Page 96 of I'm Yours

Nell gives me a hug before walking out the door. “I’ll be back with her things. You let me know if she needs anything.”

“I will.”

“Glad to have you home, Reed. Don’t let her go this time.”

“You have my word on that.”

When I go back to the living room, Sadie’s looking down at the papers Henry left.

“I can’t believe it. Why me?”

“Why not you?”

“I’m just… me.”

“You’re everything,” I tell her, shaking my head. “Nap time?”

“Yes, please. Will you lay down with me?”

Like she needs to ask twice. “Of course.”

I hold her hand as we go up the stairs and crawl under the sheets in my bed. I tuck her in close. “You love me?”

“I do,” I promise her. “You love me? I come as a package. Not just me, you know.”

“I do,” she promises back.

“You’ll stay with us?”

She leans back. “Here? With your parents?”

I chuckle at how appalled she sounds at living with my parents. I get it, though. “For now. At least until we both feel comfortable with being apart. I’m just not ready yet. And, eventually I want it to be permanent. I want us to build a home by the pond. What do you think?”

“Perfect,” she sighs, eyes getting heavy. “What else, Reed? What else do you have planned for us?”

And just like I do with Emmy to help her fall asleep, I tell her a story. But this one isn’t a fairy tale. It’s real.

Just before she drifts off to sleep, I whisper, “I love you, Sadie. I’m yours. Forever.”

“Love you, Reed. I’m yours.”

Epilogue

Sadie - One Year Later

Ipull into the parking lot of the studio and park my car. We’re in the process of building a new one but it won’t be ready until next spring. I could only handle so many changes at a time and the studio needed to stay the same for a little while longer.

When Reed asked about us living together, I wanted to dive right in without delay. But, we both knew it was too soon for Emmy. He didn’t want me far away and I didn’t really want to be, but Emmy was our first priority. After sleeping in a guest room for a month, we both felt comfortable with me moving into his parents’ lake house. I walked into my house and no longer felt like it was home. I hated Lee and Bryce all over again for taking that away from me.

Even living at the lake was hard. It took me two months to be able to be there alone. Reed and our families and friends were great. So patient with me, taking turns to sleep over. Samuel the most. Reed wanted to be there, but we both knew it was best for Emmy and, if I’m honest, I kind of liked stepping back and taking things a little slow. We went from not seeing each other for twelve years to being in love in what felt like a blink of an eye. I loved being picked up for dates and being wooed. Spending time with Emmy and giving us a chance to get to know each other brought us that much closer.

The time we were able to spend together helped diminish any doubts and fears I had about whether or not we would work as a couple. As a family.

Lee’s in prison.

Bryce is dead.

Reed and I are moving forward.

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