Page 85 of Love, Rekindled

I look up into his chocolate brown eyes, knowing I never want to look at another’s. “I don’t think I could resist you if I tried. Just don’t ever push me away like that.”

“I won’t.”

“I’ll always be honest. If something is too much, I’ll tell you.”

This is the one lesson I’ve learned. I can’t control the things around me, but I can control how I deal with them. Being honest is necessary. I used to let things get to be too much and then the issue was so much bigger than it had to be.

“And I will trust that what you say is true.”

I bring my lips to his. “We have a lot of trust issues between us. People who were supposed to love us have hurt us, but we don’t have to hurt each other. I don’t want the sins of our past to dictate our futures.”

He nods. “Is that what you want?”

“What?”

“A future.”

“With you?”

Ben pushes my hair back, holding my face. “With me.”

I close my eyes, resting my head against his. “Forever. You’ve always been my forever.”

And then, we don’t say anything else. Because we’re much too busy to speak.

EPILOGUE

Gretchen

~Three Years Later~

“Where is he?”I ask as I pace the bridal suite. If this happens to me again, I will lose my ever-loving mind.

“He’ll be here,” Catherine says and then glances at Ashton before smiling at me.

Ashton rubs her small baby bump and grumbles, “If he’s not, I’ll kill him. Doesn’t he care I’m stuffed in this dress that I’ve let out three times?”

“Yes, I’m sure you’re what he’s worried about,” I huff.

No one told her to get knocked up.

“Relax, both of you. Ben will not stand Gretchen up.” Cat tries to be the voice of reason. “He loves her too much.”

My phone rings and déjà vu hits me like a ton of bricks. Panic builds as I rush over to it.

“Ben?”

“Babe. There was a major accident on 264 and we’re totally stuck, but I called Mark and he’s on his way with his motorcycle to get me and Jackson.”

“You’re not standing me up?” I ask with fear in my voice.

“Never. I have been waiting for this day for freaking years. Just know I’m coming for you.”

I smile, clutching my hand to my chest. “Okay. Just hurry.”

“I’m trying.”

“I know.”

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