Page 137 of Not In The Contract

I chuckled softly, feeling a weight lifting off my shoulders. “I know, and I’m so sorry about that.”

“So, what about Jamie?” she asked, treading carefully. “Did the talk achieve anything?”

“Jamie and I are on the same page, after way too many years,” I replied, easing up enough to pop a chocolate covered strawberry into my mouth. The sweetness exploded on my tongue, waking up my senses.

“That’s… good news?” Devon asked.

“So far, yes.” I held up a strawberry and she bit into it with a little giggle. “She agreed to come to therapy with me, so we can begin to heal our relationship. And there are boundaries in place around the time we spend together, the demand she has on me.”

“That’s amazing, Alex.” She sounded as sincere as she looked. “I’m happy you guys are working things out. Like you said, she’s your only family.”

“Don’t let the girls hear you say that.” I stifled another laugh. “But you know what I mean. And I also meant what I said before, Devon. I’m so sorry.”

Devon’s eyes sparkled with a swell of emotion. “I guess I can forgive you, but only if you promise not to keep me waiting forever.”

I grinned, relief and happiness flooding through me. “Deal. I promise.”

With that, the tension that had hung in the air between us dissolved. We got more comfortable on the blanket, relishing in the quiet solitude despite the buzz of activity around us. There would be no work calls, no Jamie interrupting our time. For the first time in a very long time, it was just Devon and me. As the afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the branches of our tree, I realized that maybe bridges could be crossed, that distances could be breached, if only we were willing to take that first step. I felt a renewed sense of hope for whatever lay ahead for us.

The atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and relief, as if the weight of our unspoken feelings had finally lifted. Wrapped in our own world, nothing felt more right than being there with her in that moment.

“What’s in these strawberries?” I plucked another one from the bowl and held it up.

Devon laughed. “I think Tam laced the chocolate with something, to be honest.”

I chuckled, holding it out to her. “In that case, would you like to share one with me?”

Her gaze softened, her lips spreading into a tender smile. “Of course. I’d like to share everything with you.”

My heart skipped a beat, a warmth pooling in the depths of my belly as I watched her plump lips close over the strawberry in my fingers. Juice dripped down my hand, and she locked eyes with me as she slowly ran her tongue along the moist mess to clean it up.

I fought my body to keep from betraying me while Devon chewed, her expression turning thoughtful.

“You know, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

I leaned in, captivated by the intensity in her eyes. “What is it?”

Her smile turned a touch shy, her cheeks tinged with a delicate pink. God, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

“I fall more and more in love with you, Alex Bell.”

My heart felt like it could burst wide open in my chest, her words acting like balm to my soul. “I’ve been wanting to tell you the same thing. More times than you know.”

Her eyes glistened and she reached for another strawberry, this time holding it up to my lips. “Then, let’s make it official, shall we? Share this strawberry with me and seal the deal.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, my heart light and full. I captured the tip of the strawberry between my lips, feeling the sweetness of the chocolate and the tang of the berry mingle on my tongue. In that simple act I felt a profound connection, a promise of something more, something real.

As we pulled away our eyes met, a mixture of love, hope, and vulnerability passing between us. The park, the entire world seemed to fade into insignificance, leaving just the two of us, entwined in a moment that felt like a beginning.

A bridge that had finally been crossed.

47. Meant to Be

Devon

Asthesunbeganits descent, casting more shadows over the park, Alex and I reluctantly started packing up our picnic. We had been in our own little world and time seemed to contract to nothing as if to spite our brief indulgence in happiness.

“This is me,” Alex said with a soft smile as we came up to the curb.