A Boy I Used to Love(87)

"Thanks," she said.

I took her to the big ass rock where it all started.

I stopped and leaned against the rock.

"What?" she asked.

"How can you not feel beautiful right now?" I asked.

"Look at me."

"Look at you. Warrior. My beautiful warrior."

"Stop. I'm not that person."

"Yes, you are," I said. "Everything will be okay."

And so far, things had been okay. Axel wasn't charged with what he did to that drunk driver. And the driver was charged, put in front of a judge, and sent to jail for a good little while. I got myself a new truck, too. But I'd trade everything I owned for Lacey to be able to walk. In my heart, I knew she'd walk again. Even if she didn't believe it.

"Want to know how I know that?" I asked.

"What?"

"Because I have you. And you have me. Nothing else in this messed up world matters. It's always been us, Lacey. From that old house that burned down to this big ass rock. To the cabin I bought from Richie. And to … "

"You bought the cabin?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said. "He gave me a hell of a deal on it."

"River … "

I reached for her hand. "Lacey, I wanted to buy that house for us, and it burned down. So, I bought the cabin instead. This is our home away from home. Speaking of which, we'll start looking there too. I want you to pick out your dream home."

"River, no. I don't need a dream home. Wherever I live, I just want you there."

"And that's exactly why I know it's always been about us. You and me. And the ring in my pocket is just the next step."

"The … what?"

I dropped down to one knee before Lacey. I held her left hand tight and reached into my pocket. It was a brand-new ring. I had a nice little influx of cash thanks to Tate helping me market some of my designs. Not to mention that all I did while waiting for Lacey to show up was work and save money. It was time for me to do something fun, even if that meant spoiling the hell out of the woman I loved.

"River," Lacey whispered.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. I pictured it a million times, and it was never like this."

"Because I'm in a wheelchair," Lacey said with a smirk.



       
         
       
        

"No. Because of how real it feels. I've never been so sure of anything in my life. Everything I've ever done was for you. The good, the bad, the time we lost. Fuck all that, Lacey. All we've got is today and to hope for tomorrow. So now, I'm living for today. And today … I'm asking you, Lacey, to marry me. Become my wife. Become my everything. Will you?"

"Yes," Lacey gushed. "Oh, River, yes! Yes a million times! Yes!"

I slid the ring onto her finger and then slid my hand behind her neck and kissed her.

Lacey started to cry.

My thumb wiped away a few tears.

"Hey, no tears."

"I want to stand and kiss you. Like I used to do."

"Then let's figure it out," I said.

I took Lacey by the hands and nodded. I didn't speak another word. I pulled, she fought to stand, and I waited. I had nothing but time. Nothing but patience. Nothing but love.

It took a few minutes, but I got Lacey onto her feet. She was shaking. She was crying. I knew that if I let her go, she would fall.

But here's the best part of it all …

I would never, ever let her go.





Lacey





MONTHS LATER





I cried out River's name and bit his shoulder. He plunged deeper, harder than maybe I'd ever felt him before. I shut my eyes and felt the warmth of my body tingling everywhere. He grunted as he reached his climax and held there. Our bodies were so intertwined, it was wild.

Slowly, he kept loving me. Pulling, pushing, planting a little kiss on the top of my head.

I broke from his strong shoulder as my mouth craved the taste of his. We started to kiss, and I wanted nothing more but for him to get hard again and have me again. And I actually, fully intended on him doing just that.

But then I felt a kick from inside my belly, and River jumped back.

He went to his knees and propped himself up. His right hand touched my stomach, and his eyes went wide.

"Was that?"

"Yeah," I said.

"The little man just kicked me," he said.

"Little man or woman," I said.

"A kick like that? That's a boy for sure."

I laughed. "We'll find out soon."

River eased away from me, leaving me with another round of warm tingling. His hands never could keep from touching me, which was an amazing reassurance with all the bodily changes I was going through and would keep going through.