Always In: The Shore Series Book 2 (39 page)

It’s our little world and I feel so blessed that we are both living in it.

By now you've figured out Harlow didn't go with Daniel to England. Sorry if I gave you a little scare. And I’m not going to lie and say I knew she'd wind up not going. I totally thought she’d leave. She desperately wanted to be a mom. I was so numb, so lost. I called Porter and Max. I told them I needed to go to the place where she lingered in the air. The place where it all began. Even though I said I'd never return to Sandy Cove, something in my heart told me I needed to. I felt weightless, like I was drifting above my body as we drove. When I got to Porter's and climbed out of the car, I had no idea how my legs were going to carry me up the flight of wooden steps to the door. My body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. Every muscle ached along with my head and heart. I walked straight through the front door and out the back toward the dock. I sat in one chair and stared at the empty one. The one Harlow had always occupied. Whether she was pissed off at me for something, stealing my coffee, fishing with me, or just being beside me, that was her chair.

Porter said it was a bad idea to be out there and convinced me to go to Jax. Of all places.

Christ almighty.

I went. I sat. I stared at the pool balls being knocked around by Porter and Max. I drank a beer. I mean, one. I just wasn't in the mood. Max asked me to go to the bar and grab him and Porter some shots. I wasn't having any but Max was setting up his shot, so I went to get them.

Jax was crowded. It starts to get busy this time of year. I made my way to the bar and waited for the bartender to come and take my order. I leaned on it, looked down on the grainy wood, remembering the smell of this place, and then a scent filled my nostrils. A familiar one. I thought it was just some girl wearing the same body lotion until I felt a hand on my shoulder and a breath in my ear.

She whispered, "Excuse me, Officer, but can you direct me to the nearest bathroom?"

So here we are, Harlow and Cruz. My Turnip is in my arms. I rushed her back here as soon as I turned around and saw those sweet freckles.

She couldn't go through with it. She told Daniel that she loved him, but she was in love with me. She said he’d known, he’d felt it. He thought eventually she'd fall in love with him, but the certainty wasn't there. The only thing certain was she loved me. Me.

I give Daniel Mathewson mad props and have big respect for being the sort of man who accepts what’s not meant to be and lets someone like Harlow go. I’m sure it wasn't easy...actually...I’ve been there and it fucking blows!

She said she made a mistake and she didn’t think she deserved a second chance, but I’m a firm believer in second chances. Harlow has had to deal with the pain of losing her memory, the pain of regaining some of it, and the pain of making decisions, that in some ways, she had no control over. Some of them—yeah, I’ll tell you—I wanted to hate her for, but in the end we all deserve a second chance. With my Turnip there’s no other option for me than to accept that she struggled with her decision, but in the end, she made the right one. She chose us.

She stirs and groans as I tickle her neck with my hair.

"Turnip, get up. The sun is going to come up soon. Want to go to the dock and watch it?"

"Ugh...are you serious? You kept me up most of the night. I’m not going to be able to walk right for a week, not that I could in the first place.”

See Morty had a lot of making up to do. He missed his girl. I can’t really control him around Harlow.

"Oh, stop. Come on or do I have to put on my whiney, baby voice to get my way."

She sits up and rubs her eyes and the street light illuminates her skin. Her breasts fall naturally and her hair lingers in front of her face and on her shoulders. People say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If that's the case, I'll be-holding onto to this beauty forever.

That was a joke. A total Cruz joke.

I still gotta be me.

We stick some clothes on and go down to the dock. It's so quiet except for a few seagulls that have decided to wake up a little early. The sky is turning pink and at any minute the sun will be up, shining on the waters of the bay.

I look at her. She's the woman I pictured sitting next to me all gray and wrinkly. She's the only one I ever saw and always will.

"Turnip?"

"Yeah?"

"I got something I need to ask you if that's okay?"

"Cruz, I’m not doing it in the butt with you, so forget it."

I roll my eyes. That was so totally not what I was going to ask, but one can dream, right?

"That's not it, Turnip."

