Page 58 of Warrior

My head drops and I clasp my hands. My body, my heart, my soul all take in his words, absorbing their pain and accepting it. “I know. I can’t take it back or change the past, but I want a future with your daughter.”

“Colt, we were scared for a long time about how Lyric handled the breakup. Please don’t take it the wrong way that we’re nervous about you two starting up again,” Haley adds.

“I understand. I know I have work to do. I’m going to show you both how serious I’m taking this second chance with her. I love Lyric. I’ve always loved her, even when I made stupid, horrible decisions. I was scared. I thought she deserved better than the failure I was.”

Sam glances at me, assessing me. “You’re not a failure, Colt. I wish you had never felt that way about yourself. And even though I hated you for many years for hurting my daughter, I’m also grateful for you and that you saved her life.”

“I would give up my life for her, Mr. Taylor,” I acknowledge. He sits back in his chair and reaches for Haley’s hand while shecries silently, a Kleenex tucked in her hand. “I don’t expect you to forgive me overnight or to forget. I hope you hold me to my word that I’ll never intentionally hurt Lyric again. I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

“Are you here for our blessing?” Sam asks, and his voice is thick.

Shaking my head, I bring my gaze to his. “No. But someday I will be. I’m just here to apologize and to tell you both how much she means to me. I hope you will be willing to give me a chance to prove it to you and to her. I can understand if you need time.”

Haley shakes her head and rests her hand on my arm. “We will work to forgive you, as long as you forgive yourself. Love our daughter, Colt. Lover her fiercely, like she loves you.”

Sam looks at his wife like she’s a traitor before shaking his head and leveling another glare at me. “She’s my daughter, Colt. You’ll understand someday when you have your own kids. It takes action, son. My daughter loves you, and I have to trust her.”

I take that as my sign that for now this is as good as it will get. I’m thankful they would even hear me out. I needed to do this for me, for Lyric, and for them. I don’t ever plan to let Lyric go again. I want it all with her, a future where she is my wife. Her family is important to her, and therefore, it’s important to me that they see how much I adore their daughter.

“Thank you,” I tell them, letting sincerity fill my voice. “Thank you for hearing me out. I am sorry. I promise to do better. I will be the man she deserves.”

“Oh, son. You always were. You just need to believe it this time.”

Epilogue II

Colt, 6 months later…

When I wake again, it’s barely morning. The sky is a dusky blue outside my window and I have the greatest view. Lyric, sleepy, warm, and just starting to wake up. She turns her head, sensing my stare, and smirks.

“Enjoying the view?”

My lips lift in a crooked grin. “I love seeing you when you wake up,” I tell her, my arms wrapping around her.

She turns over, so she’s facing me. “Sorry I passed out on you last night.”

I shrug, remembering how obsessed I was with filling every hole on her body, practically rutting her into the mattress. “Just means I did something right.”

Her hand shoots out to playfully slap my shoulder and she giggles. The sound is sweet and innocent compared to the feelings I’m having about her. I want her again already, but I know she’s probably sore. The pent-up energy I’m carrying around needs to be let out. Today is the day.

I run my fingers through her hair, pushing the strands out of her face. “I love you more than anything, you know that?”

Her throat bobs with emotion. “I know. I love you, too.”

“Thank you, baby,” I whisper against her hair and press a kiss to her head. “Alright, I promised you a date today and we need to get going.”

Her face lights up in a smile and she’s quick to get out of bed. We shower and get ready, and I try to keep my cock under control when I see the tight, blue jeans she’s wearing with a cream-colored sweater. My dick practically weeps when she throws on the leather jacket I got her for Christmas.

“You kill me, baby. Always so perfect,” I tell her, hugging her from behind.

We have an unusually warm day for March, and I want to take advantage of it. In the garage, I start to back out my motorcycle when Lyric whoops. We only got a few rides in over the fall before the snow. I help her on the back and hand her her own custom helmet. She straps it on and her arms glide easily around my middle. The little minx even squeezes my torso with her hands and I practically growl in response.

Hitting the gas, we take off and drive out of town and up the scenic route I love. Last time we drove this way, we stopped at the inlets and gazed out over the town, the water of the river, and the fields. When we get to our favorite place, we take a break. I help her off the bike and we both stand and look. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her into me.

“Remember the day I asked you to be my girlfriend?”

Lyric stiffens and turns to look at me. The pain of our past mirrors mine, but there is the gleam of good times too. She nods her head. “Colt, that tree…”

“Hey, we said no more getting sad over the past. This is a happy day,” I tell her and bend down to kiss her lips. “That tree was a sign of our young love. It’s a sign of your pain and growthas well. But I really hope,” I say, while reaching into my pocket and pulling out a chunk of wood. Silently, I hand it to her. “I’m hoping it can be a sign of our future too.”

---