Page 21 of Neverland

“Is she there?” Emily asks.

“Yes,” he says, motioning for me to come to him. I do. He grabs me before I make it to him, pulling me down into his lap. His arms wrap around me in a firm hold.

“Good morning, Melody,” his mom says through the speaker with a welcoming tone.

“Morning.”

“It’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve been trying to talk my son into letting Alex and me come over, but he keeps telling me no.” I smile. I have to stop jumping to conclusions. I need to trust Easton when he tells me everything is going to be all right.

“I’m not ready to share yet.” Easton nuzzles my neck. I bite my lip to keep from making a sound.

“Fine.” She makes the same huff I’ve heard from her before. “When you’re ready, I want to welcome Melody back to the family. We’re overjoyed that Easton found you again. When I saw that engagement announcement, I wanted to murder him,” Emily says, shocking me. I thought she would be pushing him to move on and get serious with someone.

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I knew that finding you was the only way for him to be happy again.” I stare into Easton’s eyes.

“I feel the same. I was lost without him.”

“I know, honey. No more running?”

“No more running,” I promise.

“I wouldn’t let her. She couldn’t get off the island without my help.” Easton smugly announces.

“Seriously?” I smack Easton's chest. Emily only laughs.

“I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to start getting things together. Love you both. Bye.” She ends the call before either of us can say anything.

“What things?”

“Probably wedding stuff.” Easton shrugs as though them talking about wedding plans is totally normal.

“Wedding?” I mean, of course I’d marry Easton, but I wasn’t sure we could.

“We can do it here on the island if you want. Something small.”

“Married.”

“Why are you surprised? What did you think was going to happen next?”

“Honestly, I wasn't sure. I didn’t want to think that far ahead. I was just trying to enjoy our time together.”

“Well, our time together includes forever.” I swear this man is trying to melt my heart. I don’t even have words to answer him. All I can do is lean forward and kiss him.

“What about after? I know we’re forever, but you’ll have to go back at some point. My family…” I have so many unanswered questions. A sadness fills me, knowing I can’t have it all, but I know you never can. Life has never been that sweet. My first lesson in that had come early with the passing of my mother.

“I told you, I’ve worked it out.” His hand slips under the robe I have around me to cup my sex in a possessive hold.

“That, Easton. You hide things from me. Another part of you.”

“You don’t need to stay in hiding. I’ve handled it.”

“It?” I ask, not really understanding what he means.

“The money,” he says simply, but I can tell it’s more than that. I stare him down. “I’ve done some things to make sure no one will come after you. Made a few examples of certain individuals.” A darkness flashes in his eyes that I’ve only seen a few times. All of them when someone was doing something to me.

“Easton?”

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