Page 82 of Ache
“I never really believed he was going to stay.” Her voice is a strained whisper. “It’s over. We’re over. We’ve finally said goodbye.”
“And you’re okay with that?” It’s almost preposterous to hear. I had gotten used to our threesome so fast, it felt as if it was written in stone.
She shrugs, teary-eyed. “I have to be. If there’s one thing Tage made me good at, it was saying goodbye to him.”
“That’s sad.”
“It is,” she agrees.
“So, it’s just you and me, then?” I re-evaluate. The lawyer mentality is never far away.
“It’s just you and me,” she confirms. “If you still want me. Knowing I’m unemployed. Knowing my past. Knowing there could still be trouble in my future.” She rattles off a dozen reasons for me to run. None scary enough, though. I’m not going anywhere. Not without her.
“What kind of trouble?”
“Gunner got away. He’s out there, somewhere. With my mom and that crazy man with the gun.”
“And Tage went after them.” I fit the puzzle pieces together. Only something catastrophic could pull him away from Everly. Of this, I’m sure. Gunner being on the run definitely fits that bill.
“He said neither of us would ever find peace of mind as long as he’s free.”
“Is he right?” I search her beautiful face. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now.
“Maybe. But knowing Tage is out there lessens the burden. I won’t stop my life. I refuse. And I won’t sacrifice a future with you. That is, if you still want one with me.” She bites her lip. She burns so brightly even in her moments of doubt.
I tap my chest, gesturing her to lie next to me. She’s too far away.
Everly crawls into the hospital bed carefully and rests her head exactly where I patted myself on the chest.
“I don’t think there is another woman in this world who deserves my brave, fearless, courageous, daredevil, dashingly handsome, one-of-a-kind-self more than you.”
“Oh,” she laughs. “You have a mighty high opinion of yourself.”
“I took a bullet. My hubris is warranted.” I’m smug.
“Hubris. That’s such a cocky lawyer word.”
“Last time I checked, I was a cocky lawyer.” I grin.
“My favorite cocky lawyer in the whole entire world.” She snuggles up against me. Nothing feels more right.
“The cocky lawyer who would take a bullet for you.”
“And share his future with me,” she adds.
“The cocky lawyer who would do anything for you.” I tilt her chin up.
“I would do anything for you, too.” She touches her lips sweetly to mine, binding the prospect of a whole new day.
A whole relationship.
A whole new existence.
A whole new future.
Just the two of us.
Her and me.
