Page 85 of Give Me Strength

I kiss him back harder, my heart aches with love and gratitude for this man who means the world to me.

For the first time in days, I feel a glimmer of hope. We have a long road ahead of us, but at least we’re in this together. And we will face whatever comes our way, together.

EPILOGUE

GILBERT

Four Months Later

There are pros and cons to dating an early riser.

Pro: You get bribed with coffee in bed every morning.

Con: Their early rising habits start to rub off on you after a while.

No, scratch that last one.

I wake up to the sound of gentle rustling of sheets as Ashlynn stirs beside me. Sitting up, I watch her for a moment, still amazed by the love and resilience we’ve built over the last few months. Lying next to me, she looks peaceful, so naked and vulnerable. The morning sun filters through the sheer curtains of our bedroom, casting a warm, golden glow over her.

It’s a quiet, peaceful morning, one of those rare moments where everything feels just right. It’s also our first night in our New York City penthouse apartment. Fall semester at Bayard starts tomorrow, so moving this close was cutting it. Having an in-home dance studio was a must, and since it’s not a common feature in penthouses that had to be added. And she didn’t want to live in a construction zone. Plus she bought the two apartments below us for Russ and Melissa — whom she convinced to make the move with us — with a third one in escrow for Bonnie to use whenever she visits. Ashlynn might not realize it yet, but she has a knack for real estate. Her idea of rebelling is buying commercial real estate. She claims doing so beings her joy, but the properties she buys are not random. More like diamonds in the rough. With time, she’ll double our portfolio and our net worth.

For now, she needs her beauty rest.

I can’t help but smile as I stare at her sleeping figure. She won’t be pleased that I woke up before her, but having the opportunity to make her breakfast for a change isn’t one I’m going to pass up on.

I slip out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her. I grab a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before heading to the kitchen. As I prepare breakfast, I think back to where we were four months ago, and how much we both agree that we don’t want to go back to that place. Being away from each other is hard enough — like when she spent three weeks with Wynter in Paris — but that was by choice, not because one of us kept something life-altering from the other.

It hasn’t been easy, but we face our demons together everyday. Since then, we’ve worked hard to create a space where honesty and vulnerability are always welcomed. We talk openly, sometimes painfully, about our fears and insecurities. I’ve shared more about my past, about the darkness of my family’s history that I had tried so hard to keep hidden. I also told her about my father’s conviction — but I left out Everett’s involvement in that.

She, in turn, shared with me more of what happened between her and Leland — who, to no one’s surprise, got shot dead by the mother of another student at Bluegrass High School he was stalking. She also shared with me what went down with many of her ‘friends’ after the first lawsuit, the one she got rich off of. It broke my heart to hear, how closed off she had to become because she couldn’t trust who her real friends and the users were. It wasn’t until after things went down with Principal Richardson that she realized she had a handful of genuine acquaintances at Bluegrass, students who were in similar situations as she was. Maybe those will blossom into friendships, or maybe not. But she was ready to close the chapter on high school the minute she walked across that stage — after which she lept into my arms, kissed me in front of everyone, and asked me to marry her. Again.

So, yeah. I have a fiancée now.

And in five years, I will be Mr. Gilbert Crane.

We’re waiting until after Ashlynn’s twenty-third birthday to get married, for reasons that have to do with the Blackwell settlement. If Bonnie had her way, it would be longer than that. I don’t think she will rest until Clement Blackwell has been disinherited by his family. I might not agree with how she’s going about it, but I also know that people like Clement will never learn unless you hit them where it hurts the most. In his case, it’s money. And since his parents love having Blackwell name attached to Ashlynn’s accomplishments, so they pay.

As the water for our tea boils — I only drink coffee in the afternoons now — and as the smell of bacon, freshly made orange juice and pancakes fills the air, I think about how far I’ve grown, not just as a partner but as a person. The shadows of my past will never go away, but they no longer have a hold over me. I don’t have to hide them from her. With her by my side, I’ve faced and acknowledged them. All I can strive to be is a better man, for her.

As the tea steeps, I hear her soft footsteps behind me, and I turn to see her standing in the doorway, looking as radiant as ever.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” I saw, smiling as I take her in.

She’s wearing one of my old t-shirts with nothing underneath. Her hair is slightly messy, and there’s a softness in her eyes that makes my heart swell.

“Morning.” Her voice warm and breathless and sleepy as she approaches.

She stops to take in the scene before her, and by the time our eyes meet, I can tell breakfast is the last thing on her mind.

“I don’t like waking up alone,” she whips off the t-shirt and tosses it aside, her delectable body on display, “but since you made breakfast, I’m willing to make an exception. As long as we get to christen the kitchen island now.”

“Deal.”

I turn off the burners and I stalk toward her and pick her up. Our lips lock together immediately, and she wraps her legs around my waist. The kiss turns wild and carnal quickly as my tongue caresses hers. She drags her nails in my scalp and I groan into her mouth.

“Which do you want first, my tongue or my cock?” I ask, even though I know what her answer will be.

“Both.” Her lips stretch into a mischievous smile. “Before breakfast gets cold.”

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