Page 90 of Total Ship Show

She looks beautiful in her black leggings and purple top. Her long blonde hair pulled up in a ponytail that sways behind her. I can’t even find the words and I can’t seem to get my feet to move forward.

Lucky for me, she can. I’m nothing but smiles watching her sprint toward me, tears rolling down her face. She reaches me and wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I lift her off the ground and swing us both around.

“Aris! You’re here.”

“I’m here, Ade. I’m so fucking here.” I squeeze her tightly. “Shit, I’ve never been so grateful for a delay in my life.”

“I’ve missed you so much, Aris. I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your texts, I just—”

“No, I’m sorry, Ade. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry for my asshole brothers. I’m sorry for my past. I’m sorry I scared you.” I slowly let her lower her feet until they’re back on the floor and then I grab her face and kiss her. Hard.

“I hope you know I would never intentionally hurt you. Never. Adrienne, I love you so goddamn much. I’ve been going crazy without you.” I lean my forehead against hers. “I need you in my life, Ade. Please say we can work something out. Please don’t make me go another day without you.”

“I love you too, Aris. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Okay, we can go talk somewhere. Wherever you want to go.”

She shakes her head.

“No. I don’t mean here, here. I mean here…as in L.A. I don’t want to live here. I don’t want to act. I want to live with you and hopefully one day marry you and have all your little babies and raise them wherever the hell you want. I’ll figure something out for my life. I think I really want to give my biology degree a chance to work for me. It’s what I love. It’s what I’ve always loved, but I don’t want to do any of it, and I don’t want to spend one more day in this big city if you’re not with me.”

“So, we’re doing this?” I ask her, rubbing my nose against hers. “You’ll be my beaver?”

She laughs. God how I love hearing her laugh. I’ve missed that sound these last few days.

“Do you think you can take care of this beaver? Can you keep it fed and make it happy”

“Any time, any place, Babe. I’ll feed the beaver anything she wants.”

“Then I’m yours forever, Aris McElfry. Now take me home. It’s well past feeding time and this beaver is starving.”

“I love you, Adrienne. I’ll never stop telling you.”

“I love you too, Aris, and I’ll never stop listening.”

THE END