Page 176 of Dirty Husband
He takes my hands and leans in close enough to whisper. "I'm sorry."
"Me too."
The officiant breaks us up. Says something about how we're too eager.
Shep squeezes my hand.
I mouth I love you.
He mouthsme too.
It's not quite there. But, for now, it's more than enough.
Epilogue
Shepard
The words flit through my mind quickly. A flash of lightning. Bright enough to illuminate the horizon.
Gone too fast.
But still burned into my mind.
Why now?
There's nothing remarkable about the moment.
I appreciate every second with Jasmine, but I don't go counting the stars. Or thanking some higher power. Or blowing dandelions.
She's mine.
That's my ring on her finger.
That smile on her face—
It's because of me.
Every second is remarkable.
Which means nothing is remarkable. I'm a man of numbers, not words, but I know that much. Special is out of the ordinary.
I wish I had a better word than ordinary. There's nothing ordinary about her smile. Or the cross of her legs. Or the laugh filling the room.
It's priceless.
Even if it happens nearly every day.
Even if this is an ordinary evening.
We're here, in this quiet restaurant, watching the sun fall into the horizon. Another afternoon tea gone over time. Her lipstick marking a perfect white cup. Her dark eyes filled with joy.
Her fingers brush my wrist. She smiles. "You're thinking something."
It's there again. Those three words. Only brighter. Bigger. A flashing billboard in Times Square. One that demands the entire city's attention.
"Shep? Are you okay? Or did I lose you at 'off-Broadway?'"
No, I'm still hanging on every word. I still want every thought in her head, every feeling in her heart, every inch of her body.
