Who said anything about me fucking you?” I ask, briefly tickling her.
She immediately starts cackling, the air around us lightening up with the sound of her laughter.
“One,” I say, giving her a warning to start running.
She looks up at me with wide eyes. “Two,” I say with a wink.
She’s gone before I get to three, running in the sand with her dress blowing in the wind behind her. I finish my count, then chase her. My fucking ray of sunshine.
The journey home was much more lighthearted than I thought it would be after our talk on the beach. One thing I love about mygirl is that she’s never down long. It didn’t take her any time at all to loosen up after I began recounting childhood memories of Kat and I. And it didn’t take me long to realize how badly I want to introduce my sister to my Sunshine.
Lucy throws herself down on the couch, slightly damp from the rain outside. “Ahhome! Nap with me?” she asks, patting the cushion beside her.
