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“Now, do your husband a solid, and sit on my face. I want you to smother me. I want you to come so hard, you can’t think of anything but my mouth on your pussy.”
“Careful, Shortcake. Don’t get too caught up in the orgasms, or you might fall in love with me.”
And I’ve always wanted a big family because I hated being an only child, and a loveless marriage sucks for the kids. So, my children will live in a home that’s filled with love. Safe and happy with lots of laughter and parents who are nauseatingly in love.
“I missed you, Hayes,” I said the words so softly I wasn’t sure he’d even heard me. But then he tugged me closer, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed the top of my head. He’d definitely heard me. And I knew he missed me, too.
“Creating a family environment does not happen because someone threw a few parties. Creating this connection with the guys comes from being there. Modeling the behavior you want to instill. Showing up when they struggle or when there are challenges. Leading by example, and that’s exactly what you do, Hayes. What you’ve always done. Every damn day that you come to work, you show up. You work hard. The guys respect it.
“How about you and I agree that you don’t speak about my wife? You don’t think about her. You don’t talk about her. And we won’t have a problem.”
we’d traded more orgasms than one could imagine, but we hadn’t had sex. And I didn’t even know why we were holding back anymore. Even she’d suggested we just tear off the bandage. It was me who was afraid to take that step. And it made no fucking sense.
Hayes and I may have spent years apart, but he was still my best friend. That hadn’t changed at all. And the fact that he gave me orgasms every night I spent in his bed only made things all the better.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, setting the box of pasta on the counter and moving toward him. “Did something happen?” “Yeah. You happened.” “I happened?” I raised a brow. “Yeah. You happened.” He nodded slowly, his tongue slipping out and moving along his bottom lip. “I got the job. And all I wanted to do was talk to you. See you.”
He huffed out a breath. “I can’t sleep in our bed another night without burying myself in you. It’s all I fucking think about, Sav. How badly I want you. And I don’t want to fuck up this friendship, because I’ve missed you so much, and I don’t know how to deal with all of it. How to deal with the way I feel about you.”
I moved closer, taking his hands in mine. “So tell me, then. How do you feel about me?” “It’s complicated,” he said, his gaze locking with mine. “I’ve been good on my own for a long time, and now you’re here, and you’re all I see. Maybe it was always you, and that’s why nothing else ever worked when you were gone. Maybe you’ve been what’s missing all along.”
“You’re more than my best friend, Sav. I like coming home to you. I like knowing you’re in my bed, even when I’m not there with you. Knowing that you’re waiting for me. Knowing that everyone thinks you’re mine. Because you are mine, Savannah Woodson. And I know you only married me because you had to, and I’m not the guy you’d choose in a different situation because I can’t give you all the things that you want. But I fucking love you. And even if you divorce me in a few months, I’d still want to date you.”
“Why do we have to? Hell, I’d stay married to you if I knew you wanted that. I don’t want this to end, Sav. Now that I’ve got you back, I don’t want to let you go. Not now, not in another month, not in another year. I. Want. You. Whatever way I can have you.”
“You couldn’t lose me if you tried. I’m not going anywhere,”
We’ll always be okay, because we’re Hayes and Sav, right? Peas and carrots.”
“You’re going to set the pace. Take me inch by inch, baby. You can do this.”
“If you ever fucking speak to my wife that way again, you’ll regret it.”
“My Sunny is the best doctor and the best baker and the best mama around,” Cutler said, and I didn’t miss the way Emerson’s hand went to her chest as if she were overwhelmed by the sentiment.
“You know, my uncle Hayes never thought he’d get married. But he said he couldn’t wait one more second to marry you because you were different. He said you were always different.”
“I like you with my uncle.” “Me, too,” I said, tapping the tip of his little nose. “That means you’re my girl forever.” “Yep. You’re stuck with me, Beefcake.”
I’d never felt so confused about my future. I’d spent the last ten years cursing this town and convincing myself that I hated this place, when, in reality, I loved it here. Magnolia Falls is home.
I turned down our street and saw the house in the distance. And for whatever reason, I started jogging. My booties clacked against the pavement in a rhythmic sound. Because suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get there. To him. Home.
“I know I’m not good at this. I know I’ll probably fuck it all up. But I love you. So giving you these letters is my way of showing you all of me. There’s shit in there that I don’t want to remember, but maybe it’ll show you why I am the way that I am.” She lunged forward and hugged me. My arms came around her, wanting to keep her close. “I love you exactly the way you are, Hayes.”
