I hold her tight for a moment before she pulls away to reach for Jake. “You can’t run from your person. Once you meet, it’s like a magnet becomes activated and you no longer can separate before meeting again.” I smile over at her as she looks up at Jake with pride. She pats him on the cheek and then turns to walk inside, looping her arm through mine. “Looks like you decided to stop running from love.”
I nod in agreement. “Seems like I did.”
“I’m so glad,” she says, genuinely patting the top of my hand.
We fill Grace in on the details of the day and how we reconciled. We left out some of the mushy parts, like not being able to keep our hands off one another.
“She couldn’t keep her hands off me,” Jake says, pulling me toward his side. Well, I left out the mushy parts. I playfully swat at Jake’s chest to the humming laughter of him and his mom.
The day feels like it has lasted years. I am emotionally exhausted, and all I can think of doing is spending my night in bed with Jake. I wrap my fingers in his and watch as he looks over toward me with endearment, his soft smile and light-brown hair rustling in the breeze. His dark eyes become a deep well filled with devotion. My heart is so full I feel it could burst.
On the drive home, I’m captivated by the start of this new life of mine. I think about all of the factors that had to transpire for our lives to end up at this exact moment in time. I know if any one of those events hadn’t happened, I would never be here, sitting next to Jake, on our way to his house to spend the night making it up to one another.
I raise his hand to my lips as he parks the car. He smiles, pulling his keys from the ignition, and walks me toward the house. When I make my way to his side of the car, he scoops me into his arms and walks me down the path. I giggle at the sentiment and admire the strength of his arms, chest, and back. I rub my hands across his body, tugging at his sweatshirt before we are through the door.
“Easy,” he whispers playfully against my lips. I shake my head in defiance.
I want this, every part of it. I want to kiss away his fears. I want to repair our trust so he doesn’t ever question if I am coming home or not. I’m his, now and always.
He sets me down on the floor, and I dance around on my tip-toes, up the spiral staircase, into his bedroom and that’s when I see them, a pair of women’s Xtratuf’s.
He stays downstairs for a moment or two before walking up the staircase in a chorus of squeaks under the sheer strength and weight of him. I’m sitting at the edge of his bed when he sees me. His face has fallen serious, and he stares at me, scanning my face. Before I can speak, he holds the letter up.
I tilt my gaze toward the floor as I stand up, thinking of a way to explain. I feel the floor tremble under his weight as he closes the distance between us with determination. He reaches me and tilts my face to his, pressing our lips together in a moment of passion.
“You are not broken.” He breathes heavily as I reach for him. “We are made for each other.” He continues to kiss along my jaw and down my neck. “I won’t ever leave you,” he says, pulling back to stare deep into my eyes.
“Wait,” I press my hands to his chest. “What are these?” I point toward the pair of Xtratuf’s.
He swipes a hand through his hair, “you weren’t supposed to see those.” He sighs, walking toward his closet to pull them out from hiding. “I had planned to give these to you a few days ago.”
“I’ve never had a pair,” I say, judging by the look on Jake’s face this is something he knows.
“Every local needs a pair of Tuf’s.” I roll my eyes at his insinuation. “You belong here, Cammie. Just as much as anybody. This is your home now.”
When my eyes meet his once more, I fall deeper in love with him than I ever thought possible. I dive deep into his love and devotion and entangle my soul with his. He broke down my walls without me even realizing it, and now those obstacles are out of the way, our ability to be together is pure, unobstructed bliss.
We spend the night making love time and time again. The feel of his rough skin against my softness is the perfect balance. He takes such gentle care of me when we are like this together. He’s gentle with me, as if he’s worried I might break. He mends my wounds, and I kiss away his fears. I can’t explain it, but it is as though our bodies fit. Like I am a lock and he is the key that has opened me up to new possibilities of love, happiness, and life.
We lie in his loft, watching the sun come up wrapped in one another’s arms.
“You know,” I speak softly as Jake runs his fingers through my hair.
“What?” he speaks low.
“I think back to that silent prayer I made all those weeks ago, asking for there to be a place I belong in this world.” I smile to myself as I think of all the wonderful series of events which have led to this moment. “You were not what I expected. Something I didn’t see coming until it nearly ran me over in a boat.”
His laughter booms across the space we are in, filling me with desire. I continue, “but, I’m so incredibly glad it was you.”
“My mom,” he whispers into my hair. “She always did say that Smuggler’s Cove was made for lovers.”
I look up at him as he places a gentle kiss to my forehead, thinking about just how right all of this feels. Maybe Smuggler’s Cove is made for lovers, and maybe my small, whiny prayer was answered in the shape of this adventurous, kind, loving man.
I smile up at him once more before he stands to rummage through his closet. He turns to look back at me, my pair of Xtratuf’s in one hand, his larger pair in the other. His grin the same confident one he wore the day we met as his boyish charm captivates my every sense.
He asks, “want to go on an adventure?”
Epilogue
CAMMIE
1 YEAR LATER
* * *
Well, that’s surprising,” Jake says as he clasps his hand around mine.
