Page 127 of Untraced Magic
We walked outside and into daylight again, but it felt different this time. Like somewhere I belonged.
After our goodbyes, Tyler pulled me against him, his warm breath buried into my neck. “I still can’t believe it. You get to stay.”
I couldn’t help the smile warming my cheeks as we pulled apart. The raw emotion of the day had been so intense, and I hadn’t realized how much it had dragged me down until now. I felt like a weight had lifted, free.
“I know. It’s still so surreal; I don’t think I’ve yet grasped the fact this is my home now.”
Tyler brought his lips to mine, a kiss that held nothing back as he pulled me flush against him. Cutters Cove misted into nothing as he kissed me with everything he had, lifting me off my feet and into the air.
A cheeky glint enlarged his pupils. “Let’s go and have our own celebration.”
I didn’t argue.
***
Two weeks later, I watched, smiling from Betty’s kitchen counter as the people I loved so dearly mingled together in celebration.
Betty sat in her lounge chair with my father to her side, a cup of coffee laced with only she knew what on her lap. They had quickly become close, having caught up on many years apart, and I couldn’t wait to spend more time with my father after giving them their own time to rekindle.
My attention moved to Reid and Scarlet, who stood with Skye, talking to Jade quietly in the corner. I hadn’t seen a lot of Jade, as she mostly kept to herself, but she seemed to fit into the group somehow, and I was sure I would soon figure it out.
Leaning against the kitchen counter, my heart felt full as I stirred the pot of spiced port I’d offered to make. I lifted the spoon to my mouth, and its spicy tang enriched my taste buds. Oh, this was a good batch.
My ears pricked at a conversation behind me, registering Colton’s deep voice.
“Have you heard from Wes?”
“No,” came Tyler’s voice from close by.
I moved to the side, subtly watching them from the corner of my eye.
Colton shook his head, grazing his knuckles together. “I don’t get it. None of it makes any sense.”
Tyler caught my eye as he spoke. “You and me both.”
I turned back to my task at hand, not wanting to eavesdrop any further when heavy arms wrapped around my waist.
“I love this little number on you,” Tyler said quietly from behind me.
I smiled as his breath tickled my ear. I turned to face him, attempting an innocent look. “Oh, this old thing?” I joked, knowing full well he’d been eyeballing the little apron over top of my pants all evening.
A laugh rushed from him, and he cupped my butt in his hands, landing a peck on my cheek.
I giggled, swatting his hands away, looking into the gray coals that had become home to me.
“I love seeing you this happy,” he murmured.
Running my hand over his chest, they stopped on his waist. “I’ve never been this happy before. I feel like life has suddenly come together for me. For both of us,” I corrected.
Tyler’s eyes danced as my words crashed into his heart. “I feel the same.” He grabbed my hand, pushing his own into his pocket, then turned open my palm.
A long bronze key dropped into my hand. My brows furrowed. “What’s this?”
“It’s the key to your own art studio.”
My free hand clutched my chest. “What?!”
He took my chin in his hands. “I know you love painting and want you to have a studio that’s yours, where people can enjoy your work as much as I do.”
