“It’s okay,” I soothed with soft kisses to his cheeks and brow.
He inhaled on a long-drawn-out breath. “Griffin came after me and I didn’t see it until it was too late. An IED, an improvised explosive device, hidden in the thick grass. Griffin yanked me out of the way, just as I was about to step on it and he stumbled, landing on the fucking thing. Sliced through his waist...” he choked on a sob and holding back my tears, I rubbed his chest in slow circles, attempting to calm him. “It should’ve been me, Blue. He wasn’t even supposed to be out there. Flying shrapnel lodged in my leg, arm and face, tossed me like a fucking football. By the time I dragged my bleeding body to him, he was choking on his blood.”
He went silent and I didn’t disturb his quiet, letting him grieve for a friend we both loved. My tears fell too, and I wished I could’ve said goodbye to him. My last conversation was turning down his marriage proposal and even though it was playful, it had opened doors I never wanted to close again.
“I dragged his shattered body into my arms, begging for him not to leave me, knowing it was futile and didn’t want to believe. Do you know what his last words were to me, Blue?” I lifted my head to look down at him, my eyes expectant. “Promise me, you’ll find her, Shay. Find Skye and make her yours again. You fucking promise me, bro or I’m coming back to haunt the fucking shit out of you.” I suffocated on a torrential cry. Shay squeezed me tight against him. “Even on his last breath, he wanted us to be happy.”
“I’m sorry,” I said after we remained quiet for a long while and our sobs eased to soft sniffles.
“Blue,” he murmured. “I have loved you behind closed doors for so long that I never thought we’d ever fulfil my wish—to love you freely. But you did. Everything I want is right here, in this room. Nothing will come between us again. I promise.”
I believed him. If only no longer resided at our door because we’d found each other again. “I love you truly, madly, deeply.” I kissed his lips.
“And I’m madly, deeply and truly in love with you, Blue.”
47. I Belong To You – Jacob Lee
Skye – 25 years
Four days later Shay took me and Griffin back to Rocky Mountain. And while my heart beat an uneven thrum, knowing that he planned to announce to the world that I was his, I remained comforted in the knowledge that our love had already surpassed unyielding boundaries. One more wouldn’t hurt.
Before we went home, he stopped first to visit Griffin’s grave. My heart burst in my chest watching Shay cry, knowing he missed his friend and perhaps still held himself accountable.
I took a step forward, knelt and touched the cross. “Hey, Griffin, I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye and I’m sorry we didn’t marry.” I laughed through my tears, remembering our last encounter. “But I still love you, always will. I gave my son your name, so I can’t ever forget you.” I smiled. “And thank you, for being part of my life, taking care of me even when I was a brat to you and thank you for bringing Shay back to me. Rest easy now, old friend.” I kissed the yellow rose I held and laid it on the ground.
As I stood, an old woman, in the row behind us, approached, smiling. “You found them, young man?”
Shay turned to look at her. “I did, Betty. I found love, life and happiness again.” He smiled.
“I’m glad.” She touched my arm lightly with a smile and then touched Griffin’s cheek. “You have a beautiful family,” she said to Shay. “Now, your friend will rest, his work is done. Be happy.” She turned and walked away then, toward the entrance.
When she disappeared, I looked at Shay and his laugh was soft. “Sometimes strangers come into your life for a reason and without knowing it, they bring you happiness you didn’t know you needed until them. And I had two. First Julie and now Betty.” Then he turned back to Griffin’s cross. “Rest easy, man, I love you.”
As we drove home, the nerves started up again. What I didn’t expect to walk into was a buzzing house, preparing for a wedding. I stepped out of the car, my gaze running wild, drinking in the sight. “Oh, my God, what’s happening. Our beautiful lawn had been transformed into a fairy tale garden of hanging lanterns, fairy lights, tables draped with white lace tablecloths, centered by vases filled with three shades of blue roses. “What is all of this?” I looked from Shay’s devilish smile to Dad’s mischievous smirk.
He knew?
