Page 122 of Saving the Rain
I look over toward the rest of the figures starting to appear. For someone who has been on his own this entire time, who has gone it alone, my brain can’t fathom what all these people are doing here.
The drugs kind of blur everything, but there’s a steady stream of familiar faces. Like half of goddamn Crimson Ridge is here. Right behind Tessa is Beau, and I’m introduced to Sage, who wraps me in a hug as if we’ve been friends for an eternity. The crew from Rhodes Ranch is all here, with Storm and Briar hot on their heels. After they’ve all managed to squeeze in for a mix of hugs and gruff teasing about the state of me, the Hayes boys appear, too.
What leaves my chest squeezing is the way they’re here, as much for Kayce as anything. Which means they’re obviously more than aware of who we are to each other. Looking down, I see that Kayce still has our fingers interlocked. He hasn’t let go of my hand this entire time.
There’s no mistaking the final visitors who come through that door. Colton Wilder might have dark hair and doesn’t have blue eyes, but there’s more than enough of Kayce that I see in him immediately. At his side is a woman with copper curls who rushes straight up to Kayce and gives him a massive hug, before doing the same to me.
It’s all kind of overwhelming, and most of the chatter goes over my head. But I feel the sensation filling the room—that undeniable care, that love in here is palpable.
I’m so goddamn proud of Kayce for everything. The way he’s been strong enough for the two of us. Because he’s the one who has done all of this, brought all these people together.
“Ok, we’re getting a bite to eat down the road.” Tessa flurries her hands at everyone. “And to be honest, you assholes all need to move before we get kicked out for breaking visitor rules.” She hisses, then turns to me with a small smile.
“Thanks... you know... for coming.” I manage to get some coherent words out. Kayce is doing most of the talking as I lie flat on myback, still kind of stunned that all these people made the effort to be here.
“Don’t you need to eat something? You’re not going with them?” I say to Kayce as the last of them waves and vacates the room.
He shakes his head. “Dad is gonna come back. He’ll drop something off for me after.”
“Isn’t he supposed to be in Ireland or some shit?” I squint one eye, trying to make sense of any of this.
Kayce chuckles. “Yeah, he gave me a hell of a shock turning up.” Then he settles back at my side, dragging the chair closer before pulling my hand up and laying a kiss on my palm. “I’m done with shocks. No more. None for the foreseeable future. Please?”
“Deal.”
He lays his cheek against the heart of my palm.
“Everyone knows. I just want you to know that I?—”
“I could see it. I could see that you’d spoken to everyone.” My lips curve into a grin. “I’m proud of you.”
He blinks rapidly at me. Looking every bit the man I want to spend every fucking minute of every day with.
Clearing my throat, I press my fingers against his cheek, feeling the warmth of him embedded beneath my touch. “You told me you’re a better person because I taught you how to love. Well, I'm better because of the way you love. I’m out here wondering how a guy like me could ever get so lucky... or ever deserve to have someone like you looking my way twice.”
“I’m not special. I’m nothing special,” he whispers.
“To me, you are. To me... you are magnificent.”
His lips quirk. “I think you’re high.”
My heart damn near swells ten sizes inside my chest, seeing him smile like that, and this time it reaches his eyes. “Nowhere near high enough for the fact I’m pretty sure I’ve got a chunk missing from my stomach.” As I gaze at him, I use my other hand to gesture between the two of us while holding onto him. “But this? I knowthisfor certain.”
“I love you.” He kisses my palm again, before leaning up to presshis lips to mine.
“So fucking much.” I reach to cup his jaw and take a deep inhale. “You don’t even know all the ways I love you, baby.”
“Never not obsessed?” His lips form a hesitant little smile over my mouth.
“Nevernotobsessed with you.”
Epilogue
Gathering around a bonfire with friends, high spirits, and laughter is nothing new. I’ve lost track of how often I’ve spent nights exactly like this.
But right now, I find myself secretly smiling, basking in the moment as I take it all in. Recalling a multitude of evenings under a starry sky that acted as a mirror image to this one—with a grill sizzling, soft music, and lively chatter floating on the night air—except there’s one major, life-altering difference now.
He’s here.