Page 101 of Unraveled

He smiled. “Of course.”

We ordered appetizers and a last round of beer while the boys finished up their draft. I loved this new normal. My body was slowly regaining its energy after chemo and radiation had taken so much from it. And my new breasts from reconstructive surgery were healing right on target. In fact, I couldn’t wait to take the girls for a spin tonight with Kellan. It had been way too long since he’d seen me completely naked. And I, for one, had plenty of ideas about how we’d spend tonight.

As the group wound down the draft, Kellan took my hand to lead me out to the dance floor.

My arms went around him naturally, my body completely in tune with his. “I can’t wait until we dance at our wedding.” We were planning a November wedding in Hawaii on our lucky date. We planned to honeymoon in Tahiti. Nothing like hitting two of my bucket list destinations in one trip.

We were saving a visit to Iceland for after my five-year cancer-free anniversary. I refused to stress over whether or not it would happen. I could only take one day at a time, living each to its fullest. Life gave us no guarantees. We could merely hope for the best and not waste a moment of it.

“I can’t wait, either. I have a couple of surprises for our honeymoon that may mean we don’t see a lot of the beach, though.”

I laughed, thinking we were of similar mind when it came to some kinky times in the bedroom. “I have a few things I’m packing as well. But I actually have a surprise of my own tonight.” I’d had an IUD inserted a week ago to prevent pregnancy. Long term, we wanted kids, but that would be after I’d healed completely.

“Do I get a hint?”

I pulled down his head to whisper in his ear, “You won’t need any condoms from now on.”

He stopped dancing in the middle of the floor, expression shocked. “I’m afraid I’m gonna have to take a rain check on the rest of this dancing. But first. This.”

“What are you doing?” My giggle escaped when he dipped me carefully before giving me a kiss for the ages.

He tipped me back up vertical to cup my face. “I’m fulfilling a promise. I’m officially kissing you like you don’t have cancer.”

No sweeter words could ever have been said.

Epilogue II

Layla

Five Years later….

“Idon’t get a hint?” I asked, reaching up to finger the soft, velvety cloth covering my eyes.

“Where would be the fun in that?” Kellan replied, laughter in his voice.

I did love a good surprise. We’d left our house and gotten into the truck and had been driving for the last fifteen minutes. Judging by his speed, we appeared to stick to the side roads. Finally, we stopped, and he turned off the truck.

“Stay put until I open your door. No peeking yet.”

I was grinning, listening for clues as to where we could be.

He opened my door and guided me out of the truck. We were walking slowly on what felt like grass.

“Where are we?”

“You’ll see. Keep your blindfold where it is.”

We went up one step, then another. I could hear a door being opened. We took two more steps. “I’ll keep the blindfold on, but I hope you know you’re wearing it tonight.”

Silence was the response. Then the sound of a cleared throat in the distance. What the hell? When the blindfold was removed, I saw we were in our own house with everyone we knew in front of us.

“Surprise!” they all yelled.

My hand went to my mouth; I was completely stunned. My eyes met those of Kellan’s amused ones.

He stuffed the blindfold in his pocket, giving me a wink. “For later indeed,” he whispered and gave me a quick kiss.

I was certain my face was bright red given that little embarrassing remark shared in front of both sets of parents, but I didn’t care. Because as the big banner hanging over the entryway said, it was my five-year cancer-free party. Nothing could ever take away what this day represented.