Wolf whistles follow us as Mabel takes my hand in hers and leads me towards the bar, where Mack’s already seen us coming.
“Same again?” He asks.
“Please,” I start before Mabel tugs on my arm. “And seven shots of tequila, please,” she asks Mack, but winks at me.
As Mack’s preparing our drinks, I hear the music being turned up louder than it’s been all night andMorgan Wallen – Spin you roundfills the bar.
I look back at our group of friends and watch Luke pull Hope over to the small dance floor and I look adoringly over at them.
Colter is next to stand, holding his hand out to Iris which she graciously takes, joining the other two on the floor.
My brother stays put, sipping on his beer smiling at the couples pair off on the dance floor.
I look down at Mabel. “Would you join me in a dance?” I ask as I watch her eyes sparkle at my question.
“I never thought you’d ask,” she replies, taking my hand as I walk her over to thedance floor, once again avoiding the chairs.
Reaching the dance floor, I spin Mabel around under my arm before pulling her in close, placing my hands around her hips.
Mabel follows suit, reaching her arms and cradling my neck, swaying along to the music.
I lean my forehead against hers on her tiny frame and sway gently with her. My feet moving and leading hers.
Mabel doesn’t speak but holds her gaze with mine. I, as if on impact, start singing to her, moving my hand onto her lower back, and taking her hand with the other.
Holding her gaze in mine, I know that I love her. More now than I ever did all those years ago.
All the years that followed when I refused to let her go. Loving her was the only thing that kept me going all this time, in the hopes that one day all of this would be a thing of the past.
When I came back into town, I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I hoped it would be this. One thing was clear; the pull was always there for the both of us.
In this moment, the world completely stops.
It’s just me and her.
If I never sawanother sunset over the mountains again, I wouldn’t care. If I never got on another horse again, so what?
As long as I have this girl here in my arms, for the rest of my days, whether they be long or short; then I’ll die a happy man.
I love her, whole heartedly, completely and consumingly. I’ll do anything in my power to make her, and her little girl have the best life they so willingly deserve.
The music stops, but we don’t stop dancing, holding onto each other like we are each other’s only life source.
“Hey Mav?” I hear her whisper, and I pull my head away from hers. “Yeah, Firefly?” I ask.
“The music’s stopped,” she giggles out in a whisper.
“And?” I ask, smiling down at her which makes causes her to blush, pulling her head into my chest.
I take my finger, hook it under her chin and lift her head back up so her eyes are back on mine.
“It’s always been you-” I start, holding onto her chin so I have her attention. “No matter where I went, or what I did. It has always been you.” I say as I watch a stray tear slide down her cheek.
“I love you, Mabel; I have always loved you,” I say, trying to bare my soul to her, to give her peaceto know that it has always belonged to her.
“Oh, Mav,” she chokes out, letting the sob she’s holding in out. “It’s always been you,” but I refuse to let her finish her sentence.
I won’t let her finish it because I already know, I already know that it’s always been me as well.
