Page 107 of Bourbon Truths
“Oh, Kace.” Lyla pulled me into a hug, and I buried my head in her hair, getting lost in her cherry scent.
“I didn’t ruin them, Lyla. I saved them.”
“You did, baby,” Lyla said, pulling me closer and kissing my neck. “You’re a good man, Kace.”
Relief spread through me. A final weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I relaxed into her embrace.
“You believe me?” I asked.
“Of course I do, Kace. You’re a good man and I know you wouldn’t lie to me. I told you, there is nothing you could say that would push me away. I knew from the moment I met you, there was something special between us. You were meant for me, Kace, faults and all.”
I slowly looked up into her green eyes and grasped the nape of her neck. I pulled her forward and placed my forehead on hers.
“I’ve fallen in love with you, Lyla. Somewhere along this journey, I allowed myself to feel for you, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Every day, I fell harder and harder until it was impossible for me to forget your soft lips and your beautiful heart. You were made for me, babe, and I will be damned if you get away.”
Lyla kissed my lips softly and said, “I’ve fallen for you too, Kace. I’ve fallen hard.”
“I just had to let go of my demons before I could commit to you because what I want with you is something I never thought I could have, but now I can. I want to start fresh. I want us to live together. I want us to work together. I don’t want you leaving my sight. I’m so fucking gone when it comes to you, Lyla. I want everything with you.”
“I want the same, Kace. I love you.”
“I love you, babe.”
Smiling, she pulled my lips to hers and kissed me senseless. My hands fell to her hips as I let her take control of our connection. We were both needy and desperate for each other. It had been a long road to get to where I was now, but I wouldn’t give up the journey for anything.
Like the song “Blackbird” by The Beatles, I’d taken my broken wings and waited to fly. I’d waited for my time to rise. With broken and bandaged wings, I was ready to fucking soar. The blackbird was now free.
I’d finally paid my repentance.
Epilogue
“Ketchup on a hot dog?” I asked Madeline with a disapproving glare. “Didn’t your mother teach you anything? Its mustard and relish, not ketchup. Ketchup belongs on hamburgers.”
“Oh, Mr. Kace, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Have you ever tried it?”
“No. Have you ever tried it my way?” I countered.
She looked at my hot dog and shook her head. “It looks funny.”
“How about this….” I grabbed her hot dog off her plate and replaced it with mine. “I will try it your way if you try it mine.”
“Okay.” She smiled, her front teeth now peeking past her gums.
“Cheers,” I said, bumping my hot dog with hers.
We took big bites of each other’s hot dogs and watched each other as we chewed. After we swallowed, we both cringed and shook our heads, grabbing for our original hot dogs.
“That was yucky,” Madeline said, taking a huge gulp of her grape soda.
“Tell me about it. You have no taste,” I joked.
“You don’t.” She laughed and pushed my shoulder.
“Who doesn’t have taste?” Lyla asked as she sat next to Madeline with a hot dog doused in ketchup.
Madeline lit up and looked at me with a giant smile. “See, Mr. Kace. I have taste. Look at Lyla’s hot dog.”
I shook my head as two of the most important girls in my life ganged up on me. It happened quite often, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