“I’m not doing this because I’m afraid we’ll lose touch. I’m doing this because I can’t live without you. I don’t want to be friends who hook up. I want you to be mine. I want to grow old with you. I want to watch you chase your dreams and support you every step of the way. I want you, Sav. I want us.” I used the pads of my thumbs to swipe the falling tears away. “I want a life with you.”
“I thought you never wanted to be married for real? Never wanted forever with anyone.” “I thought so, too.” I shrugged. “But then you came back to town like a blazing wildfire and brought me back to life. Setting my world on fire. And I know without question that we belong together. We might not be perfect, and things might get messy, but I’ll fight for us every goddamn day if you take this chance with me.”
You’re my North Star, Shortcake. And without you, I’m lost.
Savannah Woodson had a gift for bringing everyone around her to life.
“Peas and carrots, baby.” I chuckled. “How about we update these tattoos and call it what it is?” “You two really were peas and carrots.” “What would you call it now?” Savannah asked me. “Something I never thought I believed in. But it’s the truth. We’re soul mates. It didn’t matter if we were living near or far. We belonged together.” “Soul mates does sound slightly more romantic than peas and carrots.” She chuckled.
“Life is a journey. And the road is bumpy. But if you’re willing to go through the rough spots, you can come out okay on the other side.”
But I was happy, even if I pretended to be annoyed. I never planned on being happy. But here I was. Living it.
“It’s a dog.” I laughed and shook my head. “I know it’s a dog. But why is he wearing a blue bow and sitting in the laundry room?” “He’s your birthday gift.” “No fucking way. You got me a dog?” “Yep.” I turned to face him. “You have a wife now, so when you’re away at the firehouse, he’ll be with me. He’ll be part of our little family. Saylor already agreed to watch him when I go to Dallas and you have a shift.”
“Does this little boy have a name yet?” Peyton asked. Romeo looked between his friends. “Well, considering he was born on this guy’s birthday, it only seemed fitting to carry on that legacy. But Demi and I wanted him to have a piece of the men who have been my brothers every step of the way.” “Did you name him Roddy like the puppy?” Cutler asked, rubbing his eyes as his father held him on his hip. “No.” Romeo chuckled and turned to look at my husband. “His name is Hayes Pierce Heart Knight. The little dude’s got a lot to live up to. He’s got your namesake in there, too, Beefcake. And I’m
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“Honored that my son will share a birthday and a name with you, Hayes. If he’s half the man you are, he’ll be winning at life.” Romeo pulled him in for one more hug before telling us all we could go down to the nursery and take a quick peek before we headed home. And that’s exactly what we did. My husband just stared through the glass at that little boy, like he’d never seen anything more perfect.
I remembered the day that Cutler was born like it was yesterday. I realized in that moment that I already had two kids that I loved as if they were my own. I wasn’t going to get out of caring just because I didn’t have a child of my own. I already cared. Too fucking much. But I was learning that it was okay to care. You just had to keep showing up and being there. I could do that.
Because Savannah Woodson had all of me. She was mine, and I was hers. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There is no perfect time to be pregnant or to have a child. You’ll never feel like you have enough money or enough time to bring a baby into the world. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t the right time,
Finding Hayes had opened me up. And now I was feeling everything.
The only thing that scares me is a future that doesn’t have you in it.”
“Have you ever loved someone so much that you just want to make sure nothing ever hurts them?” She sucked in a breath, and her gaze softened. “Yes.” “When I look at you, I feel so much, and I’m not used to that. So I just want to protect you and love you, and if I could put you in a box and keep you safe there, I would do it. And if that makes me an asshole or a caveman, so be it.”
We’re living the lives we couldn’t even dream of when we were teenagers. King Good women. Good jobs. Good friends. I’d call that a damn good life. Are you drunk? King Nope. Just happy. Yeah, brother. I think we all are. Ain’t that the fucking truth.
But just know that if you come back today or in five years or even in ten years, I’ll be waiting for you. And that’s the truth. I hope you find your way back to me, and I told Abe that. And the old fucker just smirked and told me only time would tell.”
“I miss you today, and I’ll miss you in five years and in ten years. Because you’re my favorite person on the planet, Savannah Abbott. Peas and carrots. Hayes.”
The kid who had truly taught all of us how to be a father. How to love fiercely. How to show up for the people you cared about. This kid is all of ours.
I’d never believed in happily ever after until I started living it. It had been the girl next door that had my heart all along. And I was never letting go.
