"It really is a gorgeous day, but what if we get lost?" I question as we follow a path into the woods.
He stops and turns me toward him, leaning down to kiss my lips softly.
It's taken me awhile to find her—but I've found the me I want to be, and having Bash walk this path with me—literally and figuratively—is everything I've ever dreamed of, no matter where it leads.
When he pulls back, I smile and he smiles back.
"We won't get lost. Livvy baby, don't you know? I'll always know the way when I'm with you."
epilogue
Six Months Later…
I don't know whatthe exact charges were or how much time she got, I just know Alison got charged with a felony and she's in jail… or prison? Whatever. It doesn't matter. Let's see how much bullying she gets done inthere.
Apparently, they had the girls from Boston come forth and testify as well. Alison is so screwed. And the guy she hired? He's a third-strike offender so he's in for life. Idiot.
Does it make me sad? Hell no. Does it make me feel safer? Very much so. I can finally stop looking over my shoulder—well, maybe some day when it sinks in.
"Your mom's looking for you," Bash says as he walks up behind me.
I roll my eyes and flop back on the soft blanket. "She'salwayslooking for me."
He lays down next to me.
"She said to tell you lunch was ready. She made the chicken salad that's your favorite," he murmurs as the sun shines down on us, hot and bright.
I curl my toes in the sand. "That's almost reason enough for me to get up. I'm so relaxed, babe, I just don't want to move. It's the first time in I can't remember how long that I'm not constantly afraid to be alone."
He reaches over and threads his fingers through mine, twisting the ring on my left hand. No—it's not an engagement ring. It's an I-love-you-and-I-promise-I-will-forever-and-this-is-the-ring-before-you-get-the-big-one ring. To me, it means just as much. I think it does to him too.
"I gotta tell you, Livvy. Seeing you out here by yourself, eyes closed, totally relaxed? Well, it made me smile. I love you so much and when you're happy, I'm happy," he tells me.
I roll over on top of him and our skin touches. I'm in a bikini and him in just board shorts.
I press my lips to his and kiss him chastely, but one taste of Bash is never enough. Our tongues duel and play and when I pull back, I look down at him with a smile.
"You should know, babe, thatyoumake me happy. Happier than I've ever been."
He smiles back. "Good. Wanna go eat before your mom starts pouting?"
I snicker. "She's got you so wrapped around her finger."
He nods. "She does and I'm not ashamed of that at all." His hand trails up my back and over my shoulder. "What'd they say about your tattoo?"
When Bash and I went to Brooklyn for the first time, I mentioned wanting a tattoo. Bash took me and I got a tattoo of four angels looking down through the clouds, the sun beams glowing bright. It is, of course, much bigger than I thought it would be, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
"Well, once they got over the initial shock, they really looked at it and my mom started crying. My dad smiled and told me I did good," I say softly. "It was good."
"See, love, you didn't have to hide it."
I shrug. "Let's go eat. I hate my mom's pout."
Bash chuckles.
We walk hand-in-hand over the sand to the grassy backyard. I look up in the sky as a cloud passes over the sun, hoping it's not going to storm. It's just a single cloud but the wind begins to break it up. It splits into four smaller clouds and the sun shines through the middle of them.
You guys.I shake my head. I swear I hear the wordsbe happyfloat in the wind, Bash stiffens beside me.
