During the drive, there is a new clarity in the air, between us. We are content, we are happy, and most of all we are hopeful for the future that lays ahead of us. I’m feeling weightless, free, and full of joy.
When we get home, Ashton takes me straight to the bedroom.
“Welcome home, baby,” he peppers my neck with kisses as he slowly strips me of my clothes.
“Is this homecoming?” I ask, smiling at his as he lays me down on the bed, caressing every curve on my body.
After placing himself between my legs he smirks at me, “You’ll be the one who is coming soon, baby.” A response to his bad joke is on my tongue, but before I can voice any of them, my eyes roll back in my head because of his tongue.
Soon, I am the body of pleasure and a writhing, moaning mess under his worshipping touches and kisses all over my body. Our eyes stay locked the whole time as he makes sweet love to me... tenderly, passionately.
I’m home, and I’m his. I couldn’t be happier.
EPILOGUE
ASHTON
One Year later
So many things have happened in just over a year. I never did go back home, there was too many memories even though some of them were happy I wouldn’t be able to handle the looks, the pointing fingers and the whispers. This town brought me peace so instead of going back to the city I decided to stay here and make a life with Acacia.
She’s moved in with me into the cabin. We didn’t want to waste time in different houses after the accident. I needed to be sure she was safe, with me.
I started to take back my life with Acacia’s encouragements. I enrolled back into college, finished my degree and found a job in a medical company. I also invested some of my money into a little venture for Acacia.
Today is the day to finally break the news to her.
The bar where she works, Smokey’s, is now… hers. I know how much she loves the place, how hard she works for it to be a fun and popular place in the town. And since her boss is just after money without a single care about the bar it was easy for me.
I can’t wait to tell her and see her face shine with excitement.
I add the last few finishing touches to the table and go to the oven to see if the meat is cooked. After everything is ready, I look outside from the window, waiting her car to show up.
People take everything granted, think the things they have won’t be taken away from them. But I experienced the fragile reality in this world twice. The first, April, was still a pain that will never go away. She will always be in my life, in my heart, and in my thoughts. But the second time, Acacia… I was lucky that I got her back. But that thought taught me something. Nothing is permanent in life. No moment is granted. And after her accident I decide to make everyday count.
I make sure to say I love you every single day.
I make sure to kiss her in the morning and before I go to sleep.
Even though we argue sometimes I never let her sleep without her knowing how much I love her.
It’s those little things that mean the most... The things we used to take for granted. But I’ll never do that again.
When I see her car I check the table one more time. The steak, veggies, dessert… everything is ready. Burning the candles I turn off the light the moment she walks inside.
“What’s going on Ash?” She looks around me and sees the dinner on the tab
le all ready to be served up. “Oh my god, Ashton!” she covers her mouth with her hands and gasps loudly.
“Welcome home, babe.” I kiss her as I take her coat, leading her toward the table.
During the dinner we chat happily about work and my degree and where we are going to go from here. Our future we will build together. All the time smiling like an idiot and taking in her beautiful features. Her hair is red at the moment it’s been every imaginable color since we met and I wouldn’t change a thing about her.
Once we’ve finished and taken care of the dishes I lead her to the sofa, handing her the envelope. She looks at me in confusion.
“Go on open it,” I urge her on.
She takes the contract from the envelope, still looking at me with a little frown, waiting for me to explain. Instead I smirk. “You may want to read and sign it, babe,” I say handing a pen.