“I like listening to you,” I say, my eyes sliding from hers to her soft, pink, pouty lips and back again. “Does it help sweeten things if I promise to listen to you always?”
“I just want to know that we’ll stay like this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Talking. Open communication. You’re going to be here and I’m going to be in Sweetkiss Creek. If we’re going to make this work, there’s going to be some distance to contend with.”
“But…” I wag a finger in the air. “It’s not much when we can hop on a video chat anytime. And I promise by committing…”
Riley winces, pinching her eyes shut, but laughing. “Yes?”
“Come on,” I say playfully as I continue. “Committing to talking every night. Even if it's a quick call to say goodnight, I want to be part of your everyday life and I want you to know mine.”
Aquamarine eyes clash into mine as she sighs. “There’s a saying that something is too good to be true. I feel like it applies here, but, I’m willing to do this. With you.” She points her finger into my chest.
“Really?” I ask, wanting to jump us into the future so she can see what I see for us, knowing in my heart and soul that this is it for me. She’s my endgame. There’s no one else.
“You’ve won my heart, Jake December,” she whispers as she leans her head against my chest. “It’s safe to say I’m falling in love with you.”
My heart races. She’s falling. In love. WITH ME.
“Glad you caught up,” I say, nuzzling her neck. “I think I fell in love with you the moment you landed in my car.”
She giggles as I go serious. Using my thumb and forefinger, I tilt her mouth to mine so I can taste the sweetness of her lips. Everything around us falls away, and it’s me, Riley, and what lies ahead. There’s a tug on my bottom lip as she nibbles it, bringing her mouth back to mine in a hurried moment. The snapping of electricity between us is so intense to me I feel like we're letting off sparks, sending them soaring into the air around us announcing that this is it.
She slides her hand up my arm, her touch sending waves of heat across my skin. This woman is mine, and I’m hers. I don’t want anything else because tonight I’m whole and content. I know that forever starts now and I’m ready to prove to her that I’m in this for the long haul, no matter what it takes. I’ll go to the ends of the earth for her.
As I push my fingers through her hair, it dawns on me that I was fighting for her before I even knew her. Now I plan on being her protector for life. I know I’ll be out on the road, but I know ways to make sure that she always knows I’m thinking of her. And I can’t wait to discover new ways to show her I care. I’mgonna get creative and make sure I keep this one happy because she’s a keeper.
She pulls away, tucking herself against my chest so I can rest my chin on the top of her head. I’ve never been so certain about anything as I am now about us. It’s the moment you know. You know that “me” has become “we” and you’re never going back.
Everything I do, I’ll be doing for Riley.
For us.
Forever.
Epilogue
JAKE
Ever since I can remember, I have cherished summer. It’s a season brimming with memories of carefree days, no school, and plenty of adventures outdoors with friends. Now I also appreciate the addition of practices to my summer routine. Staying in top form means hitting the rink during the summer months, ensuring I’m at the peak of my game when the season starts.
This year, summer has taken on a whole new meaning, though. This year, summer is the season where I’m getting married.
Whenever I glance in Riley’s direction, she’s right next to me, remaining perfectly motionless and attempting to stifle her laughter. I could blame the circumstances, but I’ll blame Levi since he’s her man of honor. He had one job. He had to get her to the church on time and he actually failed. Was I nervous? No. Anxious. I wanted this to happen, and to happen as fast as we could make it happen so she can officially be all mine.
As the minister is engaged in explaining the concept of love to our guests, I’m standing here, wanting to wrap my arms around this woman, throw her over my shoulder, and make a caveman-style escape from this room.
It’s Riley, it’s the wedding dress, it’s the music. It’s the fact that I fell in love with this woman and how lucky am I that she loves me back? And we get to spend the rest of our lives together.
Movement at our feet pulls our attention downward, the sight of Posh and Becks sitting at attention and perfectly still beside us is too much for either one of us to handle. When Henry arrived for groomsman duties, he brought us a bow tie and wedding veil to put on the pair after finding out they were going to be a part of the wedding. I’ve got to hand it to Riley. She’s the one who worked to train these two, so they’d be cool enough to sit here today. I was worried Becks would pee on everyone’s leg. So far, so good.
As the minister drones on, I lean down and put my lips as close as I can to Riley’s ear. “Why Miss Richards, you look incredible today,” I say with a whisper.
Those aquamarine eyes, sparkling with a thousand fireflies today, pull me in as her lips curl upward. Beautiful pink lips that are full and pouty, but in all the best ways. She turns to me and winks.
“It’s Mrs. December to you. And be careful, my husband-to-be is close by.”
