“How are you feeling? Any pain?”
“No. Not even a headache yet.”
“That’s wonderful.” I stroked the back of his hand with my thumb. “I like your new tattoo.”
“Yeah?” A shadow of his old smile.
I nodded. “When did you get that?”
“Last week.”
“I thought it was against your rules to tattoo a name on someone.”
“Not when the someone is me, and not when the name is yours.”
My throat closed, and I squeezed his hand.
“I still won’t do it for anyone else, because I don’t know how they feel. But I know how I feel.” His blue eyes looked dark and intense. “And I know it’s forever.”
I sniffed again, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. “I love you, too.”
“No more tears, you.” He closed his eyes. The talking was tiring him out, I could tell.
“No more tears,” I promised, looking around for somewhere to sit while he slept. “And you need to rest. I’ll just sit here in this chair, okay? I won’t leave.”
“No. Come here.” He tugged on my hand.
“What?”
“Come here. In bed with me.”
“Dallas, I can’t—”
“Please?” His eyes opened again. “I missed you so much.”
My heart couldn’t take it. I glanced at the nurse’s station. “Okay. But only for a minute.”
Somehow, despite the rails and the oxygen and the IVs and machines, I managed to crawl into the twin bed next to him and cuddle up to his side.
“Much better,” he said.
I kissed his scruffy cheek. “Yes.”
“So you want to move to Portland?”
Smiling, I patted his chest. “Why don’t we wait until after the drugs wear off to talk about that?”
“I’m not high, Maren. I’m just done wasting time. I want you to live with me.”
“You do?” I could hardly breathe. Was this the same guy who told me he was too selfish to be a good boyfriend?
“Yes.”
“Won’t … won’t everyone think it’s a little sudden? And maybe crazy?”
“Fuck everyone. I don’t care what they think.”
Yeah, it was him.
I snuggled closer. “I’d love to. Let’s get you better first, and then we’ll figure it out. Deal?”
“Deal.” With effort, he shifted a little and kissed my head. “I’m just going to say it once more, and then we’re leaving the past behind. I’m sorry for what I put you through. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course I can.”
He kissed me again. “If you told me I died on the table and this was heaven, I’d believe you.”
I smiled. “It’s not, babe. This is your life. And it’s only gonna get better.”
He sighed contentedly. “Good.”
I lay there with him for a few more minutes, listening to him breathe, reassured by the solid warmth of his body and by his words.
We would have our second chance.
Maybe it was sudden. Maybe it had always been destined.
Maybe it was crazy. Maybe it made perfect sense.
Maybe love was a game of chance, played at the whims of Cupid, as random as the roll of the dice.
Or maybe it was a story written in the stars, about a boy and a girl whose hearts wouldn’t rest until they were together again.
Either way, it was always and only him.
Three Months Later
Dallas
The shop was nearly empty, and everything was in place.
Even so, I was still a little nervous. Not about what I was about to do, just about making everything perfect. Maren deserved perfection.
“You ready?” Beatriz came by my station with a grin.
“I think so.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. “Fuck, I hope she says yes.”
“Are you kidding me? This girl fell in love with you twelve years ago, you broke her heart—twice—she takes you back, moves across the country to be with you, nurses you back to health after brain surgery, says she’ll move to bumfuck Oregon with you to live on a ranch she’s never even seen and teach yoga to a bunch of angry teenagers, and you’re wondering if she’s gonna say yes?” She thumped me affectionately on the shoulder. “What’s wrong with you?”
I laughed. “It seems too good to be true, that’s all.”
“Well, you deserve it. You’ve been through a lot.”
“What if she thinks it’s too soon?”
She rolled her eyes. “When you know, you know. And trust me—she knows.”
“Thanks.” I stood up and gave her a hug.
“Okay, I’m getting out of here. The champagne and cake are in the fridge and the food will be delivered as soon as I let them know to bring it, so text me when that ring is on her finger.” Beatriz, Evan, and a few other friends were going to wait at a bar down the street, then come back to celebrate with us.
“I will.”
She gave me one last smile as she headed for the front. “Good luck.”
I double-checked my station to make sure I had everything I needed, then wandered up front to wait for Maren.
It was just after nine, and already dark outside. Autumn had come quickly—it seemed like we’d barely had time to blink, and summer was over.
After the surgery, Maren had remained in Boston for several days, and she hardly left my side while I was in the hospital. We agreed to table any major decisions about moving until after I got stronger, but having something to work for motivated me to follow all instructions and recover as quickly as I could.
I moved in with Finn’s family for a month, and Maren visited every weekend. We all celebrated together when the biopsy results came back indicating the tumor was indeed benign. Subsequent scans showed that Dr. Acharya had been able to remove it all, and the seizures, headaches, and dizzying memories had ceased. Yes, I had a big bald patch and a bunch of staples holding my scalp together, and at first I couldn’t even take a shower without help, but that was all temporary. I felt unbelievably lucky and grateful.
