Page 1 of Cherish

1

A Ribbon for

Your Thoughts

“Do you think we’re ever going to see this place again?” The question slips out as Hudson and I walk past the campus to the diner where we’re supposed to meet Eden and Heather.

Originally, we’d settled on the university center, but the coffee is better at the diner, and I think Heather’s trying to impress a certain dragon.

“Of course we’ll see it again,” he tells me, sliding a comforting hand into mine. “What even makes you ask?”

I shoot him a look. “The last time we were in the Shadow Realm, it took us years to find our way back to this world.And I forgot you.”

The guilt of everything I’d forgotten has danced at the corners of my mind for months, but now that I have my actual memories of our time in Adarie back…it’s like a punch to my heart.

All I want to do is turn around and go home, so I can justthinkabout everything. So I can be with Hudson as I sort through the memories, cherish all the things that made me fall in love with him that first time—including those damn bird calls of his.

The fact that he had all this inside him for months since our return, and I didn’t have a clue… The pain of it is indescribable. It makes my stomach churn and turns every part of me to an open, gaping wound.

Which only gets worse when Hudson laughs down at me and adds, “You say that like it’s a crime.”

“It feels like a crime,” I answer, battling against the tears that burn the backs of my eyes.

He squeezes my hand, rubs his thumb back and forth over the double promise ring on my left ring finger—half from Giant City, half from the Shadow Realm. “I already told you, I’m the guy who’s lucky enough to have his girl fall in love with him twice. I don’t feel bad about that.”

“For now.”

He lifts a brow even as he looks at me with teasing blue eyes. “Does that mean you’re planning on fallingoutof love with me?” he asks. “If so, I’m not okay with that part of the plan.”

“Obviously I’m notplanningon falling out of love with you,” I tell him with a snort. “But I didn’t plan on falling out of love with you the last time we left the Shadow Realm, either. Shit happens.” Not to mention we still don’t even knowwhyI lost my memories. As soon as I’d gotten my memories back, Hudson had suggested it might have something to do with the giant-ass amount of time-dragon magic that slammed into me, but I have my doubts.

“Well, then, I’ll be the guy who has the distinct honor of having his mate fall in love with him three times. There are worse things in the world.”

“Yeah, because it worked out so well the last time.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe how much I—”

“Hey.” He cuts me off, pulling me into his arms here on the busy sidewalk, right between a drugstore and my favorite fish taco place. “It did work out well the last time. We’re here, aren’t we?”

“Now,” I answer. “Nowwe’re here.” But there were a lot of months wasted where we weren’t here. A lot of pain, a lot of suffering, a lot of heartache. Is there any wonder I’m not anxious for either one of us to have to go through it again?

“Nowis all that matters. You’re my mate. You’re always going to be my mate, and I am always going to love you. How could I not?” His eyes twinkle as he adds, “Hey, ‘I came across time for you, Grace. I love you. I always have.’ And I always will.”

It’s ridiculous, but even knowing he’s quoting one of our favorite movies from our months trapped in his pseudo-lair doesn’t stop my heart from melting. Then again, melting my heart—and the rest of me—has never been a problem for Hudson. Even from the beginning.

That doesn’t stop me from busting his balls a little bit, though. “James Cameron called. He wants his line back.”

He laughs. “Caught that, did you?”

“The fact that you justTerminator-ed me? Yeah, I caught that.”

“It’s not my fault that movie has so many great lines.”

“No, but your absolute and abiding love for it iscompletelyyour fault.” I take his hand, tugging him along and into the drugstore.

“What can I say? I’m a romantic at heart.” He looks around. “What are we doing in here?”

“Checking out the gift-wrapping section. I want to see if they have any sparkly ribbons,” I answer as I lead him toward the back of the store.

I didn’t think it was possible, considering the way he’s been looking at me since I told him I remembered everything that happened in the Shadow Realm, but Hudson’s eyes go even softer. “You want to pack her more ribbons?”

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