Page 129 of Zimyra

“Oh, we haven’t had time to talk about that yet, Zan,” I respond, eating more shrimp.

“We really don’t need to talk about it,” Axel says. “We’re going to live right here in Columbia.”

“Axel, you don’t have to—your home is in Bridgeport. Your entire life is there.”

“My life is wherever you are, sweetheart.”

“Ax—”

“I will never take you away from your family. The thought never even crossed my mind.”

Tears fill my eyes. I close my eyes and bow my head trying to keep them at bay.

“Aw,” I hear Mom say.

Axel’s arms close around me. He whispers in my ear, “It’s okay, baby. I thought you knew that already?”

“What about your job?”

“I’ll just work down here. All I need is an office and a computer.”

“And your family?”

“They’re accustomed to the way I forge my own path. They’ll adjust.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, sitting up and no longer whisper-talking, but talking outright, not concerned if the family hears me.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”

I feel a smile grow on my face while a single tear falls.

Zander says, “Okay, enough of all that. The server has been standing here waiting to take our orders and there’s a fat, juicy steak with my name on it. I say we order.”

Alyssa giggles.

“I second that,” Axel says.

And just like that, my husband is an official member of my little family.

I feel so much love in my heart for this man. While he talks with my brothers, I take his left hand into my right and bring it to my lips. He stops mid-sentence to look at me. I stare back at him and smile. He lowers his mouth to mine and kisses me softly before plowing through my lips with his tongue, kissing me thoroughly. His tongue bathes my mouth and my throat. I moan. I tried not to, but it couldn’t be helped.

Zavier clears his throat.

Mom says, “Well, alrighty then.”

Even after that, I don’t stop kissing my husband. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just us at this table. I will happily forego dinner just to have him to myself instead.

EPILOGUE

I passed the test.

Axel helped me study more thoroughly. He even made a mock test and the questions I got wrong were the questions I knew I needed to focus on. It’s such a huge relief to finally have my certification. While I know I didn’t necessarily need it because I know how to do the work, it will give my clients the satisfaction of knowing that their interior decorator is an expert. And the certification will look good on the wall behind my desk – that iswhenI get an office. We have too much going on right now for me to give that my full attention.

Axel is in the process of selling his home in Bridgeport while we look for a home in Columbia. There are a couple in Gregg Park where Zavier lives that piqued our interest. We’re meeting with our realtor to view those on Monday.

This morning, I awake to Axel’s hazel eyes beaming into my soul while his fingers dance across my stomach, making my body spasm. His lips form the most handsome smile, revealing the whiteness of his teeth.

Is this really my life? Gosh, I feel like I need to pinch myself every day to be sure I’m not imagining it all.

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