When I felt strong enough to go home, I asked Maren again about moving to Portland. My feelings for her had only grown deeper and stronger, Finn and Bree adored her, and even my parents—when I finally felt well enough to handle a visit from them—fell under her spell. My mother started hinting around about grandchildren as soon as she saw how natural Maren was with my niece and nephew, and even though I rolled my eyes and shut her down, it was in the back of my mind too.
We talked about it a lot, and although she loved Detroit and had a really hard time moving away from her sisters, she wanted to be with me and was up for starting a life somewhere new. I fucking loved that about her. She sold her studio to one of her instructors in August, got out of her lease, and moved out here right away—without even seeing the house. I asked her if she wanted to visit first, but she said, “I trust you. If you say the house is perfect for us, it is.”
Waking up next to her every morning was better than a dream. She was patient and kind and forgiving, but she was tough on me too—she made sure I took all my medications, refused to let me skip checkups and therapy appointments when I tried to say I felt fine, and she calmed something in me that had been restless and unsettled without her in my life. She brought a sense of peace and clarity to my life that I’d never had before. And she made me excited about the future.
Together we’d decided to take Evan up on his offer to buy property adjacent to the ranch and build a home. All that would take a while, but she was as excited as I was about living in the country, working on a responsible, sustainable ranch (she and Evan were of similar minds on that), and teaching yoga and mindfulness as part of the youth program. In the meantime, I was back at the shop several days a week, and she was teaching yoga at a couple different studios. Life was good.
But I wanted more.
Every time I looked at the lotus necklace around her neck—which was oft
en, since she rarely took it off—it gave me a thrill. I couldn’t imagine how happy I was going to be when I saw a ring on her finger.
Maren wasn’t the kind of girl who waxed poetic about big diamonds or poofy white dresses or having all eyes on her as she walked down the aisle, but I was hoping she wanted to be my wife as much as I wanted to be her husband. But I couldn’t just come right out and ask her—not my style at all, and I knew how much Maren loved a surprise.
So I’d concocted a little plan.
When I saw her coming down the street, I pushed the glass door open. A cool October breeze blew in with her, carrying the scent of fallen leaves and her lavender oil. “Hi, beautiful.”
Her face lit up. “Hi. How are you feeling?”
I kissed her lips. “Like a million bucks. You ready?”
“Yes! You’ve been promising me this tattoo forever. Since high school, I believe.”
“You’re right,” I said, letting the door close behind her. “Let’s do it.”
I took her over to my station and had her sit in the chair. “Okay, put your arm up here.”
She extended her left arm across the table, and I prepared her skin.
“Did you make the stencil?” she asked.
“Uh huh.” From my desk, I pulled out the stencil of the words she wanted inked on her forearm in script, going from her inner wrist toward her elbow.
I am not afraid of love.
I held it up. “Like this?”
She nodded happily. “Yes! I’m so excited.”
“Okay, close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want it to be a surprise.”
She giggled and gave me a strange look. “You’re goofy, but okay.”
Eyes closed, she leaned back in the chair and I silently pulled a second stencil and a ring box out from my desk. I set the box in my lap and carefully applied the secret words to her arm. My pulse was racing.
When I was finished, I lifted the paper and saw the words I’d temporarily transferred.
Will you marry me?
“Okay,” I said, closing my trembling hands around the ring box. “You can look.”
She opened her eyes and dropped her gaze to her arm. Her smile faded. Her mouth fell open. “Oh my God.” She stared at the words, almost like they didn’t make sense. “Is this—are you—?” She looked up at me, an astonished expression on her face. “Is this for real?”
I took the ring box from my lap, moved the table aside, and got down on one knee. Then I opened it.
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands as she stared at the ring.
“It’s real. And maybe it seems a little sudden, but I feel like I’ve spent my entire life waiting for you. I thought it was too late for us, but you’ve shown me that it’s never too late when you love someone the way I love you. Some things are just meant to be, some people are just meant to be together, and sometimes, love is forever.”
“Oh, Dallas,” she whispered, her eyes tearing up.
I took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. “I never want to be without you, Maren. You make me a better man. Will you marry me?”
She nodded as the tears began to spill over.
“Is that yes?”
“Yes. Yes!” Laughter bubbled out of her, even as she wiped her eyes. “I can’t believe this.” She held out her left hand and stared at it. “Oh my God, it’s stunning. I’ve never seen one like it.”
“It was my grandmother’s,” I said quietly, my throat feeling a little tight. “My grandfather left it to me. It’s been in a safe deposit box at the bank for years. I never once thought I’d need it.”
Her eyes met mine. “Oh, honey. I love it.”
“Are you sure? I had it reset with a champagne sapphire because I know you like color, and the jeweler said that stone is perfect for rose gold. The little diamonds on the band are original to the ring—I liked that. But if it’s not what you want, I’ll get you a new one. I know it’s not very modern.”
She cradled her left hand against her chest as if I’d tried to take the ring from her finger. “You want this ring back, you’ll have to pry it off my cold, dead hand. It’s perfect. Perfect.”
“Good.”
