“Just read it,” he says before leaving me inside alone.
I look around one more time, the envelope weighing heavily in my hands from the possibilities of what’s inside, before finally opening it to find out for myself.
I pull out the pieces of paper that are inside and start with the first one, which is a handwritten letter from Levi.
“Tris,
Months ago, you asked for love letters. I’ve never written one before, so this might come out like shit, but for you, I’m willing to do anything if it means making you smile. Before you, I was a man haunted, angry, and hopeless. Nobody liked me. Hell, I didn’t even like myself most days. I’d wake up and hate the image of the man staring back at me. My scars were a constant reminder of all the reasons I didn’t deserve to be on this earth anymore.
But you changed that.
You changed everything.
Now, when I look at my scars, they’re a reminder of everything I have to be grateful for, of the second chance I was given, and because of that, the opportunity I have to love you.
And damn, woman, do I love you.
I told you once I was nothing but ashes of the man I was, but you?
You’re the match that ignited the ashes of all that was left of me and brought me back to life, not by breathing air into my lungs but by shooting fire through my veins.
Since the day I met you, my world has been set ablaze, and it’s one fire I’ll never put out.
Inside this envelope, you’ll find the deed to this land and the title to the house.
It’s ours.
I want this life with you, Tris, and I want it to start here, in this home.
Our home.
So, yeah, that’s it. That’s your love letter.
Now...
What do you say?”
With tears streaming down my face and my vision blurry, I flip through the pages in the envelope to see that he’s telling the truth. He bought this. All of it. For us. A soft sob escapes me, and I quickly wipe at my eyes to not risk getting the papers wet from my tears. I place everything back into the envelope with trembling hands before rushing out of the house to find Levi.
I don’t have to go far. He’s leaning against the rail ofournew porch, and turns around once he hears me.
“Did you read the letter in—”
I cut him off, planting my lips on his and jumping up so that my legs wrap around his waist. He groans into me as he tightens hisgrip, his arms holding my body against his in a hug that feels like a promise.
“So, is that a yes to officially moving in together?” he breathes, pulling back to catch my gaze.
“What if it was a no?” I ask, a giggle escaping me as his face turns down and he lowers his lids to glare at me. “I’m teasing! Of course, it’s a yes. It’s a yes to everything when it comes to you. To this house, to living together, to seeing where this life will take us,” I ramble off, overwhelmed with my love for this man.
I’ve never been able to picture my future or what it might look like, but with Levi, I can see it all through the love in his eyes.
“You’re staring,” I say softly, threading my fingers around the back of his neck.
“You should probably get used to that,” he chuckles.
I lean back in to kiss him, but before my lips meet his, Ellie prances up the steps and jumps, her front paws landing on us both. Levi sets me down reluctantly, and I pull Ellie into a hug too before standing back up.
I look between them and back at our new home, and it hits me.
Ainsley was right.
Sometimes you reach the best destinations when life throws you a detour.
