Page 155 of All This Time

“This is exactly what I would have envisioned your house to look like,” she says as she slowly walks around, taking everything in.

The entire first floor is open, except for my office in the corner of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The kitchen is white with black marble, the hardwood floors are dark walnut, and my black leather couch takes up most of the space in the living room, providing plenty of seating for the massive flat screen hanging up on the wall. The decorations are minimal—just a few brass pieces and frames of moments in my career I wanted to remember.

But as I lean against the wall next to the fridge, I cross my arms over my chest and realize that the presence that was always missing from this place is now standing right in front of me.

“And how was that?” I ask.

She trails her finger down the frame of the picture hanging on the wall of me at the NFL draft, holding up my Carolina Thunder jersey. “Clean. Neutral. Modern, yet a space that suits you.”

“We can change whatever you want, make it more of a home. I want you to be comfortable here too, baby.”

Tapping her chin, she hums in thought. “I mean, I guess I have a few ideas.”

I smile. “Can’t wait to hear them.” Turning behind me, I press a button on the control panel on the wall, waiting for the surround system to come to life. “Because You Loved Me”by Celine Dion starts playing from the speakers throughout the house. “Now, since I didn’t get to dance with you at the wedding, I’d like to have my dance now, if you’d do me the honor.” I hold my hand out to her, waiting for her to cross the room to me.

Slowly, she walks toward me until she’s close enough that I can pull her into my arms, encasing her against my chest.

“Is this part of my surprise?”

“Yes.” I press a kiss to her temple. “Our first dance, but certainly not our last.”

With Laney in my arms, I move us around the room, soaking up every second, silently expressing gratitude to the universe for bringing this woman back into my life.

“This was my parents’ wedding song,” she whispers.

I lean back to see her eyes filled with tears. “Wow, really?” She nods. “I had no idea.”

“I know you didn’t, that’s why I’m crying.”

“I just really fucking love Celine Dion.”

Laney chuckles. “I just can’t help but feel like this was Mom’s way of telling us she approves.” Our eyes lock as she waves her hand around the room. “You really did this, Fletcher.”

The corner of my mouth lifts as I look down at her.

God, I love this girl.

She believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself.

She was my safe haven from the shitstorm that was my life.

She was and always will be myangel.

“I did, Laney. And I never would have made it here without you.”

She runs her nails down my neck. “Yes, you would have.”

“No, angel. You don’t get it. There were some days in high school when…” I choke down the lump in my throat. “Days when I didn’t think I could take anymore.”

“What?”

“Yeah… Just a few days before I crawled into your room that first night, I thought about how I might…”

She pushes her fingers to my lips, silencing me. “Don’t say it.” Tears fill her eyes again. “I can’t believe you thought about that.”

“I did, until that night when you put ice on my face and gave me someplace safe to hide. And told me that I was a good person who could make it in life when I honestly didn’t know if fighting for my dreams was worth it anymore. When I told you that you saved me, Laney, I fucking meant it.”

She presses up on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck. “Kiss me.”