Page 120 of Doc Rock
“Getoff me, you giant shit.”Ryan was writhing in the very firm grip of Frost, who held him off the floor, dangling by the back of his shirt.
“Nope,”Frost said. Then looked up at Ford and Mai.“I’m kicking him out. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure,” Mai called back.
Frost escorted Ryan towards the door of the pub, with Donnie on their heels.
Only then did Mai become aware that she was still in Ford’s arms. She pulled back slightly to look up into his eyes.
“Hey,”she said, smiling at him.“Is your shoulder alright?”
“Yeah. It’s fine. I’m just glad it wasn’t your face.”His hand came up to cup her cheek.
“Yeah,” Mai whispered.
Her breath hitched, and the noise of the room faded. All she was aware of was one of Ford’s arms around her waist and the other hand touching her face.
She stared into his grey eyes, and couldn’t work out how the girl she was sixteen years ago managed to walk away from the man holding her now.
He was home.
He was her family.
A smile tugged up at the corner of his mouth, and before shecouldtake another breath, his lips met hers in a gentle kiss. Ford pulled away too quickly, searching her eyes, and Mai grumbled at him, putting both her arms—which had been hanging by her sides—around his neck and tugging him back to her so their lips met again.
Time became meaningless for Mai as she made up for the sixteen years they were apart.
When Ford pulled away from her, she murmured in annoyance. But then the noise of the room full of people filtered back in, and she realised shecouldhearcheers and whoops, which were all coming from her friends.
Oh my goodness.Was she really up on the stage in front of a pub full of people, making out with Ford?
For a second, mortification prickled at her skin. But when she gazed into his eyes, everyone watching them didn’t matter. All that mattered was him, and before shecouldstop herself, she blurted,“I never stopped loving you.”
“Thank fuck for that.”Ford’s thumb brushed over her cheek.“I’ve loved you for more than half my life, and I will love you until the end of our days.”
Mai blinked at him a couple of times as tears pooled in her eyes.
Home. They were home.
“Don’t cry.”He wiped her tears away.
“Sorry,” Mai sniffed. “These are happy tears.”
“I need togeta new tattoo,”Ford murmured as he dabbed at her tears.
“Why?”She leaned into his hand where it touched her face.
“I got this after you left.”He pulled his arm back to show herthe tattoo on his forearm that was usually covered.“It’s where I lastsawyou.”
Mai’s eyes widened. The tattoo she’dnoticedbackstage at the concert…it wasfor her.
“I guess I’ll have to add Burra Creek’s location to it.”
“Where you found me again,”Mai whispered.
“Yup. Where I found the love of my life.”He leaned forward and kissed her again.
She couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. How had she been so lucky that hecouldforgive her?
