by Nicole Dykes
I nod my head, knowingly, “Yeah, it is. It’s going to be really weird not having you around all of the time, but we are only two hours away.”
She nods her head. She still looks upset. “Yeah. I just. I don’t know. I’m scared I’m going to screw it up.”
I shake my head at that, “Not possible kiddo. You’re a really smart girl and if you do, who cares as long as you learn from it.”
“I don’t have anyone, Jax. I see you and Charlotte, and Luke and Hannah. Dylan and Brooke. You all have the love of your lives and I don’t have that. I want that.”
This poor kid. I wish she could just enjoy life right now in the moment. Since I moved up here it was pretty clear she was looking for love. “I’m almost thirty. Dylan was twenty-six when he met Brooke and Luke is just a freak.” I grin, “Who let’s be honest had his fair share of wrong before he finally gave in to his love for Hannah.”
She nods her head, but I’m not sure she’s really getting it.
“Trust me on this one Cassie, the moment you are least expecting it is when you will find the love of your life. I thought I would be fifty before I settled down, but now that I’m with Charlotte it’s like “How the fuck did I live those thirty years without her?”
She smiles at that, “You two are so good together. It’s really nice to see, but it hurts too. Like I’m never going to have that.”
I shake my head and lean forward roughing up her hair, “Cass, you are eighteen years old. Live your life. Don’t worry about finding love so fucking early. It will bite you in the ass when your guard is down and you think that there isn’t anything else you could want.”
She grins and fixes her hair, “I know you are right.”
“I am. Go with that. And as far as going to college and feeling lonely, Hannah lives in Manhattan. Luke goes to see Hannah a lot and he still has some good friends there so you already have an advantage.”
She nods her head, happily, “That’s true. I really like Hannah. I don’t know about Luke just popping in whenever, though.”
I chuckle, “Yeah you better watch your back. Big brother is going to check up on you.”
She groans, “Ugh, I didn’t even think about that.”
I laugh and stand up, taking her hand and pulling her up from the table, “Let’s go. This is your party, kid. Enjoy it.”
We go back out to the backyard and Gabby excitedly hands Cass and envelope. “Here’s your first present, Cassie.”
Cassie smiles and hugs her little sister. I return to my spot next to Charlotte wrapping my arm around her.
Cassie examines the envelope and her face is total surprise, tears instantly forming, “This is mom’s handwriting.”
Goosebumps form on my forearm. I catch Luke’s eyes who seems to have a lump in his throat, “It’s a letter from her. I got mine at my graduation. She wrote them for all of us.”
Dylan grins, “She even did it for mine. They were written when we were all pretty young. You can read it in private.”
Cassie hugs the envelope to her chest a tear sliding down her cheek. She looks to Luke, “You never told me about that.”
He tries to shrug it off, acting tough, but it’s a tough subject for him. I change the subject to save his ass from having to show emotion around everyone. I look over at Dylan, “What do you think? Should we give her that other thing now?”
Dylan grins, scratching his chin, “Hmm… I don’t know if she’s really ready for it.”
Cassie looks over at us suspiciously, “What is it?”
“Follow us.” I stand, taking Charlotte’s hand in mine as we walk out to the front of the house where Cassie’s graduation present waits.
Cassie squeals and runs over the custom dark pink, classic Camaro, with all the modern accessories a teenager requires. “Oh my God, this is mine!”
Dylan laughs, “Well you have your practical gas saver, but everyone in this family eventually needs a badass car. This one is all your.”
He tosses her the keys and she unlocks the door, looking inside.
Charlotte says where only I can hear her, “Please tell me you were the one that had to do the pink paint job.”
I laugh, “No, but I supervised and it damn near killed me.”
We both laugh at our inside joke and I pull her closer to me. The woman I love. The one I will never let go. Who knows what is in store for Charlotte and I, but there is one thing that is certain, we will be together until I take my last breath.
“I love you, Jackson. And I love this crazy family you made me a part of.”
I kiss her temple. What the hell did I do without this woman in my life?
Life can fuck you up. I know that better than anyone. Everything can be taken away from you in an instant, but everything can also be given to you that quickly.
You can just be minding your own business at a boring event and the love of your life can come crashing in without a warning.
Thank God for that.
The Fucking End
Letter from the Author:
I just want to thank you for taking the time to read Charlotte and Jax’s story. I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I know, I know, you want more of the Monroes…
No problem, Cassie’s story is coming up very soon!
If you want to connect with me you can find me here:
https://www.facebook.com/Author-Nicole-D-1607194522867504/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13701591.Nicole_Dykes
Email me at [email protected]
Special Thanks To:
I want to thank my beta readers, S.A.S.S., bloggers, all of my readers and Facebook followers! You both are amazing and I don’t know what I would do without any of you!