“That sounds perfect,” I murmur, because it does. Holding her hands as the sun melts into the ocean, her face dappled with shades of orange and pink and red. She’ll have a flower in her hair, the dress she wears will be gauzy and white, and we’ll both cry. I know it. I’m not ashamed to admit it, either.
Pulling away slightly, Fable studies me, a little smile curling her lips. I love those lips. I love that smile. She reaches out, smudges her thumb against the corner of my mouth, and I wince, the twinge of pain reminding me that I cut myself earlier when someone tackled me during practice, causing my helmet to somehow hit the corner of my mouth just right.
“What happened?” she murmurs, her thumb lingering on my lips, wiping away at the blood I can’t see.
“Got tackled. Knocked my mouth on the helmet when I hit the ground.” I grimace when she presses harder. I can’t worry about the cut now. I have more important things to focus on. Like our future. “Let’s leave next week, Fable. Call up a travel agent or whatever and book the flight.”
“I can book the flight for us and find a hotel,” she says, her sweet voice soft, her hand dropping away from my mouth. “It’s going to be expensive, though, since it’s so last minute.”
I shake my head. “Money’s not an issue.” I’m making a shit ton. It’s ridiculous. Dad’s thrilled. He’s so freaking proud his son is going to start in the NFL. I went back to Carmel a few weeks ago. Without Fable, all alone, facing my demons, facing my father. Not one and the same anymore, thank God.
It went well. He took me to the country club where Fable and I had gone with him, and … yeah. It’s hard for me to think about that woman, what she did to me, the guilt I carried for so many years. Fable can hardly say her name out loud. Hell, I bet Dad feels the same way, too.
My stepmom. Adele. The woman who seduced me, who tricked me and my father and everyone else in her life. She killed herself in front of me and Fable. I’m glad she’s gone. I don’t miss her.
She doesn’t deserve to be missed.
While I was in Carmel, I had lunch with Dad and his friends, let him brag all over me. It’s the happiest I’ve seen him in a long time, and sitting there at the table, listening to him go on and on, a mixture of regret and love and pride fills me.
I’m sorry our relationship became so strained. I’m not sorry that his wife died. And I’m thankful he didn’t hold her death against me.
After the country club, I told him I was heading straight home, but I didn’t. I went to the cemetery instead. I visited Vanessa’s grave, setting flowers on it, staring at her name etched in stone until my vision blurred and I blinked the past away. Is she mine? I still don’t know. I say no. I pray no.
But none of us will ever know the truth so in my heart, I believe Vanessa is my sister.
That’s the way it has to be. Otherwise, I might slowly lose my mind. And I can’t have that happen again.
“What about your dad?” Fable asks, and I wonder if she’s a mind reader. We’re so in tune with each other I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. “And Owen? I want them both there, but …”
“No.” I grab her hand and bring it to my mouth, kissing her knuckles softly. “Hawaii is just for us. Our wedding is just for us. When we come back home, we can have a small reception, or a big one, whatever you want. We’ll celebrate with our friends.” And family, I want to add, but we don’t have much family. Only Dad and Owen. Dad mentioned wanting to put something together for us, some sort of party, and I know she might protest so it’s better not to mention it.
Better not to mention Fable’s mother, either. She doesn’t want her mom around and neither do I. She’s pulled too many tricks throughout Fable’s life, especially lately.
I don’t like that woman. Hell, I’ve never even met her. But Fable hates her and that’s enough reason to feel this way.
“Okay.” She blows out a harsh breath, her lips turning into a tremulous smile. “I’ll look into flights. Ask Jen to take care of Owen, or maybe Wade’s mom.”
“Fable.” Her gaze catches mine when I say her name and I lean in, settling my mouth on hers in a lingering kiss. I taste her, salty sweet. I smell her. I inhale her. The cut in the corner of my mouth hurts but I don’t care. “I love you.” The words are more like breath, exhaled against her lips, and she closes her eyes on a sigh, little tears like shiny diamonds clinging to her lashes.
“I love you, too.” I kiss her again after she says those words, dabbing at the tears with my thumb, catching them on my skin, feeling them sink into me. I’ve caught her tears more times than I can count. I’ve kissed her for what feels like forever. I’ve lost myself deep inside her body over and over.
It never grows old. Ever. My stomach still flips upon that first touch of her lips on mine. The sound of her laughter bleeds through me, suffusing my soul. The sight of her smile, the sound of pleasure that escapes her every single time I enter her …
This woman is just f**king it for me. She’s no longer a girl anymore. The jaded, angry, and defiant girl who was so determined to fight the world is gone, though shades of her still shine through.
I loved that girl. Fiercely. And I love the woman she is now, just as fiercely. She’s my fiancée, my future wife, the future mother of my children. Fable is the woman who will always stand by my side.
Forever.