Page 116 of Here's to Tomorrow

“What, uh, what did she say?”

“‘Everything happens for a reason.’ It’s kind of her motto.”

“That’s it? That’s all she said?” Rae asks, clearly shocked.

“She also reminded me that I saved you once.” I bump my shoulder into hers. “You’re welcome for that, by the way.”

Rae smiles again. “Thank you, but I guess I still don’t understand how that’s all she said.”

“At first I didn’t either. I was confused, but then I realized that if I hadn’t saved you, I wouldn’t have met you. Point one for her,” I joke. “If this whole thing hadn’t happened with Joey, you would have never found out about your mom, or how we really met. You’d still be in the dark about that. You’d still think you weren’t fit to be a parent because you never knew how it felt to be loved by your mother.”

I pause for a moment to take a deep breath, knowing she may get upset over what I need to say next.

“I was pissed at you at first because you didn’t tell me about your nightmare or your fear, but I understand why you didn’t. You didn’t think any of it was real. You went down to that beach to face it once and for all. You had no idea it would come crashing down around you. Boy did it, but now, Rae? Now you’re free. You don’t have that fear anymore. You’re finally free from it all.”

She’s quiet again, and I watch her. Even with her face all puffy from crying, she’s still beautiful. I can’t believe I made myself miss two weeks of being with her, two weeks of her laughter and the weird things that randomly pop out of her mouth.

“What did you get out of it all?”

“That’s easy—you, Joey, and an awesome hero complex.”

She laughs freely then grows serious. “Is Joey mad at me?”

“Not at all. She knows things like that can happen in the water and that she was out too far. She thought I was mad atherfor going out so far.”

“Really?”

“Promise. She’s asked about you every single day, begging me to call you because she misses you. Joey loves you, Rae.”

“I love her too,” she says with sadness in her voice.

I reach over, pull her hand from her legs, and scoot closer. “Rae, look at me.” She does, and I can see the tears beginning to pool in her eyes. “I meant what I said that weekend. I love you. That hasn’t changed.”

Tears slide down her face. “How is that possible?”

“How can you even ask me that? It’s so hardnotto love you. You’re smart, you’re funny, you’rereal, and you’re gorgeous. You’re the perfect package. You have the strangest sense of humor and it meshes perfectly with mine. You… Fuck.” I pause. “This is going to sound so damn stupid and I may as well just hand you my balls now, but you…you fuckin’ complete me. I didn’t even know I was missing anything until you. I had no idea my heart had any more room in it next to Joey, but you proved that it does. You share so much of that space with her. I don’t know how else to explain it. It’s justyou.I loveyou.”

Her tears are falling harder now. I wrap her in my arms and hold her until the very last tremor wracks her body.

She pulls away slowly and meets my eyes. Then she leans in close and kisses me. It’s soft and unsure at first, but I want more.Oh, man, do I want more.I flick out my tongue and she opens instantly for me. Grabbing the back of her head, I pull her with me as I fall onto my back, our kiss never breaking.

This is what I’ve been missing. I can feel my heart swell. I can feel myself become whole again. I needed this. I need Rae.

“Well?” I ask when we finally pull apart. She’s laying half on top of me and I’ll be damned if I’m not sporting a semi.

“I missed that,” she says, brushing one more kiss across my lips.

“Me too,” I chuckle.

“I love you too, you know. I really do. Thank you for accepting me as I am. Thank you for accepting my lack of filter, for letting me into Joey’s life. You’ll never understand how much all of it has meant to me. I’ll never be able to repay you for it either.”

“You could do it in kisses.”

She laughs, and kisses me about a million more times over the next hour.

“What time is it?” she asks between kisses.

I pull out my phone, our lips still connected. “Eight.” Kiss. “Thirty.” Kiss. “Seven.”

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