Page 86 of Chase Our Forever

That she’d be the one to make me want to feel again.

Her dimples appear with her radiant smile. “I think I might need to hear you say it again.”

I gently cup her face in my hands. “I love you. Loving you might be the scariest thing I ever do, but I wouldn’t change it. You came into my life and made me realize I was living in the gray. You make every single day brighter, and I want to cherish every day I’m given with you because it’s a gift to love you and be loved by you.”

When a tear runs down Liv’s face, I lean in to kiss it. She slides her hands underneath my jacket to feel my skin, to get us even closer. I love how much love reflects in her eyes with the way she stares back at me.

“I love you so much, Dean Livingston. My entire life flashed before my eyes tonight, and all I could think about was how much I wanted a life with you and Clara here in Sutten. How I wanted more time with you two. I wanted forever. Forever and always, however long that’ll be.”

“That’s all I want,” I tell her, letting my eyes close and soak in the feel of her skin against mine. Her familiar scent surrounds me as we just breathe each other in for a few moments. “I didn’t know I needed you. I fought it so hard because I didn’t want to love someone again. But it was inevitable. My love for you, it grew over time. It blossomed into something that bled right into my soul, sunshine. Nothing excites me more than the life I have ahead of me with you and Clara by my side.”

A happy sob erupts from her. She squeezes me tight and buries her face against my chest.

“Not so tight, baby. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

She shakes her head against me. “I don’t care. It hurts me more not to feel your touch. I wondered if I’d ever feel it again. I need this, Dean. I’m fine, I promise.”

I let my body relax a little and risk softly wrapping my arms around her. I keep my touch featherlight, trying not to inflict any pain onto her sore and tender muscles. But I need to feel her against me just as much as she needs it.

“I love you, and I’m so fucking grateful you’re okay.” I cradle the back of her head against my chest, savoring the feeling of having her in my arms. She might get sick of how much I’ll want to hold her in the coming days after being faced with the thought of losing her tonight.

“My car is totaled, and I didn’t even get a chance to see if your gifts were harmed in the crash.”

As gently as I can, I tilt her chin up so our eyes can meet. “I already have the best gifts. You and Clara.”

Her bottom lip trembles a little bit as her lips spread into a smile. “Well, if I wasn’t already in love with you, that would’ve done it.”

I smile, leaning in so our lips barely brush against one another. “Keep falling in love with me, sunshine. I know I plan on doing the same.”

She smiles and closes the distance between us until our lips meet. The kiss is slow and soft, just what she needs after what she’s been through tonight. It’s perfect. It’s a kiss that promises we have all the time in the world to do exactly this.

I savor in feeling her lips against mine. With each second that passes by, I can feel the worry leave my body. I’d been so fucking worried tonight, terrified I’d never see her again. Terrified I’d never be able to tell her how much I loved her and how she saved me.

Someone clearing their throat makes us break apart. I don’t go far, still needing to feel her touch to remind myself she’s okay as we turn and find a doctor standing in the doorway.

She looks at me with a friendly smile. “I’m Dr. Harold, and I’m in charge of Liv’s care tonight.”

I nod. “Is she okay?” The worry is evident in my voice.

Dr. Harold smiles. She looks from me to Liv. “You have quite the crew of family members that are worried about you. I was just stopped while looking over your chart at my desk by a very persistent blonde wanting to know if anything was broken.”

Liv and I share a knowing look. “My money’s on Pippa,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood a little. My hope is that the casual tone of Liv’s doctor indicates there isn’t anything majorly concerning that showed up in her scans.

The pit doesn’t fully leave my stomach as I wait for the doctor to confirm it. “It seems like you really had a guardian angel watching over you tonight,” she begins, her eyes roaming over the clipboard she holds. “With the accident you had, I thought we’d see more injuries on your scans. But luckily, there’s no sign of broken bones or internal bleeding. You do have a concussion that we need to monitor and a few stitches for the wound on your forehead, but other than that, you should be able to go home rather soon.”

My shoulders shake as I let out a breath. Seeing her alive brought so much relief, but to know she walked away from the accident about as clear as one could seems more like a miracle. “That’s incredible,” I whisper, wondering how that even happened.

The doctor nods. “It really is a miracle. We’ll monitor the concussion, and you’ll be free to go home within the next twenty-four hours.”

“Thank you,” Liv says, smiling at Dr. Harold before she leaves to attend to other patients.

With the doctor gone, I grab Liv’s face in my hands as I let it settle in that she’s going to be okay.

She’s safe. She’s here. She’s mine.

“Are you going to be okay?” a voice frantically asks from the open doorway. We both turn to find Pippa standing in the doorway. Mare stands with her, along with Cade, Camden, my dad and brothers. They all look concerned as they stare expectantly at both Liv and me.

“I’m all good,” Liv answers. “The doctor said I even get to go home tomorrow.”

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