He grabs his keys and strides out toward his car like he hasn't just completely undone me.
Yeah, tonight will be fun.
Epilogue 2
Elijah
One Year Later
I don't think I’ll ever get tired of seeing her smile.
It's the first thing that sets my day right—the way she looks at me when she wakes up, like I’m worth everything to her. I’d spend the rest of my life chasing that look, doing whatever it takes to keep it there. She deserves that.
More than anyone.
Because somehow she's made me the happiest man alive.
Water suddenly splashes across my face, dragging me out of it, wiping it away just in time to catch her laughing. She drifts backwards through the water, that spark in her eyes, all playful and teasing.
The sun hits her from behind, turning her hair molten copper, her skin glowing like it's lit from within.
All I can think about is wanting this entire beach to be empty. Their eyes don’t deserve the pleasure of seeing her. She’s all mine. Forever.
“Your head is in the clouds again,” she calls, drifting closer. “Are you thinking about me?”
Always.
I just smirk, watching her like she's the only thing worth looking at.
For the past half hour, she's had me attempting that ridiculous lift from Dirty Dancing, and obviously, I said yes without giving it a second thought. I always do when it comes to her.
Not that I’m complaining at all, because I get to have my hands all over her.
If anything, I've been dragging it out, pretending to struggle with the lift just to keep her close a little longer. Hearing her laugh every time I “mess it up” is absolutely worth it, too.
“You're always on my mind.”
“Some might call that a little obsessive.”
I don't hesitate—I grab her hips, and I haul her flush against me, water shifting around us. “I call it romantic.”
Her hands glide up my arms. "Don't worry, you're always on my mind too.”
I chuckle under my breath as she wraps her arms around my neck, her legs sliding around my waist as we drift together in the water.
“What do you fancy doing tonight?” she asks softly, stroking the back of my head. “Before the crazy family arrives tomorrow.”
We are in Newquay, and we lucked out with the weather. Not a cloud in the sky. It's been great to have a break and just spend time with each other.
We decided to do this every year now. Every summer, we will come back here, and I can tell how much it means to her. She grew up here and has memories with her dad, whom we are actually visiting today.
Willow has been under the weather recently, a lot more tired and cranky, but nothing serious. At least today she's perked up, so I suggested the beach and that instantly pulled her out of bed.
The rest of the family is coming down tomorrow for the week. It’ll be Miles' first time here, our nephew who stole my girl's heart the moment he was born. Millie has become very attached to her, too.
To be honest, she's become important to them. To all of the family.
Slotted in like she was always meant to be there—the missing piece none of us realised was missing.
