“Nana would never force me into anything. Mom will inherit the business, and either she’ll take over the management of it, with some input from me, or she’ll hire a suitably qualified person to run it. At some point in the future, I may change my mind. I might want to run it full-time, but for now, my goal is to start something of my own.” She takes back her hand, straightening up and shrugging. “Who knows? Maybe, at some point, I can amalgamate the two businesses and run them together.”
“So, how does this tie in with not being able to stay in Oregon?”
“The kind of business I want to run is quite niche. There’s this start-up company in Seattle similar to the business model I have in mind. They are making a name for themselves, so I sent them my résumé.” A massive grin spreads across her mouth. “And they have offered me a job!”
“You didn’t even tell me you were applying for jobs.” Hurt mixes with pride in my voice.
Her face falls. “I was going to tell you, but every time we talk about the future and me not being here for senior year, you get pissy. I wasn’t going to say anything unless I got the job.”
That she feels she can’t tell me these things hurts even worse. “I thought we were a team. That I meant something to you.”
“Garrick, of course, you mean something to me. I love you.” She gets up and moves her chair over beside mine, snuggling into me as she tips her chin up. “I am serious about you. About us. But I’ve been honest with you from the start. I told you I have set goals and our relationship, while very important to me, can’t take away from what I want to achieve.”
“I love how ambitious you are, and I want you to succeed. But it seems like I’m relegated to the bottom of your list of priorities, and I’m scared I’m losing you.” I’m aware I sound like a petulant child, but I can’t help how I feel.
“I promise you’re not, and I don’t want to lose you either.” Her fingers sweep through the stubble on my face. “We have to accept we need to give each other space to grow into the people we’re going to be, time to develop our careers, and time to map out a plan for the future. We can still be together while pursuing independent paths.”
She ducks down under the table, grabbing her purse and extracting an envelope. “I think this might help.” Her eyes light up as she hands it to me.
“What is it?”
She nudges me in the ribs. “Open it and see.”
I remove a square piece of paper from the envelope first, admiring the circular looped drawing. “Is this Celtic?”
She bobs her head, looking a little nervous as she explains. “It’s a Celtic shield knot also called a dara knot. The Celts used the symbol in battle, but they also gave it to people they cared about the most. It’s a promise to protect and look out for the person you love for all eternity. It’s named after the Irish word for an oak tree, and it’s said to mimic the roots of an oak tree. It’s supposed to encourage and support people through challenging times. I think it’s perfect to represent who we are to one another. Our love is as strong as the roots of a tree, and though they may branch out along different paths, we will forever remain interconnected.”
She pulls out the other paper from the envelope and hands it to me. “That’s an appointment for this afternoon at Mystical Tattoo. I thought we could both get this inked so we have a constant reminder of our love, no matter how many miles or how much time might separate us in the future.” Her eyes glisten with emotion and a hint of vulnerability. “You know how I feel about tattoos. Anything I ink on my skin will become a permanent part of me.” She taps the inside of her wrist. “I’m going to get mine here. I want this one visible, in a place where I can touch it when I need to feel close to you, and somewhere others will see it and know how much you mean to me.”
My lips crash down on hers as potent emotion replaces the blood flowing through my veins.
As gestures go, this is perfect. Stevie couldn’t have suggested anything better. As we kiss, my heart swells with love for this woman, and I hope this blatant display of her commitment will settle that inherent restless fear of losing her that resides inside me.
ChapterThirty-Two
Garrick
“Oh god, yes, baby. Right there.” Stevie moans and writhes underneath me as I bury myself deep inside her before slowly withdrawing and thrusting back in. My gaze skims over the new ink on her wrist, visible through the clear Tegaderm bandage, while her hands are flung out to either side, and pride wells inside me. I opted to get my tattoo in the same place on my left wrist, and every time I look at it, it brings a huge smile to my face.
“You are so good at this,” my girlfriend pants, wrapping her legs more tightly around my waist as I fuck her on the rug in front of the roaring fire at the cabin. We’re spending Christmas with my folks in North Bend tomorrow. Monica and Betsy are joining us too. Tonight, I wanted my beautiful sunshine all to myself, so we snuck away to the winery earlier to enjoy some alone time.
Things have been perfect these past few days, and I’m happy our relationship is back on track. Not even my mother’s pitiful weepy message has dampened my good mood.
Ivy made her bed, and she can lie in it.
“I love you,” Stevie rasps, pulling my face down to hers for a passionate kiss as I drive in and out of her.
“Love you too.” I nibble a trail from her lips to her jawline and along the elegant slope of her neck, dotting kisses along her collarbone and lower. Locking my lips around one nipple, I suck hard on the taut peak, basking in the noises she makes as I lavish attention on both tits.
“I’m close,” she pants, lightly dragging her nails up and down my back.
“Stay with me,” I grunt, picking up speed and ramming in and out of her with feverish need. I straighten up into a kneeling position and hold her legs around my waist as I pound into her. She looks like a fucking goddess underneath me with her gorgeous red hair fanned out around her, a pretty blush covering her chest, and her magnificent tits bouncing and jiggling as I fuck her into the floor.
My balls tighten, and delicious tingles build at the base of my spine. Rubbing her clit, just the way she likes it, I pivot my hips, hitting deep inside her, and we fall off the ledge together.
Sex with Stevie is out of this world, and I want to continue doing it forever.
We collapse in a heap of tangled limbs and sweaty skin, clinging to one another and softly kissing, as we come down from our high. After snuggling for a while, I wrap her in a soft blanket and head to the bathroom to get rid of the condom. Then I grab a chilled bottle of wine, two glasses, two spoons, and a tub of ice cream and return to my woman.
