Page 37
As I watched Riley climb into Levi's lap, his little hands tugging at his father's shirt, I felt a surge of gratitude.Out of chaos, death, and violence, we had created this little piece of paradise.
Levi caught my eye, his gaze softening."What are you thinking about?"he asked.His voice was warm and carried that familiar gruffness that always made my heart skip a beat.
I smiled, leaning into his side as our son babbled happily, completely absorbed in the Chihuahua's antics."Just how far we've come," I said, my voice soft."This life we've built is everything I ever wanted, even if I didn't know it at the time."
I leaned my head on Levi's shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek."This is my forever," I whispered, the words carrying the weight of all the battles we'd fought and the love we'd built."And it's perfect."
Levi pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his voice a low, contented rumble."It is."
Sunny barked, drawing our attention as it bounded back toward us, tail wagging furiously.Our son squealed with delight, wriggling out of Levi's lap to chase after him.Levi and I exchanged a look, equal parts amusement and exasperation, before he stood, brushing off his jeans.
"I'll get him," he said, his tone resigned but fond.
I watched as Levi scooped our son into his arms, the dog dancing around his feet.The sight of Levi, once so guarded and untouchable, now laughing and playing freely filled me with a sense of peace I hadn't known was possible.
They returned to the bench and Levi's hand found mine, his grip warm and reassuring."We did good, didn't we?"he murmured, his voice low and filled with a quiet pride.
I squeezed his hand, my heart full."We did more than good," I said softly."We built something beautiful."
Levi turned to me, his blue eyes shining with love."And we're just getting started," he said.
I smiled, leaning into him as our son yawned, his small body curling into Levi's side.Sunny, now exhausted from playing, nestled at our feet, his tail thumping lazily against the ground.
"I love you," I whispered.
Levi's arm tightened around me."I love you too, Krista.More than anything."
This was our story.Our love.Our forever.And it was perfect.
Levi caught my eye, his gaze softening."What are you thinking about?"he asked.His voice was warm and carried that familiar gruffness that always made my heart skip a beat.
I smiled, leaning into his side as our son babbled happily, completely absorbed in the Chihuahua's antics."Just how far we've come," I said, my voice soft."This life we've built is everything I ever wanted, even if I didn't know it at the time."
I leaned my head on Levi's shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek."This is my forever," I whispered, the words carrying the weight of all the battles we'd fought and the love we'd built."And it's perfect."
Levi pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his voice a low, contented rumble."It is."
Sunny barked, drawing our attention as it bounded back toward us, tail wagging furiously.Our son squealed with delight, wriggling out of Levi's lap to chase after him.Levi and I exchanged a look, equal parts amusement and exasperation, before he stood, brushing off his jeans.
"I'll get him," he said, his tone resigned but fond.
I watched as Levi scooped our son into his arms, the dog dancing around his feet.The sight of Levi, once so guarded and untouchable, now laughing and playing freely filled me with a sense of peace I hadn't known was possible.
They returned to the bench and Levi's hand found mine, his grip warm and reassuring."We did good, didn't we?"he murmured, his voice low and filled with a quiet pride.
I squeezed his hand, my heart full."We did more than good," I said softly."We built something beautiful."
Levi turned to me, his blue eyes shining with love."And we're just getting started," he said.
I smiled, leaning into him as our son yawned, his small body curling into Levi's side.Sunny, now exhausted from playing, nestled at our feet, his tail thumping lazily against the ground.
"I love you," I whispered.
Levi's arm tightened around me."I love you too, Krista.More than anything."
This was our story.Our love.Our forever.And it was perfect.