Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
At the end of the long drive, I pause and glance one way, then the other before shifting again into first and turning toward Western’s campus. As I pick up speed and my nerves begin to settle, I turn on the radio. ‘Best Day of My Life’ by American Authors fills the small cabin. Memories of Miles cranking up the volume and us sing-shouting the lyrics at each other swamp me.
For years afterward, I couldn’t bear to hear the song. But this time, I turn it up and belt out the lyrics. Instead of bringing me sadness the way it used to, my heart fills with joy because I feel my brother sitting beside me, smiling that the people he loved most have finally found peace.
Chapter 39
Wolf
“It’s already been a couple of days. When are you going to show me the new tattoo? I’m dying to see the artwork you decided on.” Fallyn sticks her lower lip out in a pout. “I don’t understand why you’re being so secretive about it.”
I roll my eyes and suppress the grin attempting to break loose. I don’t think I’ve smiled so much as I have in the past couple weeks. It’s taken some getting used to. More than that, I feel a million pounds lighter. And that has everything to do with the girl at my side.
The one I love more than anything.
“I wanted it to heal up a bit before I showed you. It’s not really that big of a deal.” I yank the T-shirt over my head and toss it onto the bed. “Why don’t you do the honors?”
Her face lights up with a smile. “Really?”
Her exuberance is infectious, and a chuckle tumbles from my lips. “Yeah. Have at it.”
She steps closer before her fingers flutter to the edges of the bandage. Her gaze flickers to mine in question. “Are you sure it’s healed?”
“Yup.” A large pit settles at the bottom of my belly as air stalls in my lungs.
At the time, this had seemed like a good idea.
Now, however?
I’m not so sure.
Maybe it’s too early to think along these lines and I’m jumping the gun. All I know is that I want this.
Just like I want her.
I need to know Fallyn feels the same way.
Because if she doesn’t…
It would probably crush my soul.
The tip of her tongue peeks out between her lips as she concentrates on the task at hand and peels away the edges, lifting the bandage from my skin until it’s fully removed, and the newest tattoo is on display.
When her movements still and she stares silently at it, my heart lurches painfully, becoming lodged in the middle of my throat.
It takes every bit of self-control to remain calm and force out the question. “Well, angel? What’s it going to be?”
She rips her attention away from the two words in swirling black cursive and lifts her chin enough for our gazes to collide.
The blue of her eyes burn even brighter. Any moment, they’ll swallow me whole. It wouldn’t be such a bad way to go.
Especially if she turns me down.
“Are you serious?” she whispers, sounding as if she’s being strangled.
I huff out a nervous breath as my fingers slip under her chin to hold her in place. I need to touch her. “Baby, I couldn’t be more serious about spending the rest of my life with you. Haven’t you figured it out by now that you’re it for me?” I search her gaze, sifting through all the emotion within her eyes. “There could never be anyone other than you.”
She swallows thickly and the delicate column of her throat works. “Yes.”
Unable to believe my ears, my brows rise. “Did you just agree to marry me?”
A smile spreads across her face. “I did!”
Air leaks from my lungs as a relieved chuckle slips free. “Thank fuck. For a minute there, I started to doubt myself.”
A burst of laughter escapes from her. “Is that why you’ve been acting so weird the past couple of days?”
I lift her into my arms and hold her close. “Come on. Was I really acting that strange?”
“Umm, yeah. You kept staring at me.”
“I love staring at you.” I smack a kiss against her lips. “Nothing strange about that.”
“You looked constipated. I was thinking about buying you some laxatives.”
A snort slips free from me. “It was more like—if this girl says no, where do we go from here? And it was a little too late to hold off since I’d already inked the question onto my skin.”
She winds her arms around my neck and pulls me close enough for her lips to drift over mine. It’s only when I sink into the caress that she pulls away.
Seriousness brims in her eyes. “I love you, Wolf. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
All of the tension filling my muscles drains away. “I love you, too. More than anything.”