Page 54 of Cursed Fox

Of course Lex called me out on my bullshit. "That's not true at all. You love several pieces of furniture here. Especially the oversized lounge chair where you like to read at night."

He had me there. That lounge chair was the most comfortable thing I’d ever sat on. And now that I knew Lex could fit on it with me, it was even better.

"Okay, fine. I would be a little sad if that went, but this is your house now too."

He wrapped his arms around me and looked down into my eyes. "I can't remember the last time I had a possession other than my clothes and my Jeep. I promise, if I want to get rid of something or buy something, I'll let you know. But please know I'm going to be fine. You need to stop worrying so much."

Easier said than done.

"That's exactly why I want this to be perfect for you. I don't want this to just be another place you sleep but secretly take a bag with you every morning when you leave. Don't think I didn't notice you doing that for the first few weeks after I got out of the hospital."

At first it bothered me. Then his therapist explained that it was a habit Lex had to break and wanted to break. There were just other things he had to work on first. His nightmares for example. And, thankfully, he was doing better with them.

Like I suspected, the lack of sleep finally caught up to Lex one night and he passed out hard in bed. Slept the whole night without a single nightmare. That was the real start for us.

I was pulled out of my musings by Lex laughing at my absurdity, and really it was absurd. It wasn't like this was thefirst time he was leaving clothes here. It was just time we made this whole moving-in thing official. "This isn't just another place to rest my head. And you want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm falling asleep with you in my arms. I don't care where I sleep as long as I'm doing it with you."

I melted into him and rested my head on his chest. "And this is why I love you so much."

"I love you too."

EPILOGUE 2

Aaron

I walked by the clothing boutique on Main Street and looked to catch a glimpse of Valerie just like I'd done every day for months.

Ever since the town put on that stupid speed dating and I found out Valerie was actively looking for someone in her life.

I thought that night had been my chance. So what if I hijacked her date with someone else. I was so sure she would see how serious I was about her, but all I managed to do was blow it.

Again.

Forty-one years of loving that woman, and all I ever did was mess things up. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought giving her the chance to experience life before settling down was better. I thought going off to serve my country and proving I could be a good man was the right choice. I had hoped the continuous letters back and forth would be proof enough that I wanted her to wait for me.

I assumed wrong.

Now I was back in town and determined more than ever to get Valerie to see me. And I didn't care who I had to go through to make that happen.