Page 88 of Unravel Me

I turn in his arms.

“I mean it, Sawyer. I love you so much. I hate that I ever left you. I hate the time we lost. But all I want is to move forward with you. I don’t want to waste any more time. I want to live for myself. For us.”

“Fuck, Ivy. I love you. You don’t know how good it feels to hear you say that. I spent so long just walking through life because I had to, but I was never living either. You took the best part of me with you when you left, and I finally feel whole again. I don’t ever want to be away from you.”

He reaches into his jacket pocket and takes out a small black velvet box, my heart pounds against my ribcage.

“Don’t freak out. It’s not what you think it is. That’ll come soon, trust me, but not now.”He hands me the box and I open it to find a gorgeous gold medallion with a lion mid-roar on it. Its edges are rough, like it was an old coin at one point. It’s attached to a long, thin, gold chain.

“Sawyer, it’s gorgeous.”

“It’s meant to be worn as a reminder to be brave in moments of self-doubt.”

My eyes immediately pool with tears.

“How are you so perfect?” I ask, and he laughs.

“Turn around, let me put it on you.”

I turn and lift my hair as Sawyer clasps the necklace on me and I tuck it inside my jacket and under my shirt, the cool metal falling between my breasts and triggering goosebumps that scatter across my flesh.

“Thank you. I love it.”

I pull him down by his neck to force his mouth on mine. The kiss is deep, slow, and everything I’ve ever wanted. He breaks away too soon before speaking.

“Alright, before we get carried away, let’s get back home so I can keep you up all night in our bed.”

I take one more longing look out at the water, the only light coming from the moon and stars above us, before being led by the hand back to Sawyer’s bike.

We pull the bike into Sawyer’s garage and take off our helmets to place them on a shelf. The anticipation of what’s to come has me already wet, my pussy throbbing in need, as Sawyer dwarfs my hand in his again and pulls me toward the house. We walk into the mud room and kick off our shoes before I push him against the door, my hand going straight to grab his package over his jeans. The groan that leaves his mouth as his head falls back and hits the door fuels my confidence. I lean forward and kiss along his jaw, his rough stubble rubbing against my sensitive skin just as he reaches down and grabs my wrist, pulling me away from touching him.

“Baby . . . you’re killing me. Let’s get inside.”

A little stunned, I take a step back from him.

“Oh no you don’t. Don’t go there. I’m not turning you down, so get that look off your face. Follow me.” He pulls the wrist that he hasn’t let go of and I follow him, confused.

We leave the narrow hallway and Sawyer flips on the light to the living room.

“SURPRISE!” rings out as I instinctively cover my ears and turn into Sawyer’s body. His arms bound around me as he laughs and it takes me a full minute to process what’s going on.

“Surprise, baby. Happy birthday.”

He releases his hold and I look at the room full of people standing in front of me. I can’t believe all of these people are here for me. Tears cling to my eyelashes. Everyone starts to part in the center and the tears spill over in rapid succession. Because walking straight toward me is Zoe. Her beautiful blonde hair bobbing with every step and a smile spreading from ear to ear. I cover my face with my palms before running the rest of the way across the room and tackling her to the ground. We land with a loud thud onto the rug.

“I missed your face, you hussy!”

“I missed you wicked bad too!” she screams.

“How? Did you do this?” I ask her.

We sit up and pull each other to stand.

“Nope. This was all your man. Who is fine as fuck by the way, are his brothers single?”

“Do not go there, Zo. No. And Sawyer did all this?”

“Yep. Stole my number from you when you weren’t paying attention and set it all up.”

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