She leaned forward, taking my face in her hands and pressing her lips to mine. “I’ve never been so happy in my entire life. My heart is going to burst right out of my chest.”
“Mine too.”
“So happy or so shocked!” She giggled and looked at her hand again. “I thought I was coming here for a tattoo!”
I laughed as I got to my feet. “You can still have your tattoo. I just couldn’t wait to see that ring on your finger. And you know I love to surprise you.”
She jumped off the chair and threw her arms around me, and I held her tight, lifting her right off her feet. “Never stop surprising me,” she whispered as she clung to me.
“Never,” I promised. I closed my eyes and breathed her in, feeling overwhelmed with love and luck and gratitude. “You know what?”
“What?”
“I’ve never been so thankful for that stupid brain tumor.”
She laughed as I set her down. “Thankful? Why?”
“Because it brought me back to you.” I cradled her beautiful face in my hands. “And it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
“I love you,” she said, her eyes filling once more. “I loved you then, and I love you now, and I’ll love you forever.”
I kissed her lips. “I’m counting on it.”
Maren
I couldn’t stop looking at my left hand. Even in the dark, the ring sparkled and shone. Everyone at the impromptu engagement party at the shop had commented how gorgeous and unique it was, and when we had time, I was going to ask Dallas to tell me all about the woman who’d worn it before me. I loved that my ring had a connection to his history.
Dallas chuckled as he pulled into the garage at our house. “You really do like it, huh?”
“I love it.” I hugged my left hand against my heart. “I can’t get over how perfect it is for me. In a million years, I’d never have been able to describe it. I’m not like Emme, who had her ideal engagement ring picked out by the time she was sixteen. I wasn’t even sure I’d ever get married.”
“Me neither.” He turned off the engine and we got out of the car. “I thought that ring would sit in the box forever.”
“Can you give me the real tattoo tomorrow?” I asked. I hadn’t wanted to wash off the stenciled proposal tonight, because it was such a fun piece of the story. I’d taken a thousand pictures of it, and sent some to my sisters, who were thrilled and weepy and sent their congratulations and hugs. I couldn’t wait to show them the ring, which I’d be able to do next week when we went back to Michigan for Emme’s wedding.
We held hands as we walked toward the house. It was an adorable two-bedroom place in a lovely old neighborhood that was perfect for a couple like us, but I was glad we’d have more space eventually. Already, I was thinking about a family, which was another thing I’d never been sure about. Now I wanted a whole tribe. “What do you think about kids?” I asked. “Or is it too soon to talk about that?”
He gave me a look as he unlocked the door. “You’re not trying to tell me anything, are you?”
I laughed. “No. It’s just a question.”
“Okay. Good.” He pushed the door open and let me go in first, then he closed it behind him and wrapped me up in his arms from behind. “Because I feel like I just got you all to myself and I’d like to enjoy that for a little while.”
I smiled as he walked me from the shadowy kitchen into the living room, where we’d left one lamp on. “But after that?”
“After that we can talk.” He kissed the side of my neck.
I spun around in his arms to face him. “How many can we have?”
His gorgeous blue eyes widened. “How many?”
“Yeah. Now that I’ve seen where we’re going to live, I want a whole
gaggle of kids.”
“A gaggle?”
I nodded happily. “Yes! I’m picturing like eight adorable little hippie children running around the ranch, dirt on their faces, flowers in their hair, planting vegetables, picking fruit off the trees…”
He shook his head. “Oh my God. You are not putting flowers in my son’s hair.”
“I will if he wants me to. And who knows, maybe we’ll have eight girls.”
His eyes closed. “I’m in so much trouble.”
“But you love me.” I kissed his lips. “And I love you, and whether we have eight children or twelve or twenty or none—”
“Or two,” he said, backing me toward the stairs. “Two is good.”
I rolled my eyes. “Two isn’t even enough for a game of hide and seek, let alone enough to tend a farm. Hey, can we have peach trees? I love peaches.”
Groaning, he bent down, picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. “Me too.” He bit my ass cheek through my long cotton skirt. “I’m in the mood for some right now, in fact.”
I shrieked as he carried me up the stairs and into our moonlit bedroom, tossing me on the bed. “No! Don’t eat me!”
“But I’m so hungry,” he growled, reaching beneath my skirt and tugging down my underwear. “And you’re so sweet.”
I laughed as he disappeared under my skirt and buried his head between my thighs, but before long I was sighing with pleasure, my hands in his hair, his tongue and fingers working their magic.
Then he was sliding up my body, shrugging out of his clothes, lifting my shirt over my head. For the millionth time, I marveled that this was real—this man inside me, this love reborn between us, this future we had imagined. I held him tight as he brought me to a place where we were the only two people in existence, where we’d been made only for each other, and the whole world was ours alone.
I would cherish this feeling forever.
THE END
Thank you for reading Dallas and Maren’s story. If you enjoyed this, you’ll love Emme and Nate’s story, Only You, available now! Stella’s story, Only Love, is coming this November 26th.
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