I collected every last piece that made my heart sing. Then I took those photos, strung them up on string, and hung each one on Lena's Wishing Tree until it was covered in all the most magical moments he's given me, all the ones I wish to have again. To give to him. To create with him. Over and over and over.
"What is this?" he asks, his voice shrouded with more emotion than I think I've ever heard from him.
"It's Lena's wishing tree," I tell him what he already knows. No one has hung anything on it since before the accident. I don’t think any of us were brave enough to. Everything felt so fragile. Happiness and new dreams impossible.
Until now.
"Why is it covered in pictures of me?"
"Because, Jovi," I whisper, moving closer to him, eyes anchored in his, "you're my wish."
"I'm your wish?" he sounds like he still can't quite believe it.
"Yes."
His tentative smile broadens, and he wraps both arms around me without releasing my hand.
He pulls me in until my chest is pressed to his, until I can breathe him in. Then he lowers his mouth to mine, softly speaking against my lips, "You better make another one then, because that wish came true ages ago."
Then he kisses me. And unlike the ones before, this kiss isn't an explosion of want or a careful expression of tentative care. It's strong. Real. Full of passion and hunger and promises. And for the first time in my life, I let myself believe every last one of them.
JOVI
It's both completely surreal and the most natural thing in the world to wake up with Liz in my arms. And I will be taking steps to ensure I wake up exactly like this every morning for the rest of my life.
"Where are you going?" she grumbles, half asleep, her body chasing mine to the edge of the bed even before she's awake.
I chuckle, bending down to kiss her. Fuck, I love kissing her. "I have to feed horses. Go back to sleep," I murmur, pressing another kiss to the side of her head.
"No way," she bolts upright, suddenly wide awake. "If you have to get up, I'm getting up. Partners, remember?"
I smile. "You're going to start running the horse business with me?"
She frowns. "Excuse me, but who handled Brennan McAsshole when he was threatening said horse business? And who's been marketing your rodeo nights for months now? Handling all your social media accounts?"
I chuckle. "Very true. My apologies." She lifts up onto her knees, pressing her body to mine where I stand at the edge of the mattress and I don’t hesitate to pull her closer. "How can I make it up to you?"
She wraps both arms around my neck, fingers playing with the loose hair at my nape. "You could give me my own horse," she says.
"You're serious?"
She arches a brow at me. "I thought we had a rule about that."
I laugh, dragging her in for another kiss. "Bear?"
I can feel her smile against my mouth. "Yes, please."
"You'll have to learn to care for him," I tell her. "Ride him every day."
"Good." She starts to move her mouth from my lips, down along my chin, peppering my skin in soft kisses everywhere she touches.
"You'll have to see me all the time," I warn her.
"Even better."
"And Cas."
Her lips stop their trail of kisses over my jaw. "It's a little weird you brought him into this conversation."
