Page 160 of All I Have Left

Raindrops hit my nose and eyelashes. “I asked if it’s bad luck to have it rain your entire honeymoon?”

He’s smiling now and I hadn’t realized how much these smiles meant to me now. You do when you go months without seeing them. “I think it means forever.”

“Is that so?”

“It has to be.” Snaking his hands around my backside, he draws me into him. My back hits the edge of the pool. The drops of rain hitting the sky blue water around us sound familiar. They drip off Grayson’s nose and an image works its way into my memory. One of Shane hovering above me, rain on his chin and falling into me.

I blink and it’s gone, replaced with the one who fought so hard to stay in my life all these years. Though I no longer have nightmares about Shane, I still think about him and what he took from us. We might have went through a year of therapy butit’s truth what they say. Time heals all wounds. How much time? Well, that’s different for everyone.

Grayson moves closer, his lips destine on mine. Our kiss is messy, salty with humidity and rain. I almost laugh at the irony of the relation to this guy who holds my heart and now my life in his hands. He’s salty and sweet.

Tears surface, not from sadness, but happiness. I’m so damn in love with him I can’t stand it. He notices the change in my demeanor. He always does. “You’re not supposed to cry when I’m kissing you. It’s a rule.”

“I can when I’m happy.”

He pulls back, an eyebrow curved. “But you’re crying.” Holding my face in his hands, he searches my eyes for the reason.

“I’m excited that we’re here, starting our lives together. I can’t wait to get back home and move into our house, officially, and be husband and wife there.”

A chuckle leaves his lips. “I’ll fix the plumbing.”

“I don’t even mind the outhouse in our backyard.”

“I do,” he grumbles into my ear. His tone sends a spark of shivers through me and I hold onto him tighter, my legs circling around his waist. “There’s a hornet’s nest in there.”

I’ve yet to get stung but Grayson and Frankie have been stung four times so far. It was enough that Frankie refuses to use the Port-A-Potty and it’s given Grayson the motivation to finish the plumbing in the house.

“Still,” I draw him closer. “This feels like forever is finally within reach.”

He kisses me once more. “I’ll give you everything, honey.”

“All I want is you and a couple babies that have your brown eyes.”

His lips quirk. “We should probably fuck again then.”

I laugh at his crassness. “You’re such a boy.”

“I’m your boy. Always. Forever.” His expression bleedspossessiveness, but there’s sincerity in his words too, spoken with the same affirmation he gave me when he said his vows. Then he pushes my bikini bottom aside, his fingers dancing over my clit.

I lay my head back against the edge of the pool, raindrops hitting my face. And though this is familiar, looking up at a water soaked sky scattered with dark clouds, I have no fear for the one between my legs, panting that he loves me. I don’t because his promises don’t come with circumstances. I don’t trust words. I trust actions and the one who gave me forever and always.

3 WEEKS LATER

“Do you think it worked?”

“I don’t know.” Grayson runs his hand through his hair nervously, biting his lip. “Maybe my swimmers don’t work.”

“Swimmers?” I raise an eyebrow watching him pace the bathroom at his parent’s house. It was closer to the Rite Aid and we couldn’t wait to take the test until we got back to our house. Also, no plumbing and I didn’t really want to share this experience while fighting off angry hornets.

Grayson waves his hand around and leans into the counter next to the toilet. “Just take the damn test.”

My hands shake as I lower my shorts. “Turn your head.”

Crossing his arms, he looks over at me, offended. “Why?”

I stare at him. Blinking slowly.Shouldn’t it be obvious?“So I can pee.”

“Are you serious? I literally had my mouth on your clit this morning. Twice. And you’re worried about me seeing you pee?”

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