We just got into his truck after a doctor’s appointment. I can’t speak. I just look at him, eyes wide with fear, shaking my head.
I toss my legs into the truck and slam the door on my dress that now hangs outside the truck.
Ugh.
“It can’t be right. I mean, there is absolutely no way,” I say with frustration as I grab my dress and pull on it without opening the door.
He intertwines his fingers with mine, spinning my wedding band around my finger as he waits for me to come to terms with the news the doctor just told us.
“Twins,” he says with a smile, his eyebrows raised.
“Two boys.” I nod, completely withdrawn from the present moment. “I know nothing about boys.”
I feel overwhelmed as tears prick the back of my throat and sting the tip of my nose. My breath hitches in my throat as I try to explain how ill equipped I am at being a mother.
Jake cups my face in his large hands and turns me toward him.
“Well, luckily for you…I know a thing or two.” He places an endearing kiss across my lips. I can’t help but feel consumed by the news. We were just ready to start trying for one, and now we are having two.
“Two?” I ask, still not certain I believe the doctor was looking at everything correct. “Are they sure?”
“Dr. Andrews was pretty sure.” He kisses my hand, and my heart rate begins to slow.
Well, this is what we get. “Why couldn’t our first just be one?” I toss my head back and whine.
We ended up getting married in September as the summer season began to settle down. Yes, it was only a few months after knowing one another, but we didn’t care. We knew what we had found in one another and didn’t want to waste another second.
We had gotten married on a drizzly day in Smuggler’s Cove, surprising, right? Originally, we had wanted to get married near that waterfall Jake had taken me to. Tommy had loaned us all kayaks for the small ceremony, and we had planned to paddle out there together. However, like other aspects of our lives which have gone unplanned…we decided to get married at the c
hurch due to a storm.
The reception was held at the Fish House, Jace played music, and Tommy manned the bar and food. Even Alan decided to show up. I was surprised he came after I threatened to cut him off if he didn’t comply with Jake and Ryan’s original recommendations for his stream. Just like I thought, Alan complied without issue.
My mom came to the wedding and ended up staying with Grace. She loved it here so much she decided to move in with Grace and celebrate their lives in this quaint little community. I had to pull Grace aside before I could let my mom move all of her belongings up here. I asked her to blink twice if she was being threatened. Grace just laughed me off in that easy way about her, acting as if I were the funniest person she had ever met.
I was serious.
Jake reassured me, his mom was tough and wouldn’t bite off more than she could chew. He said it wasn’t my issue to worry about anymore and reassured me both of our mothers were adults and could make decisions on their own. The crazy thing is, my mom is doing really well since she moved up here. I haven’t seen her like this since before my dad walked out on us.
On our wedding day, I looked around at our friends and family and realized I had enough love and support; I had an entire community here helping me grow and supporting me along the way.
A sigh of gratitude escapes my chest.
“What?” I hear Jake say, a smile in his voice.
“Just thinking about this crazy life we’ve had over the past year.”
“Oh yeah?” he says with piqued interest. “That wasn’t what I was thinking about.”
“What were you thinking about?” I say, smiling out the window, watching the scenery pass by.
“I was thinking about how sexy you are going to look as you continue to grow into your belly,” he says with a smirk.
“Shut up,” I say, pulling my hand from his. “You were not.”
“Yeah huh,” he says, completely serious. “I think it’s incredibly sexy that you are the mother of my children, carrying my two sons with you everywhere you go.”
“Well, you just better hope your mom puts our names on the prayer request chain.” I tease.
Jake reaches across for my hand. “Well, luckily…I’ll be here with you through it all.”
I look over at Jake and start to imagine what our two boys will be like. If they will look like him or me. If they will be the perfect blend of us both, his strong stature and my soft nature. I wonder whose hair and eye color they will have. If they will have Jake’s smile.
I hope they have his smile, I think.
We continue our drive out the road to our home before having to get ready for the rehearsal dinner this evening. Hilary is getting married this weekend, and there is a lot of work to do as the maid of honor. I’ll let her share the details of her story but, it’s no secret, this wedding is going to be the best.
We drive along the coast, making our way slowly through town. We aren’t ever in a hurry here, life seems to pass at a slower rate, allowing us to find enjoyment in the little things.
As for us, we decided home isn’t a physical place but a feeling you get from finding your person. It sounds silly to say, but we found home in each other. One I never intend to leave.
“What are you thinking?” Jake breaks my train of thought.
“Just thinking about how lucky I am. Do you ever wonder what life would be like without one another?” I ask curiously.
“Never,” he says. “Living life right here with you is better than anything I could have dreamed of. I don’t want to live any alternative,” he says, smiling gently over at me.
“You know,” I say, feeling the emotions rise up in me. “I’m going to make you regret saying that you’ll find me sexy at eight months pregnant.”
A mischievous grin builds across his face.
“Doesn’t matter,” he says, shaking his head. “Because I’m with you…” He looks over at me and waits for me to complete his sentence, the words we spoke in our vows that often serve as a reminder in times of uncertainty we are in this together, forever and always.
“Every step of the way.”
Keep reading for a first look at Just Say It.
