Page 59 of Endless Southern Love

“I do,” she says as she hitches her legs over my hips. The angle is electrifying and a different sensation. I hold on until I can get her to come again, and then get my own release.

We lay there, side by side, panting and out of breath. I stare at the ceiling, grateful Ana decided to keep Goldie for the night.

I turn and look at Lemon. “Why didn’t you call me before you came over? What I mean is, Goldie lives here.”

“Yeah, it was my idea for Ana to take Goldie tonight.”

“Really?” I turn and rest on my elbow.

Lemon nods. “Ana and I are friendly, Wade. I really like her, and regret not giving you the benefit of the doubt all those years ago.”

I kiss her, hoping she knows everything has happened for a reason.

“No more though,” she tells me. “I’m right where I want to be. Where I should’ve been from day one.”

Lemon has no idea what those words do to me.

But I’m about to show her.

epilogue

Jed, Landon, and I maneuver Ana’s couch up the flight of steps, down the corridor and through the front door of her new apartment. If someone had asked me months ago if this was how I saw my life, I would’ve laughed in their face.

Last week, Lemon moved in with me. We know it’s quick, but we’ve wasted enough time apart in our lives. We want to be together and there isn’t any point waiting. With Lemon’s apartment being vacant, Ana took over the lease. It would’ve been easy for Lemon to keep the apartment furnished, but Ana wanted her things. Who could blame her.

After selling, repurposing, and storing all of Lemon’s belongings, the guys and I made the trek to Jacksonville to get Ana’s stuff. Thankfully, Franco kept his distance, which was for the best. Once Jed found out why we had to go, he wanted to confront Franco about what he did. I’m just thankful I didn’t have to bail him out of jail.

Goldie’s princess bed is next. It’s a white four post, heavy as hell bed. I remember when Ana showed it to me. I couldn’t fathom how she needed something so big when she could barely climb onto the mattress. Now that she’s a bit older, I get it. She’ll need a new bed at my house soon but will have this one at her mom’s until she graduates college. I never saw the investment until now.

I leave the guys in Goldie’s room to put the bed together and head back to the moving truck. I’m surprised to find Lemon, Ana, and Goldie coming toward me.

“Hey,” I say when they get near me. I kiss Lemon and Goldie and pretend to go for Ana, who throws her hands up.

“Gross, bucko.”

Thankfully, everyone laughs.

“What are you ladies doing here?”

“We went shopping,” Ana says, holding up two bags.

“And we have lunch,” Goldie says.

“Where?”

“It’s in the car,” Lemon says. “We stopped at Home Slice Pizzeria.”

“Yum. I’m starving. The guys are upstairs putting the princess bed together.”

Goldie claps her hands and her head tips back. “I’ve missed my bed.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with your bed at my house?”

“Nothing, Daddy, but my princess bed . . .” She takes off running for the stairs.

Ana rolls her eyes. “I’ll go with her and make sure she’s staying out of the way.”

I reach for Lemon’s hand and pull her to me until our lips press together. “Thank you.”

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