"No threesomes either."

I grasp my chest with my hand.

"Jesus, woman! What kind of perv do you take me for?"

"A big one."

"That hurts, baby. Really. But since we're on the subject, I saw this really hot chick—"

She jumps up and falls into my lap and covers my mouth to shut me up. I take her hands away and replace them with my mouth. I could kiss this woman forever.

And I’m going to.

"No seriously, I have to ask you something."

"Sure, shoot."

"Do you believe in miracles?"

"I guess so, why?"

"Do you believe me when I say how much I love you, that it’s forever and always?"

"Yes." She smiles and kisses the tip of my nose as her hands play with my unruly bed head.

"Do you believe it when I tell you that if you wanted a kid someday I would look into every miracle there was to try and figure out that solution?"

"Cruz, I’m not getting where this conversation is going."

"I’m not done yet, so if for once you would let me finish, I'll explain."

"This is what I promise you. I promise to always tell you the truth. I promise to carry you up to bed when your legs are hurting. I promise to hold your hair back from inside of the toilet when you have one too many beers and you puke. I promise to always make sweet, sweet love to you under the Christmas tree." I lift her off my lap, cradle her in my arms and place her in the chair I was sitting in. I get down on my knee and I pull out the ring. The one I went back to buy at that little antique estate store I got Avery's baby present in. The sapphire. I bought it after our night in Sandy Cove, when we just held each other all night. I never returned it, even after our last night in Sandy Cove. It was always going be her ring. I'd never give it to someone else. It belonged on her finger. The one with the color the same as her eyes, the eyes I’m watching now with shock clearly displayed in them. Her jaw hangs open as I take her hand and dangle the ring in front of her finger.

"I promise I will love you if the world thinks it should just be you and me, and I will love you if we are blessed enough to adopt a baby, or use a surrogate, and yes, Turnip, I have done
my
research as well, and I know those eggs of yours are still in there, and that could be our miracle. When we are ready, we'll see what we can do about making you a mommy and me a daddy. But let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet."

She laughs and cries and wipes at her nose with her free hand.

"For now, Harlow Hannum, my Turnip, the one-night stand who made me fall in love with her, will you give me the miracle of becoming my wife?"

She doesn't speak, only nods and cries so I don't wait for the yes. I got my answer so I slip the ring on her tiny finger. She holds my face and showers me with kisses.

I pull away from her. "You did nod yes, right, or did I just make a gigantic ass out of myself?"

She shakes her head. "No, of course I'll marry you, and yes, you are and always will be a gigantic ass. But I love you because you are one. Always."

I hug her and hold her tightly to my body. This woman is my miracle. She was put on this earth for me. Only for me. I let her go one too many times and that will never happen again. Who would have thought a girl I banged in a bar bathroom almost two years ago would agree to be my wife? Me.

Raphael Cruz. Reformed man-whore and soon to be husband.

Morty should be a happy camper. He'll be very active for the next fifty years or so.

"Are you happy, Turnip?" I look at her beaming face. She looks at her ring then back at me.

“Yes. I am. I knew it all along that it was you I wanted, but it just took me a little longer to figure it out. Inside my heart I knew we belonged together. My broken brain - well that took a little time to catch up with my heart and I’m so sorry for the pain that caused you. I always will be. But I’m here and I’m never going anywhere again. With you is where I belong. I’m in, baby. Always.”

My girl, my love, the one who owns my soul. She was once lost, but she found her way back to me. This time she’s the one who gave in.

"Me too, baby. I'll always be in."

THE END

Coming soon: Max and Willow’s Story in “Stumbling In” (The Shore Series) #3

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m a book nerd turned writer who loves the “Happily Ever After” mixed with a bit of suspense, drama, and the occasional cliffhanger! My Kindle is glued to my hands most of the time, but I still love the look and feel of a paperback.

My love of books led me toward my writing journey and I hope and pray it continues.

When I’m not reading you can find me hanging with my handsome husband, two gorgeous kiddos, and the cutest Goldendoodle dog on the East Coast.