Page 85 of So This Is Love

Bryce grabs the hem of his shirt, raising it above his head and discarding it on the floor before moving to his waistband. My eyes follow his movements intently, taking in the beautiful planes of his body as he strips off the rest of his clothes and then steps into the tub with me.

I settle myself between his legs, resting my back on his chest, my body melting into his as I relax.

Bryce traces shapes on my thigh with his finger, the cadence of his breaths steady as my body rises and falls with the movement of his chest.

“I love you,” Bryce says, his voice low but earnest.

“I know,” I murmur.

And I do.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this man loves me wholly, even the pieces of me that I’ve tried so hard for him not to see. Every look, every touch, every action has been telling methe feelings of his heart long before he voiced the actual words right now.

I turn, shifting so that I’m straddling him and can look him in the eyes.

“I love you too.”

His lips crash to mine, a hand coming up to cradle the back of my neck as we kiss feverishly. We break apart breathless, our foreheads pressed together as we both try to get oxygen to reach our lungs.

“I love you,” Bryce repeats. “I need you to know that you never have to feel like you have to face anything alone ever again. I will be here for you always. You have my word.”

We stay in the bath talking and enjoying each other's company until the water turns cool and my fingers and toes have long become wrinkly. I am about to suggest we get out when my stomach grumbles, reminding me that I never actually ate anything when I went on my quest for food.

Bryce chuckles a deep hearty laugh that I can feel vibrating through me. “Let’s get you something to eat.”

33

Epilogue - Sonny

I cut the engine,the rumble of my Hellcat going quiet before I open the door and step out of the car. I haven’t been here in longer than I’d like to admit. Before I could blame it on the distance or my busy schedule but now that I have moved back to Chicago, I have nothing to blame but myself. In total, I’ve only been here a handful of times but today I felt compelled to make the trip.

There are fresh flowers by the headstone, probably left by my mom or one of my sisters on one of their recent trips.

I place my hand on his headstone, feeling the coolness of the granite on my fingertips. “Hey dad.”

It’s cloudy and the air smells like rain is on its way, but I sit in the grass in front of my dad’s headstone and just talk.

I talk about everything and nothing at all.

I tell him about the album. The success it’s seen since it was released a few months ago. A couple of the songs charted well with one of them taking the number one spot and staying there for five straight weeks. So much success that I’ve beennominated for two awards, something that hasn’t happened since my first album.

I tell him about how grateful I am that I came back home and how I’m thinking about selling my house in Los Angeles and buying something more permanent here.

Finally, I tell him about Laila.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring box I just picked up from the jeweler this morning. I rub my thumb across the black velvet of the box before I flip it open. Nestled in the cushions of the box is a three carat oval diamond engagement ring. Even in the dim light it sparkles.

“You would’ve loved her,” I say, closing the box and putting it back in my pocket for safe keeping.

I stay a while longer, lost in thoughtbefore it's time for me to leave. I place another hand on my dad's headstone, promising him that I'll visit more often before I turn and walk back to my car.

***

Laila hasn’t noticed me yet.

She’s standing as still as a statue as her glam team moves around her, doing this and that to finish off her look for the award show tonight.

Her dress fits her to perfection, a black strapless gown with a plunging neckline that shows off just enough but isn’t scandalous. Her hair is pulled up into a sleek updo. The look is all brought together with her diamond accessories and gloves that go up to her elbows.

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