Page 70 of Fracture

“I refused to admit it. I don’t do love, remember?”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “With me you do.”

He kisses my nose, then my eyes, then my forehead. “With you, I want it all. The good, the bad, the ugly. I don’t care what comes our way. It’s only you, Everleigh.”

Tear spring to my eyes and it’s my turn to kiss him with everything I’ve got.

“Will you be my girlfriend?” Landon asks and I want to jump up and down and scream from the rooftops.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

“I thought I never would, either.” Landon grins and we both laugh. “Now let’s go fuck.”

I laugh again. “Lennox was right.”

“She was? With what?”

“She said all we needed to do was say I love you to each other and let’s fuck and it’s that easy.”

“Well damn, I guess she was right. All the more reason to follow through. Lead the way, Pookie bear. I wanna watch that ass of yours.”

I kiss him once more and then we practically sprint to my bed.

We’ve got some lost time to make up for.

Epilogue

Landon

“Guys, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Everleigh.” I spin her around in front of me, her giggles music to my ears.

All of my frat buddies cheer and holler. It’s the last party of the year and we’re hitting the drinks and the dance floor all night long.

“Wow, Landon with a girlfriend. Insane.” Keegan says and lots of the guys nod.

“She did something to me guys. Watch out. When your person comes along, you’ll be as helpless as I was.”

“Nope, not me.” A few of the guys call out and I just shake my head. They’ll see when it hits them sideways like it did me.

I pull Everleigh close and kiss her in front of all the guys standing around. I want her to know just how special she is to me. I want everyone to know.

“Get a room!” They call out and laugh.

“Fine by me.” I pull her out of the kitchen as they catcall and whistle. Ev giggles uncontrollably the whole time and I’m all warm inside.

I know, I know. Who the fuck am I right?

Back in my freshman year, I was such an asshole.

How I deserve Everleigh in the first place is a mystery. But somehow I got her. And I’m never letting her go.

We drink and dance until early into the morning. When I take her home to my empty apartment, I make love to her until the sun rises and only then do we fall asleep in each other’s arms.

My next step is to ask her to move in with me. Build a life with me here in Sierra Cove. Convince Bella to move here and continue seeing Felix. I don’t want to spend any time apart.

Next week when we all walk across that stage and graduate, I have a surprise planned for her after. I’ll ask her then, over a candlelight dinner on the beach. Lennox is helping me plan it. Holden and her have decided to stay here as well and I’m hoping that helps Everleigh feel more comfortable about settling here.

Whether she wants to or not, she’s not getting rid of me. I’ll follow her to her hometown if I have to. I’ll follow her anywhere.

As long as I get to have her by my side wherever I go, I’ll always be happy.

She makes me a better person.

She completes me.

One day, she’ll be my wife.

Until then, I’ll have her in any way I can.

THE END