Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
I remember after rushing to the hospital, thinking I was going to lose the man I love right after I rejected his proposal. Sure, he didn’t get down on one knee, but it would’ve eaten me up inside, nonetheless.
I remember the coma they induced him into, with me wondering if he was ever going to wake up.
Twenty-four hours later, he peeled his eyes open. His internal swelling had subsided. He’d broken more ribs than me—four for him, one for me—and his arm was banged up, plus the concussion, but he was alive. He was going to recover. Fate, it turns out, isn’t that cruel.
Grandma sighs and moves to the chair, sitting carefully and kneading her thighs. “Sorry, sweetheart,” she says.
I get her a glass of water, then sit beside her. “How amazing is this? Dancing together? Look at you, Grandma! You’re like a new woman.”
She smiles, looking radiant, looking remade. “I feel brand new,” she says proudly.
When the front door goes, I jump to my feet, excited as usual when Dom returns from working late. I’m… between jobs at the moment. I don’t want to be a liability, but when Dom woke from the short coma, he took my hand and asked me bluntly, “Do you want to work in construction, or did you just fall into it?”
I told him the truth. It was just a job. So, he insisted I take some time to figure out what I want. I’ve been practicing with my new violin for four, sometimes five hours a day, and next week is my first official day as a private tutor. Dom has given me my passion back, taking care of me like he takes care of everyone, and I’ve made a promise to myself to always give him that same affection in return.
He smiles when I greet him, taking off his jacket. I kiss him on the cheek, laughing as he sweeps his arms around me and pulls me in for a real kiss. I remember how fragile he looked in the hospital bed… but then how fierce he became when I gave him the news.
“Aaron died in the car crash. He ended himself trying to end us.”
“Good,” Dom growled. “One down, one to go.”
Sebastian, however, is still in the wind, despite the police searching for him in relation to the drug charges.
Grandma is in the living room. She laughs when Dom playfully skips over to her, leaning down and giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He looks at me, winking, handsome and playful. But still with that dark intensity in his eyes. “Who’s this young lady?”
Grandma giggles. “The same joke, every day,” she says, clearly loving it. “Does anybody mind if I turn on the TV? It’s almost time for the news.”
“Oh yeah,” Dom says sarcastically. “I’ll be furious.”
Grandma laughs again. “Well, I’m switching it on anyway!”
Dom chuckles and sits on the couch, gesturing to me. I join him, sliding easily into his embrace. I love this spot, sliding into place, as though this little pocket of warmth was made just for me.
Grandma enjoys the evening news, going on fiery rants about this and that. I don’t even care what the issues are, honestly, only that she’s clearly happy to be able to vent and be herself again.
When the screen changes, though, I do care. Dom leans forward, gasping. I massage his shoulder and lean forward with him, staring at the screen as the news presenter explains the footage they’re showing.
It’s an old man being led to a police car by two officers. The caption reads, Business Mogul Turned Drug Kingpin: Sebastian Armitage Arrested.
“In a striking scene today,” the presenter says. “A wealthy business mogul was arrested while trying to leave the country on a false passport. Sebastian Armitage gained worldwide notoriety last month when celebrity CEO Dominic Vale publicly accused him of holding a years-long vendetta against him and his family…”
Dom sinks back against the couch, a smile slowly spreading across his face. “It’s done,” he whispers, taking my hand and holding it tightly. “Songbird, it’s over. We’re free to… to…”
“Just be?” I offer.
He lifts my hand and kisses it. “Yeah.” He stands, pulling me to my feet. He hugs me fiercely. I feel a tiny shiver of pain, but it’s quiet beneath the overwhelming love and pleasure. “I love you, Izzy. I love you so much. I loved you the first time we kissed, the first text we sent, even. I love you.” He laughs in delight, like he can’t stop saying it. “I love you, I love you, I—”
“I love you too,” I say, voice getting high and breathy. “I love you more than anything. I wish I’d said it sooner.”
“Hey…” He brushes the hair from my face and behind my ear, one of his favorite gestures. “Let’s not worry about what we did or didn’t do. Let’s just enjoy this. Savor it. We’re together. We’re in love. That’s more than many people will ever get.”