Page 45 of Blue Collar Babes

“So do you.”

River turns to me, uncertainty written in the straight line of her lips. I don’t know how I thought I could send her away earlier. I’ve never been able to live without her. I’m never going to be able to.

“I love you, Riv. I’m in love with you. I’d like to tell you the second it happened, but there’s no definitive moment. It was a million moments over the years. A smile or a laugh. How you listened to me. Watching you help others. Even your stubbornness. I fell in love with everything about you. There’s never been anyone but you for me.”

“Ash.”

“No more apologies. Can we just move on to the happily ever after?”

Her smile nearly brings me to my knees. Happiness and love shine so bright, my heart wants to burst with joy.

“If only our happily ever after meant you showing me to your bedroom.”

She doesn’t have to ask me twice.

Picking her up, I wrap her legs around my waist and carry her to my room. Her eyes don’t leave mine as I lay her on my bed. The intensity in her gaze has me ready to explode, but I’ve waited years for this. I’m going to cherish every second. Cherish her.

“This is one ‘if only’ I’m happy to make right.”

EPILOGUE

ASH

River and I have barely left each other’s side the past week. Margie and Brielle have been taking care of the store while we’ve mostly been in each other’s beds. We’ve never been more connected. Not because we’ve made love, but because we’ve been fully honest about all our hurts.

She told me everything about Craig, and I admitted that I never got serious with anyone in hopes of forcing her hand. She begged me to forgive her for losing years of my life. I told her we had to forgive ourselves. We both made choices that hurt us, but in the end, we’re exactly where we should be.

Today, that’s at Dig It, building one of the new outdoor greenhouses. River revealed she has a few expansion phases for the shop, starting with outdoor greenhouses and eventually an addition.

She applied for the permits the day after her divorce.

It wasn’t even a question of whether I would help. There’s nothing I want more than her happiness.

“Water break time,” River says, offering a water bottle with a quick kiss.

“Get your lips off my wife.”

“Ex-wife,” River, Margie, Brielle, and I bark out in unison. It’s almost comical.

Craig disregards us as he storms in our direction, waving a paper in the air. “You’ve gone too far this time. First him—” he looks at me in disgust, “—then this.” He shakes the paper in River’s face. “How dare you change back to your maiden name.”

His face is red as he spits the question like an accusation.

River smirks and stands tall.

“Actually, the name change came first. Then I started dating Ash. Though, I should have been with him a long time ago.”

“Him? He never deserved you. You’ve always been out of his league.”

She snorts and rolls her eyes. “No, you never deserved me. You’re an abusive, womanizing piece of shit. The only thing you deserve is jail time.”

He stomps his foot like a child seeking attention and scans our faces, wondering if we know what she speaks of. I do. I’m not sure about the ladies beside us.

“You hold no power over me anymore, Craig. You sure as hell don’t own me, but someone may own you soon.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

She smiles a beautifully mischievous smile. “I turned every bit of illegal activity you were involved in while we were married over to the authorities.”

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