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Lennon

“Dalton,” I grumble, reaching up to pull back the blindfold that is over my eyes. “Where in the hell are we going?”

“Don’t you dare take off that blindfold, baby,” he warns and I drop my hands back in my lap with a huff. When Dalton got home from running errands earlier, he had a strange look in his eyes and he presented me with a blindfold like it was a damn present. He told me he had a surprise for me and ordered me to put the blindfold on. And now, somehow, I’m sitting in the passenger seat of my own damn Jeep with cloth over my eyes as Dalton drives me…somewhere.

I fucking hate surprises.

And he damn well knows it.

There is a part of me that thinks that’s why he likes to do it so much. Because it makes me grumpy and he always tells me how damn cute I look when I get grumpy. I’m also certain that when he was coming up with this whole little plan, he was cackling to himself because he knew just how damn annoyed I would be.

Fucking menace.

“Just tell me where we’re going.”

He barks out a laugh. “Not a chance.”

“You have got to be the most stubborn man on the face of this planet,” I growl, crossing my arms over my chest. “We need to get your therapist on speed dial.”

“Baby, the only therapist I need is your pussy.”

My jaw drops and heat rushes to my cheeks. “Dalton.”

“Yes, my love?” he asks, his voice sugary sweet. I roll my eyes and slump back in my seat.

“You’re so annoying.”

“You love me,” he fires back and I don’t have a good response for that because I really do.

“Yes, unfortunately for me.”

He laughs again, the sound so carefree and open. Warmth floods my chest at the sound. We’ve both come so far in the last nine months and it’s crazy to think about just how quickly things can change. I went from living with Owen only a year ago and now, the man is in prison and I’m being driven to a dumb surprise by the love of my life.

Wild.

The wind whips through my hair and the early spring sun warms my skin. I let out a hum as my mind wanders. Shortly after Dalton and I were released from the hospital, Leigh-Ann signed a plea deal in exchange for information about Derek’s role in everything. She was sentenced to six years for her part and she was locked up not long after Owen. Having those two behind bars made us both breathe a sigh of relief.

And then there’s Derek himself.

He’s still out there somewhere but I think we’ve all found a way to live with that fact. Especially since not a single damn person has seen or heard from him since he left town.

It’s odd.

In the beginning, I was always looking over my damn shoulder, waiting for the next threat to strike. I had nightmares about a faceless man hunting me through the streets of Baton Rouge but as time went on, they got less frequent and I started to learn how to live my life again.

One day at a time.

I can’t help but smile.

Somewhere along the way, one day at a time started turning into the rest of our lives but we haven’t talked about that either.

I don’t think we need to.

He and I just fit together and at this point, it’s almost expected that this is where we’re going to be forever. I can’t imagine a life without Dalton in it, annoying me and making me laugh until my sides hurt. Everything would feel so empty if I wasn’t giving him just as much shit back or challenging him in any little way I can. And there is nothing better in this world than waking up in the middle of the night to him pulling me closer in his sleep.

Even then, he seeks me out.

And I can’t get enough.