“I love you. That’s all.”
Her forehead rolled against mine. “I love you too.”
“I’m glad you had a good day.”
“Yeah. I really did.” She pulled back, holding both my hands in hers. “Just so you know, I told Henrik we’re coming to visit them in Spain as soon as you’re healed.”
My mom swung by the table to give Zara’s shoulders a squeeze. “Oooh, a winter trip to Spain sounds divine.”
I nodded. “Wherever you want to go, sweetheart, I’m there.”
Zara’s fingers skated along my chest and over the words tattooed under my collarbone. She was quiet, curled against me in our bed. I was trying to read but kept getting lost in the middle of the same page.
From nowhere, she said, “I want a life with you, Cormac.”
I agreed without a beat of hesitation. “I do too. All of it.”
She raised her head, resting her arms on my chest. “Kids?”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “Definitely.”
“Me too. Maybe in a couple years.”
“A couple years sounds right.” I put my book down to brush her hair behind her shoulder. “You wanna get married?”
“I didn’t think I’d want to again, but yes, I do. To you. What about you?”
“More than anything, yeah. Soon?”
“Maybe in the spring…before the resort gets busy.”
I nodded. “You’ve been thinking about this.”
“Haven’t you?”
“I haven’t really let myself.”
Her fingers grazed my lips. “Please let yourself. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know.”
She pushed herself up my chest, aligning our lips. “Do you?”
“I do. I’m sure of it.” I took her head in my hands, meeting her dark, bottomless gaze. “Do you know I’m not going anywhere? I’m okay, and this leg of mine is going to get better pretty soon.”
A shudder ran through her. “I almost lost you,” she whispered.
“No, sweetheart. You only thought you did. You might think you’re the stubborn one, but when it comes to you, I’m as bullheaded as they come. I’ve never given up on you. Do you really think I would when we’re so close to having it all?”
Her lips pressed into a flat line as tears welled in her eyes. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“I know. And one day, one of us will have to live without the other, but that’s going to be decades down the line.”
“Don’t talk about that,” she rasped.
“No, listen. We’re lucky, Zara. We know what it’s like to lose one another, right? So we’re going to treasure the days we have.”
“Years.”
