More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“She’s my light,” I whisper. “And you’re all my colors, Wildflower.”
“Everett.” She wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me harder. “You know that’s permanent, right?” I feel her smile softly against my mouth. “I love you permanently.”
“You’re tattooed across my chest, etched into my bones,” he whispers. “You’ve unraveled me, and…” His words have me spiraling toward release, my hips moving on their own accord, forcing us faster and harder and more powerful. “And…fuck. I love you. I love you.”
“Do…do you want kids?” I find myself blurting. His eyes snap to mine, and with the utmost seriousness, he asks, “Do you mean more kids?” “Yeah,” I respond breathlessly, my heart flying out of my chest. “More kids.” He nods, eyes dark and hazed with passion and fervor. “With you, yes.”
“I love you permanently,” I whisper into the night. “Permanently,” he whispers back, kissing me again.
“I was thinking of Wildflower,” I say. Everett smiles, opening his mouth to respond, but I cut him off before he can. “But I decided it needed something more, something representative of the person who inspired me to take the leap.” He cocks his head. I dip my head, feeling suddenly bashful. “The Wicked Wildflower… I thought that could be a good name.”
“Well…” She bites her lip, grabbing my wrist and laying it on the table in front of us. “My teacher was talking today about how Father’s Day is coming up, and everyone was making little gifts for their dads…” She pulls something out of her bag, hesitantly slipping it onto my wrist. “I thought…Well, I thought maybe this nickname could work.” She looks up at me with uncertainty written in her eyes. I glance down at the bracelet, a pattern of blue beads and little orange flowers—a mixture of mine and Dahlia’s favorite colors. In the middle of my wrist are three small letters: D-A-D.
“That’s a good one, kid. I like that one a lot.” She smiles at me, so much hope in her gaze. “You do?” I fold her against my chest, cradling her head. “Yeah.” I inhale sharply as I’m overcome with that emotion, tears leaking down my cheeks. “I think that’s the best thing anyone has ever called me.”
I slide my hand down Dahlia’s side, spreading my palm across her middle. With them in my arms, it’s like I’ve found everything I’ve always needed and didn’t realize I’d been searching for. It was right here, wrapped up in them. All my reasons to breathe, my entire world. My home.
