Maverick comes up for air, and I lean my head on his as we smile at each other.
“So, how much trouble am I in?” he asks and I throw my head back with laughter.
“You don’t want to know.” I shake my head at him.
“But that’s a tomorrow problem don’t you think?” I wink at him, his hands still caressing my face like it’s the last time he’s going to hold onto me. But it isn’t going to be, because this is only the beginning.
We finally have each other back, for good.
No more secrets, and no more lies between us.
“You want to get out of here?” I smirk once again at him and his face lights up. “Don’t have to ask me twice, Firefly.”
“Race you,” I say, before bolting in the direction of the door, Maverick laughing behind me, hot on my tail but I don’t stop running.
I’d run with him anywhere, anytime, any place.
I’ll run with the Herd and him, for as long as my body keeps me going, for as long as he’ll want me, but after all this, I don’t plan on ever letting him go again,not without a good fucking fight first.
Because he is my reason.
My happily ever after finally cameback.
And this time, he’s not going anywhere.
EPILOGUE
Maverick
ONE YEAR LATER
Loading the last of our things into my truck, I stop myself to take a glance over to where Mabel’s house once sat, one minute and thirty-seven second walk away from her mom and dad’s.
“Daddy, are we going now?” My favourite little lady interrupts my thoughts as I look down to her hand meeting mine.
“Sure, Darlin’. Shall we go see how mama’s doing with the boys?” I ask her as she nods,pulling my arm around to the passenger seat.
I help Ellie into her seat and make sure her belt is buckled tight. I close the door and walk around to the driver’s side, before pulling myself in and getting comfortable.
The engagement ring I bought her all those years ago, sitting perfectly still in my pocket, waiting for the right moment. When I moved home permanently, I found it hidden amongst my old memories I kept hidden away in a box.
Mabel lay true on her promise, and over the last six months it’s all been about today, building our house, over to the East, in our field;on our spot.
Driving out of the entrance to the main house, Mabels parents’ house, I see the trees moving in the breeze as we drive down the long drive, and at the end I turn left, aiming towards the brand-new entrance to our house.
When I came home a year ago, I never thought Mabel would even want to hear my side of events, let alone forgive me for them.
But yet here I am, with our daughter beside me, driving for the first time over to our home.
“There they are,” Ellie says, edging herself forward in her seat, like that’ll make us arrive quicker.
The gravel’s loud underneath my trucks tyres as I descend towards our final destination.
“Hi, Mama,” Ellie shouts from her window as I park the truck right in front of our beautiful home.
“Hi, sweet-pea,” Mabel shouts back as she descends down the ladder she was up, leaning up against the wooden structure.
Ellie and I get out of the truck, but I hang back to eye up my newest love; this house.
