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“Bryce, oh my God. I love this.” Kat sniffles. “This is just … I … I don’t even have words.” She wipes her eyes, sniffling.
“Turn around and let me put it on you.” Kat hands me the locket, which is now shaking in her hands. She grabs her hair to lift it off her neck. I put it on and kiss her neck when I finish, feeling her shiver from my touch.
Kat turns around and gazes into my eyes. Those beautiful emerald eyes lock onto me. I can stare into them forever, get lost in them, get lost in her.
For the rest of the evening, we make up for time that we lost. We never stop talking to, touching, hugging, or kissing each other. Eventually, we both lie on the bed together and watch a movie. I look down to see Kat is fast asleep. Smiling, I lean down and kiss her head.
“I love you sleeping next to me.” Even though I know she can’t hear me, it doesn’t stop me from making my declarations to her. “I never want to lose you, Kat. Never again. My heart isn’t the same without you.”
I pause and push the hair that fell in front of her face away.
“One day soon, I am going to ask you an important question. I pray that you’ll tell me yes. That you’ll want to spend the rest of your life with me, have babies with me, grow old with me. I can only hope you’ll want to live the rest of your life with me. I love you, Kat. So very much.” I rest my head on hers, and she nestles even closer, still sleeping peacefully.
I turn off the television and cover us with the blanket. Closing my eyes, I’m finally able to relax with her in my arms, in my bed. Kat’s finally home.
Chapter 27
Katrina
The last coupleof weeks have been the best in my life. If it only gets better from here, well, I must be in for a real treat. Bryce has been beyond attentive and loving. Nothing seems more right than being with him.
Every night, we’re in one of our apartments, cuddling, talking, and making love to each other until we fall asleep. Neither of us wants to let go in the morning, but adulting duties call. By the time Bryce gets home from a shift, we do it all over again. Rinse and repeat. It becomes routine, and both he and I are okay with this.
Bryce steps out of the bathroom after taking a shower. “You want to go to dinner with Vicki and Austin tonight? Austin brought it up yesterday that they really haven’t seen us in a while. Thought maybe we could do dinner,” Bryce pulls his shirt on and tucks it into his pants. Remember I said I wasn’t crazy about a man in uniform? Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking. Bryce looks delicious in his uniform.
“Um, where?” I ask hesitantly. Even though I’ve been better about things, I’ve been happy in our bubble. My therapist told me I need to work on trying new things, new places, and attempting to push myself. The more I become stuck in place, the harder it will be to dig myself out.
“The little Italian place down the street. I figure it’s close, and it’s Italian.” His eyebrows go up and he shrugs. He then gives me a little pouty face and any chance of me telling him I didn’t want to go, went out the window.
“Okay. Let’s do it. I really have seen little of Vicki lately, and even though you’re with Austin all the time at work, it might be nice to get out a couple with another … wait. Are they a couple?” I scrunch my nose.
“I have no fucking clue. Those two are so busy fighting whatever attraction they have to each other, I don’t think they see it.” Bryce chuckles. He leans in and kisses me. “Okay, I have to get to work. Love you.”
“Love you too. Be safe, please.” I place my hand over my heart.
“Always am,” He winks and flashes me his panty-dropping smile before walking out the front door.
It never gets easier. I’ve always been one to worry about his safety, even when we were only neighbors. Bryce balances me, and he protects me. He’s someone I trust. When he had his accident, it scared me to death that I would lose him. Even during the few weeks we weren’t together, my mind always worried about him. I was always being pulled to him. Even when I didn’t want to be.
I yawn, realizing I’m still exhausted. Crawling back into his bed, I lie my head on his pillow. It still smells like him. His scent calms me, and eventually, I fall back asleep.
* * *
“How come you take longer than me to get ready, Bryce?” I call out from his kitchen. I even threw on some makeup, and I’m still ready to go before he is.
“Because you’re already so beautiful, you don’t need to do anything. I, on the other hand, have to work hard to get this handsome.” Bryce gives me a mischievous smile and winks.
“Okay, points for the compliment, but really? A little cheesy there, babe.” I giggle.
“I got more, if you want. I can literally be cheesy like no one else.” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Nope! Let’s get a move on, Officer Hawthorne. We’re going to be late, and who knows what argument will start if we aren’t there to put an end to it.” I grab my bag and throw my phone in it after texting Vic that we’re leaving now.
“Huh. I think I like the sounds of that.” Bryce comes up behind me.
“Sound of what?” Turning my head towards him, I narrow my eyes.
“Calling me Officer Hawthorne. Yeah, I really like the sound of that. You aredefinitelygoing to be calling me that tonight.” He roars with laughter when I roll my eyes. “Let’s go, woman. You’re taking too long to get ready!”