Page 101 of Make You Love Me

When we reach my truck, I toss her the keys and say, "wanna drive, Stacks?"

She catches the keys and beams that gorgeous smile of hers. "Hell yes, I do!"

My girl finally learned how to drive my truck and watching her work that stick shift is sexy as shit.

***

I wanted to do something special for Lottie in honor of one year of loving her. Nathan let us borrow his boat so we could anchor out off Shackleford Banks for the night. Since it’s getting close to sunset, most people have cleared off the island by the time we arrive. Lottie got her first experience at being First Mate when we anchored down for the night. Now we’re sitting in our beach chairs as the waves come in and gently crash against our feet. Our tent’s set up behind us, far away from the tide. There are a few others scattered throughout the beach. Luckily, we aren’t near any of them… I plan to have my girl screaming my name all night long.

“Wow. I swear sunsets here never get old,” Lottie says as we look out over the water to the pink and purple sky. There’s even a dusting of orange right above the horizon.

It really is something special. The view, the location, the person… my person. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Jogging over to our stuff, I grab the little gift I got her.

She eyes me curiously as I come back towards her. “Here open this,” I say as I hand her the little box.

“What’s this for Grey?” She starts to open it.

“Just a little something I wanted to give you for our one year. Sitting here with the waves all around us, I thought it was the perfect time.”

Holding the small charm up, she examines it first. Then she looks at me with tears in her eyes. “It's perfect.”

“I love you—” I start, but she finishes my sentence.

“—more than all the waves in the ocean.”

Standing from her seat, she kisses me softly. “Greyson, you never cease to amaze me. And to think you used to not be good with emotions and words,” she says, looking down at the wave charm. I take it from her to help place it with the others on her bracelet.

“Babygirl, it’s still hard for me to find the right words to express the love I have for you. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by how much I feel now that you're in my life.” I get a little choked up but continue, “No matter what ups and downs life throws at us, I want you to know I will always be right there with you to ride them out. Like a wave to the shore.”

She beams at me with so much emotion in her eyes. “Absolutely baby, and just like the anchor to that boat right there, I will always be there. Even through the storms. I love you, Greyson. My best friend, my family… the love of my life.”

“Look.” She points over my shoulder excitedly. I turn to see what has her suddenly hyped up. “Greyson, it’s them! They’re coming this way. Holy shit, how perfect is this?”

Four wild horses are coming our way along the sand. Beautiful, light brown with blonde manes, they are amazing creatures.

Lottie grabs my hand, and we walk a bit closer to stand near the path they seem to be on.

“They are so beautiful.” They get a little closer and her squeal tells me she notices the little one. “Greyson, there’s a baby one!”

“I know baby, don’t scare them.” I chuckle. She’s so damn cute over these horses.

Covering her mouth, she says, “Sorry, I’m just in awe right now.”

“I’m glad you’re getting to see them up close and personal, pretty girl.”

“Oooh hold on, I want to get my phone and take a picture.” She runs over to our stuff and hurries back, snapping a few pictures of them as they slowly make their way towards us.

“I want to get this blown up for our house. How perfect would that be in the living room?”

The mention ofourhouse brings an overwhelming sense of happiness to me. I am more than looking forward to making the house we’re building a home for us. A place we can have a family of our own and give our children the love they deserve from both parents.

One day.

I know some people will say we are too young, but I can’t wait to experience everything the future holds for me and Lottie… together. I know what it’s like to be without her and I never want to feel that again.

Wrapping my arms around her, we take in the moment, and I finally respond, “That would be pretty perfect. Almost as perfect as loving you forever.”

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