Page 94 of When You Saved Me

Deacon smiled at me without abandon. The look of him had me feeling dizzy. “No need to be nervous, sunshine. Everyone’s going to love it.”

“Oh my gosh! Charlie! This is incredible!” Willow exclaimed as she took me into her arms and squeezed me tight.

“Thank you so much!” I said as she rubbed her hand up and down my back in greeting before we pulled apart.

About a month after the accident, Deacon had finally let me out of our love bubble to meet up with his friends.Willow and her new husband, Johnny, had just made it back into town from their extended honeymoon and we’d become fast friends. We both connected over art as she was a fashion designer and created a lot of her own pieces.

“I still can’t believe it’s real. I never would have imagined myself being the kind of girl who did spontaneous things on the regular, but after finishing the gallery, I honestly can’t wait for Deacon and I’s next project.”

“I don’t blame you!” She looked around with wonderment shining in her blue eyes. “It must have felt so good seeing your vision come to life.”

“It definitely did.”

Bark! Bark!

Willow and Johnny’s dog Asher came barreling through the door as Johnny strode in behind him. Kneeling, Asher almost knocked me off my heels as he dove his head into my stomach in search of scratches.

“That’s such a good boy, Asher! Such a good boy!” I scratched him behind his ears and along his spine until his body shook.

“Careful now. You don’t want Casper to think you’ve betrayed him,” Johnny said as he wrapped his arm around Willow’s waist.

I didn’t have to look behind me to know that Deacon had walked up. “Oh, he will most certainly feel betrayed.”

“Don’t say that.” I turned around and pouted at him. “You’re going to make me feel bad.”

Warmth seeped into me as he tugged me into his side andwhispered, “I’ll give him extra cuddles to make up for your indiscretion. Don’t worry.”

I elbowed him in the ribs. “OOF,” he grunted, making me giggle.

“Y’ALL! This is amazing!” Sarah’s high-pitched squeal permeated the space as she darted through the door Ranger held open for her. We collided into a tight hug and warmth spread through my chest as we tilted each other side-to-side.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” I said to her as we pulled back and looked at one another. Her dark eyes were crinkled along the sides from her wide smile.

“Hey, brother, it’s good to see you.” Ranger clasped Deacon’s hand before pulling him into a bro hug.

“You too, I’m glad you two were able to make it out.”

“Are you kidding me? We wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Sarah gave Deacon a side hug.

“You want to give us a tour?” Johnny asked.

“Yeah, let’s start over here.”

I hung back for a moment, watching as Deacon led our friends to the right side of the space where my first art installation held the painting I’d made ofBadger Creek Cabin’sbackyard. It hadn’t taken very long for Deacon’s friends to adopt me into their group. Now, I spoke to Sarah and Willow on a daily basis, and it feltamazingto have such wonderful people surrounding me.

In the weeks after my accident, I thought a lot about the time I was in the hospital after the fire and how difficult it had been to be abandoned by my friends. Honestly, it hurt worse than I let on.

But this moment—right here—healed my heart in such a profound way. When I’d left Charlotte, I knew I was in search of something. A place where I felt like I belonged. Watching the man of my dreams lead our friends around the space we’d created together, I knew this was where I was meant to be all along.

DEACON

“Where are you taking me?” Charlie asked as she slipped her hand into mine before we headed out the door. My truck bed was already filled with all the necessities we’d need for the little trip I had planned.

“Can’t a man have his secrets?” I joked.

Charlie stopped in her tracks, forcing me to stop with her. Bees buzzed around my stomach when I turned to find her glowering at me. She was so damn feisty, my sunshine. Never letting me get away with anything.

“Notthatkind of secret.” I tucked her under my arm. “Geez, what kind of man do you take me for?”

---