He pulled her tighter into his ember and sed the top of bad. “I love you, Jen.”
She ended against his chest. “I love you ton.”
And in that warm, hushed moment, Jennifer knew that she had closed a door to her past and opened to a future filled with light, love, and all the thought she could never have. She just had to move in with her life and face the same man who had loved her despite her excesses and it was no other than
Chapter 23
Morning light began to beam down on the lonely highway, with the sun just ringenler was slumped, with her heart leaning lightly on the window, sting outside the mees. The outside world appeared praceful, with bright sunlight pouring in and the promise of a new day
She nimedro Him and nodded. “Yes Ethink so‘
He took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers in a comfortable bend, a silent conversation that had become theirs
They were headed to a le cabin o hours outside of teen, near the lake surrounded by tall pines. Byerm shumbled upon this lodge and uggested they shut themselves from the outside world. No phones Nocity major just the two of them.
“We deserve this” he had said to her a day back “Something just for us.”
And Jennifer had speed..
Amer what they had gone through–the dent in the heat, the accident, and Devlin’s goodbye–there had to be some time to breathe hauling, starting altesh.
With each mile that the car rolled toward the cabin, memories flowed back to Jennifer’s head. Byron, the once–timidan, had become her pillar of strength. Her peare, she looked at him new, those familiares concentrated on the road ahead, one handen the wheel, the other reassuringly grasping hers
He had always been there, steady, kind, and patient.
And now, it felt like they were finally starting something real
The cabin was small yet ry, hidden in a groove of lofty trees. The small wooden deck wrapped around the front, with the lake shining on the edge.
After parking the can, they both got down. Their smelled of pine and clean water, and shook a deep breathin
“It’s beautiful,” Jennifer barely whispered.
Byron put his arm around her shoulder. “It’s all outs for the weekend”
They hauled their bags inside, where wooden walls provided a warm, hay set. The furniture was simple soft couches, a stone fireplace, all kitchen with mismatched mugs and plates. Nothingney, but inter like home in a way they both had not expected
After packing, the both of them camped out on the porch on steaming mugs of hot cocoa and a blanket of. The silence was comforting, broken in between by the birds chirping and pelplash by the water against the shore
“I never thought I’d let this peaceful again.” Jennifer admitted.
Byron looked at her. “You deserve prasi, Jen. You’ve carried so much for so long.”
She turned to him and said, her eyes solt, “so have you. You waited for me. You ni ever gave up.
didn’t want to held honestly. “Lven when it hurt, I couldn’t walk away.”
With her handout, Jennifer gently asked her palm along his check. “Thank you”
He leaned into her and kissed her low and tender. It wasn’t hurried or red with heat. Rather, it was a kiss sintas, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.
That night, they decided to have a fice lit in the fireplace, then sat on the floor, the blanket laid out undeath them, byron stole a stack of board games and deck of cards, as they laughed like kids, playing.
It’s been years since she laughed like that. It’s been mostly a blur since the last remembered having carelessly fun experiences.
They prepared dinner together which included grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, all while slow dancing around the small kitchen to Byron’s soft playli
“Did you make this for me?” she asked, her mouth hanging open at the sound of anoth favorite song kicking in
He pred sleepishly, “Maybe”
Wrapping her asms around his ned, she swayed slowly. “You are full of surprises.”
“Only for you.”
They danced in long slenor, saying little but enough; moving close into his arms, feeling natural and warm.
The next morning cast them at the lake, dips offer in cold water as synlight on the water sparkled like a thousand amends
Jennife; leaned hær held against Byron’s shoulder and asked, “Have you ever thought about.. the future?”
Hrlu
He took a breath. “Always with you.”
Gate was directed towards the water by enter; the thoughts were a swim
“I was thinking, “she began slowly, “about living together.”
Byron bänked in surprise. “Dally!”
She nodded. “I know It sounds fast and maybe a surplus, but I don’t want to
to make a life by mygli. I want to make one with you
He smiled, yn warm. “Jen, I’ve been waiting to hear that from you.”
know you were ready.”
“I’ve been tolding back because I didn’t want to pressure you she runned completely toward him. “I’m ready. For the first time, I want to build
He took both of her hands in his “Then let’s do it. Bullda hope Home Out House.”
thing new with you. Not as a means of escaping the past but because now the future ismally seems.
y liked, and even what colour curtains would
Tears filled her eyes to out of any sadness, but merely due to the overwhelming feeling of being seen, chosen, and loved. They spent the rest of the day discussing where they might live, how they would split up ches, what kinds of furniture they liked, a living room. It all felt exciting, as if they were planning a new chapter in a story that both of them wanted to walte together. Byron even dug out a small notepad and stared Joeling down Ideas
“So, you want plants near the windows, a bookshelf by the bed, and caller bar in the kichen!” held down while smiling. “Yrs, and a small dog. One day.“Jennifer laughed.
