Page 115 of It's Always Us

“What?” Something drips from my cheek and hits the floor somewhere beneath us.

“I’m going with you. I don’t care where or when. I couldn’t before, but I can now, and I am. I won’t miss another thing. Ever.”

My heart starts beating wildly again, but it’s different this time, and it’s all I can hear. “Lex, what?”

One side of her sad mouth tips up. “My life is with you. You were right.” She shrugs. “It’s always us. No matter what. It’s my turn to show you that now . . . if you’ll let me.” She sniffs while I stand like a damn fool trying to make sure I understand.

“You’ll come with me?” She nods. “Like for good?” She nods again. “We can be together, always?”

She pushes up to her toes and throws her arms around me. “Yes, if you can forgive me. I will follow you to the ends of the earth.”

I scoop her up, my throat swelling shut. “We don’t have to go that far.”

I hear another sniff and then a whisper. “I’m never leaving you again. Ok?”

A boulder that’s sat on my heart for so long finally breaks free. “Ok.”

______

I toss the key card on the table. Lex heads straight for the bathroom and washes her face. After finding her near the restroom, we nabbed a car and blew off every after-party.

All I want is to be with Lex. Alone.

The silence that’s lingered between us is full of promise and anticipation, and it’s as alive as an exposed wire connecting the two of us.

I hang my tux jacket and hear the faucet turn off. She stands in the doorway of the bathroom, watching me. Her face is flushed, and her eyes are a bit puffy, but she’s still the most breathtaking sight.

One hand reaches up and fiddles with her earring, and I can’t prevent the tug at my lips. She’s nervous, and so the hell am I. I’m sixteen again, needing her like I’ll never need another again.

“Get over here.” I toss my head back slightly, beckoning her. Here she is, my wife, already pregnant with my babies, and I feel like this is the first time I’ve ever been alone with her. Blood pumps through my veins as if I’m connected to a machine set on high.

Everything that’s stood between us is finally gone, and there’s nothing left but the two of us. Together.

Her only movement is her eyes tracing over me.

“It will get much better if you come over here.”

Her head falls to the side, testing me. “Huh. That so?”

“Lex, you’re challenging my very limited and mostly non-existent patience. Slow has never been well received with me, and you can be damn sure it’s been eliminated when it comes to us.”

That has a smile breaking across her face. “Fine.”

I let my head fall back. “Fine. That’s it. Really?”

I take two quick steps toward her, but she retreats and holds out her hands. “I . . . need to say something first.”

“Lex, not tonight, not right now. I don’t care. No talking.”

She lowers her arms. “Ok, but before you touch me—”

I groan. “Hurry up.”

She points at me. “No touching.”

“Fair warning, I’m not very good at following rules.”

“Shocking.” She smiles, moving toward me, but it quickly falls away. Her fingers grasp the top button on my shirt and works it free. Then moves on to the next. “I don’t want to go back. I want to start here with you.” Her hands stop on the last button, and her eyes remain focused on the remaining slick, round object. “I don’t want anything between us. I’ve never lied to you, but . . . ” Her hands fall to her sides, and she shifts back an inch.

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