Page 26 of Until Easton

Later that evening, Easton and I lie in bed with me between his legs and my back against his front. Aside from the unfortunate run-in with Lana, I had the best time at the fair.

"You have a good time today, baby?" he rumbles against my ear, his scruff tickling my skin.

"The best. Some of my fondest memories of my parents are of us at the fair. After they passed, Grandma and Grandpa would take me every summer, but Grandpa and I haven't been in a couple years."

"What were they like?" Easton asks.

I tip my head back. "My parents?"

He nods.

I face forward and close my eyes. A smile takes over my face when visions of their faces enter my brain. "I look like my mom. Same height, same wild, curly, red hair. My eyes I get from my dad." I swallow past the lump in my throat at my memories. "Dad said Mom was his soulmate and that he knew it the second he laid eyes on her. He said it took her longer to realize it." Easton squeezes me, and I chuckle. "I remember them being so happy. I'd never even seen them fight." I tell Easton about how my father ended up at the ranch after he lost both of his parents. "The ranch was Moms' life. She lived and breathed everything about this place, and my dad lived and breathed my mother." I go quiet for a moment. Thankfully, Easton doesn't interrupt my reflection. "It might sound, I don't know, crazy…but in a way, I think it's best that they passed away together. I know what happened was tragic, especially because they left behind a young daughter, but I mean it when I say my parents were soul mates. I honestly don't think either of them would be able to live without each other." Twisting in Easton's arm, I face him. "Does that sound messed up?" I ask. "I've never said that out loud to anyone before."

"No, baby. That doesn't sound messed up at all." He cups my face. "Those are your feelings. You're allowed to feel and think any way you want about your mom and dad. What matters is you loved them, and they loved you. They also left you with some beautiful memories. What I think is you find solace in knowing they are still together in the afterlife."

A tear slips down my cheek. "I do. It comforts me knowing they still have each other."

Easton uses the pad of his thumb to wipe away my tears.

"How do you do that?" I ask.

"Do what?"

"Get me? You just…get me?"

"Because, Becca, you're my soulmate, and even though you may not be ready to admit it, I'm yours."

"I think you're right," I breathe.

"I know I'm right," he declares vehemently. Then Easton kisses me. We're soon interrupted when his cell rings. With a growl, he breaks away. Snatching his phone from the bedside table, he sighs. "It's my sister."

"Okay." I scoot to the edge of the bed and stand. "I'm going to go wash my face while you take your call."

Once I'm finished in the bathroom, I walk back into Easton's room. "Hey, I'm going down to the kitchen for a beer. Do you want one?"

"Was that Becca?" A woman's voice rings out, and I suddenly realize Easton is on Facetime.

Easton tips his head back and stares up at the ceiling for a beat before answering. "It is."

"Who are ya talkin' to there, Sunshine?" This comes from another voice, a much deeper one. "Oh, hey, brother."

Easton grins. "How's it going, Quinn?"

"Can't complain."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're good, I'm good, he's good. Now let's get back to Becca."

"Em." Easton's sister ignores what he just said and repeats her previous statement. "I want to meet her."

"Sunshine, leave your brother alone."

"Put a sock in it, Quinn."

"I'll put somethin' in it, baby. But it won't be my sock."

"For Christ's sake. I don't want to hear this shit," Easton groans. "That shit is not cool."

"Sorry, brother," this Quinn says and I can't help but giggle.