Page 138 of When the Storm Breaks
She rewarded me with a smile that was so fucking glorious it knocked the air out of my lungs. “I love you so much, Cowboy.”
“Pretty sure I love you more.”
She laughed through her tears. “It’s not a contest. But okay, if you want to turn it into one… game on.”
I laughed and when I stopped laughing, I dipped my head and took the first taste of something I’d been denied for too long. Her arms looped around my neck, her tits pressed against my chest, and I forgot all about the pain in my leg and the long months of separation. Her lips were soft and her tongue lashed against mine, my heart beating at the same tempo as hers. We kissed until her lips were swollen and bruised, pouring all our love and pain and hope into this one kiss.
When we pulled away to catch our breath she said, “It’s so good to be home again.”
And that was how it felt. Like our long search was over and we were back where we belonged. Home.
Epilogue
Shiloh
One YearLater
Some girls dreamabout their wedding day. Not me. I only ever dreamt about two things. Finding my one true love and having a music career. I was lucky enough to make both of those dreams come true.
“Let’s do this,” Brody said one morning about a week before I was leaving to go on tour for my second solo album. This tour would only be for five months, mostly in North America with a few weeks in Europe. We’d arranged it so that Brody and I would never be apart for more than two weeks at a time. It wasn’t ideal, compromises had to be made, but it was our way of having it all. He said he wouldn’t have it any other way and I believed him. He’d never expect or want me to give up my career any more than I’d expect him to give up his. The paths we’d chosen made us who we were and neither of us was looking to change the other. I loved him just as he was.
“Do what?” We’d just come back from a morning ride and I was grooming Phoenix, making her coat shine. Last year, when she’d turned one, Brody had trained her and I’d been riding her ever since. She was my special girl and I lavished so much attention on her that sometimes Brody got jealous. It was hilarious.
“Get married.”
I turned to look at him, half-expecting him to laugh and say he was joking. But he looked dead serious. “You want to get married? You don’t even believe in the institution of marriage.” We’d had this conversation before. “We both agreed we weren’t interested in getting married. And we have Noah so …” I gnawed on my lip, the worry setting in. What if he’d changed his mind about everything we’d discussed? “Wait. You’re still cool with not having more kids, right? At least, not right now...”
“Stop your worrying.” He squeezed my shoulder. “None of that’s changed. And I’m not talking about a big wedding with all the hoopla.”
“Hoopla?” I laughed. “So what are you saying?”
“Just you and me. Making a promise. Speaking our own truth.” He shrugged one shoulder, trying to pass it off as if this was a casual conversation and he had no skin in the game. But I could tell by the look on his face that this meant a lot to him. “That’s what it’s all about, right? You and me making a vow to each other.”
And I guess it was. Now here we are, just the two of us in the woods. It’s close to midnight, and lanterns and tea lights in mason jars light up the darkness. Above us is a sky full of stars and a sliver of moon. The air is warm and smells like juniper and pine and the promise of summertime. Brody’s wearing a white button-up, the sleeves rolled up to expose his tanned forearms, vein porn at its finest, his legs clad in faded denim. I’m wearing a silky gray slip dress trimmed in black lace. We look like us. The cowboy and the rock star. His hair is as light as the sun, mine is dark as midnight. He loves open spaces and guards his privacy, never goes on the Internet nor does he have any social media accounts. I spend months at a time in cities, waking up in different hotel rooms, my photos splashed across the front page of tabloids and I have millions of followers on social media. Two opposites, living in different worlds, who never should have found each other but by some miracle, we did.
We’re not perfect. We argue. We fight about stupid things and sometimes we drive each other crazy. He’s still the most stubborn man I’ve ever met. He’s still too proud to ask for anyone’s help, always insisting that he can handle everything on his own. Spoiler alert: That’s not always the case but try telling him that.
But no man could ever love me the way he does. And I have never loved anyone the way I love him. We’re both a little crazy, with a wild streak and a temper. It makes for interesting times.
Now we’re standing in the middle of this cathedral of trees, facing each other when he takes my hands in his.
“You go first,” I tell him, stopping short of reminding him that it was his idea.
He nods solemnly, like he’s taking this seriously, and I love that about him. I love that you never know exactly what to expect. Brody is always surprising me with the things he says and does. His outlook on life and love is so unique, and I can’t wait to hear what he’s going to say now.
Without any fanfare or hesitation, he starts speaking. “Before you came into my life two years ago, I thought I was exactly where I was meant to be. I didn’t even know I was searching for you. But then, there you were. And I had no idea how I’d gotten through life without you. You make my world a better place. You love me for exactly who I am, and never try to change me or turn me into your ideal version of a man. Despite my flaws and weaknesses, you still love me. And that fucking amazes me. I never thought I’d find a love like that. Every single day I ask myself, why me? How did I get so damn lucky?
“I’d consider it my greatest privilege to walk through this life with you. To be by your side through all the highs and lows, through every storm that life throws our way. As long as we’re together, I have faith that we’ll come through it just fine. It’s been a hell of a ride already and we’ve only just begun.” My heart is hammering against my ribcage, so full I think it might burst. “I love you, Shiloh. And now that I’ve found you, I’ll do my damnedest to make sure you never regret choosing me. I promise to be true to you and only you and to fight for you and defend you until my dying day.”
Tears are streaming down my cheeks. For a long moment, I just stare at his face, the face I love above all others, so overcome with emotion that I’m speechless. Then I throw my arms around his neck, nearly knocking him over, and I kiss him hard. “God, I love you.”
“That’s all you’ve got to say?” Brody snorts. “And they call you a poet.”
I roll my eyes. “I wrote a whole album for you, Cowboy.”
It’s true too. Every song on my new album was written for him. There are two things I hold sacred. My music and my love for Brody. And not necessarily in that order.
“Yeah, you did.” He pulls back and reaches into his pocket. Then he takes my left hand in his and slides a cool piece of metal onto my ring finger. I hold it up to my face and inspect the silver ring etched with designs I can’t quite make out in this lighting. But the ring fits perfectly and it’s exactly something I would have chosen. I’ve never been big on diamonds or gemstones and he knows this about me. “This is so beautiful,” I whisper, holding my hand over my heart. “I love it.”