Coming Fall 2021.
An Excerpt from - Just Say It
Hilary - Present Day
My feet dangle off the side of the boardwalk as I overlook the choppy ocean water and the surrounding islands. I take in the Tongass National Forest in all its beauty of looming spruce and hemlock trees, the sound of birds calling to one another in the distance still echoing in my head. I do my best to slow my breathing as the light mist leaves a sheen across my tan, freckled skin.
A few months ago, my friend Cammie had decided to move from Smuggler’s Cove and return to Colorado. I was devastated. My friend Ryan had comforted me as I came to terms with being on my own once again. He always had been there for me when life seemed to throw me obstacles. He came over to my place, and I stupidly let my guard down. He held me and let me sob into his chest while I pulled myself together.
After a few hours of regaining my composure and then losing it again, Ryan asked me a question. Well, not really a question, more of a statement that alluded to a bigger question. He ran his hands through my hair, stroking down my neck as I lay curled in a ball on the couch.
“I want more,” he said as he laid a soft kiss onto my head. I pulled away to look at his long, dark eyelashes, his devastatingly dark-brown eyes and jet-black hair swooping across his forehead. I searched those eyes, running a finger across his deep-brown cheeks, which was when I saw Jake’s truck pulling up outside. I jumped up and ran to the door when I saw that Cammie was sitting in the front seat. I bolted out the front door as emotions clung to my throat.
I never answered Ryan’s question, which in itself was my answer, I guess. At least, that was how he took it.
I pull my raincoat tighter around my body as the wind blusters into my face, billowing my wavy strawberry-blonde hair in its wake. My bare legs freckle with goosebumps at the cooler temperatures, my floral red dress rippling with the breeze.
The wet cold here has always chilled me to the bone. It may only be the end of September, but my teeth chattering together could fool anyone that winter is upon us.
About a year and a half ago, my best friend, Cammie, moved to Smuggler’s Cove to live with me and work alongside me at Kayak Alaska. She had just found out her serious boyfriend, Brandon, had been wanking around with one of his co-workers. She moved here on a whim and decided Smuggler’s Cove was her home. It was where she belonged. Six months ago, my childhood friend, Jacob Davis, moved home to take care of his mother who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Cammie and Jake fell head over heels for one another despite how much they tried to fight their feelings. Well, Cammie tried. I think Jake was sold the minute he laid eyes on her, sitting there in her kayak, flipping him off with both hands. Love at first sight.
Anyway, their relationship has inevitably caused me to rekindle some kind of relationship with Ryan Lewis. Not many people know this, but he was my unofficial high school sweetheart. We never dated—officially. But Ryan was my first everything. My first kiss, my first love, my first heartbreak. I was in love with him. That was, until he absolutely shattered my heart into a million pieces.
I moved back to Smuggler’s Cover after university. Ryan continued to pursue his Master’s and decided to move back home once that was complete. We hadn’t talked much since his return, which is a feat nearly impossible in the small, isolated, seaside community of Smuggler’s Cove.
Smuggler’s Cove is a unique community nestled into the mountainside of a small island in the southeastern handle of Alaska. The buildings are bright and colorful along the boardwalk, balanced out by the dark forest trees that loom overhead. As colorful as the industry looks, they are nothing compared to the villagers. The town is filled with gossips, kooks, and fishermen, but everyone has a heart of gold. Growing up here, I had always wanted to get off this island and see the world, but
somewhere along the way, I realized that there really is no other place like it. Smuggler’s Cove is home. Always has been and always will be.
Since Jake and Cammie’s relationship, Ryan has become interwoven in all facets of my life, and I don’t like it. He always had a way of lurking in the shadows of my life until a major catastrophe would strike, and then he was there. Always there. Taking care of me. My anchor in the roughest of storms. Part of me feels like he knew he wasn’t welcome to approach me unless my life was crashing down around me.
He’ll always be a good friend—one of my best. But for my safety and his, I think that’s where he will stay.
I lean forward, looking at the water ripple just below my feet. I kick my legs around in circular motions like a child whose feet don’t touch the ground. I tuck a strand of wild blonde hair behind my ear and continue to find solace in this present moment.
Cammie and Jake are getting married in just over a week. It has been a whirlwind romance for the two of them, and I couldn’t be happier. The entire town has exploded with enthusiasm. I have never been to or seen a royal wedding, but I would imagine the excitement feels something like the current state of Smuggler’s Cove.
Ryan is set to be the best man, and I’m the “maid of horror” as Cammie’s mom, Cynthia, calls me. I have been tasked with fending Cammie’s mom off with a stick. I do my best at reminding her that Cammie’s wedding day isn’t about her, despite what Cynthia may believe.
These speeches go over well…if I simultaneously hand her a glass of port. I walk a fine line here, because if I liquor her up too much, she dives into speeches about how she hopes, “Jake doesn’t knock her up and walk out on Cammie like my husband did.” It hasn’t really seemed to impact Cammie’s nerves. Nonetheless, shut the fuck up, Cynthia.
Every Step of the Way: (Smugglers Cove #1) Page 22