Page 139 of Done Waiting

My gaze lowers as I wrap her in my arms. “It’s freezing out here, and you should be in the car, staying warm, baby girl.” She opens her mouth to protest, and I glower at her, shutting her up. “You’re supposed to be taking it easy.”

“I am taking it easy, Jagger. All I’ve done is lay and sit around since I got out of the damn hospital.”

“That’s what you’re supposed to be doing, Maddie.” My voice is a low, admonishing growl.

Leaning up on her tiptoes, she kisses my jaw. “I love you, my overprotective, possessive as fuck stalker.”

I laugh loudly, and my eyes twinkle as they stare into hers. “And I love you, my stubborn as fuck gorgeous baby girl.”

Maddie’s smile is blinding as she says, “Well, now I feel bad. I made you sound bad the way I described you.”

I snort. “By anyone else’s standards, maybe. But by yours, hell no.” I dip my head, my mouth close to her ear. “Besides, you love that I’m your overprotective, possessive as fuck stalker.”

She giggles, and I feel the goosebumps flare over the skin from my voice. I can’t resist gliding my tongue over the small bumps along her neck, euphoria filling me as she shivers in my embrace. I know it’s not from the cold but how I affect her. She affects me in the same way.

“You forgot obsessive. And an asshole.” I kiss the shell of her ear, her sigh and happy giggle lighting up my world even though we stand in a cemetery, the shadows long from the twilight around us.

Her laugh makes me laugh harder. Pulling back, I raise my brows. “Should we be laughing right now?” My gaze moves to the tombstone in front of me. “I’m not familiar with graveside etiquette.”

Maddie giggles, cocking her head. “Even if you knew graveside etiquette, you wouldn’t follow it.” Her hands rub overmy leather jacket. “Besides, we’ve never been conventional, so why start now?”

I press my lips to her forehead. “That’s why you’re perfect for me.”

“And you’re perfect for me,” she whispers, emotion clogging her voice.

We stand there in silence, breathing the other in, before Maddie says, “Jagger, you’ve experienced more hardship than anyone I know. Your mom would want you to smile and laugh. God knows you more than deserve it.”

My forehead moves against hers, my voice low and hoarse “I love you so damn much, baby girl. You’re my forever.”

She releases the most beautiful sigh, tilting her head when I remove my lips from her skin. “I love you, Jagger. You’re my eternity.”

Her hands fist my sweatshirt beneath my jacket, and she turns, moving beside me, her fingers entwining with mine. Her attention moves to the tombstone in front of us. “I’m proud of you for coming here. I know how hard it is for you.”

Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, I stare at the letters of my mom’s name, picturing her in my head. “I haven’t been here since her funeral.”

Maddie’s eyes are sad when I look over at her. “But you’re here now.”

“Barely.” I grimace. “I thought I was going to have an anxiety attack.”

The wind blows a lock of her hair in her face. She pushes it back, but I see the wince as she does. “I know. I sensed it. That’s why I’m here.”

My eyes narrow. “Are you in pain?”

“A little.” Her finger presses against my lips, shaking her head. “This is important to me, Jagger. You’ve always been there for me. Now, it’s my turn to be there for you.”

Slowly shaking my head, I’m awestruck by the amazing woman standing at my side. “How the fuck did I ever get so lucky to find you and earn your love, despite the shit I’ve done?”

Her bright smile is like the sunlight, warming every facet of me, repairing all the fractured shards of my broken heart. Or maybe she’s a full moon, cutting a path through the darkness, lighting up my world. Or maybe she’s just every damn thing I need to live. Air, sustenance, shelter, warmth, and most of all,love.

Our paths would cross when she was five, and I was almost ten years old, but it wouldn’t be until she was nineteen and I was twenty-four that our lives would entwine, becoming so deeply entrenched that neither of us could deny we were destined to be together.For an eternity.

“How did I ever get so damned lucky to find a man who is my dark hero? The one who impacted my world greatly as a child, and though we’d drift apart through forces beyond our control, we’d find our way back.” Her voice dips, a slight tremble when she says, “You found me at my lowest when I needed someone. But you weren’t just there for me. You gave me so much love, fulfilling me in ways I’ve never been before.” Cocking her head, her hand strokes my chin. “I can live without many people or things, but you’re the one I can’t live without.”

My breath hitches, so touched by her words I can barely breathe. “You have no idea how that makes me feel. How much…” I break off, a lump in my throat as tears well in my eyes. “I don’t know what to say, baby girl. We’re both fucking lucky as hell.” Lifting my left hand, I wipe the tear from her cheek. “But you’ll never have to find out. You’re stuck with me. Forever.”

Bone-aching sadness etches into her face, her expression falling. “It’s hard for me to forget…”

My face clouds, and I stop breathing, taking in the way her face is twisted in pain, knowing what she’s about to say.

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