Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Sunny stares at her with a pained expression, an expression that breaks my fucking heart. I put my hand in his hair and gently rub. It’s killing me to see him like this, to see him so broken and upset. He doesn’t deserve it. The poor kid deserves happiness. I hope we can be the ones to give that to him now.
“Does my mommy still love me?”
“Oh honey, of course she does. She loves you so much, but sometimes it gets hard for mommies to show you how much they love you when they have forgotten how to love themselves, too.”
“What about Taj? He thinks she’s coming back. He’s so sad. I told him it’s okay, he has me, but he wants momma.”
Strong, beautiful boy.
“You’re a great big brother, the best I know,” Merleigh smiles at him. “He has you, and that’s enough. In time, that’ll make him feel less sad. In the meantime, Bohdi and I are going to make you both feel as happy as we can, okay?”
“Can we come and stay in your cabin? I like it there. I like the beach so much. Bohdi said he’d teach me to surf and I want to start now.”
My heart fucking aches.
“You know what? I think you can come and stay at the cabin anytime you want. How does that sound?”
Sunny smiles, a smile that makes my heart explode. “Yay!”
“And, you can learn to surf with me, because Bohdi is teaching me, too. Though I’m not very good, so you might be better than me.”
He laughs and then runs off yelling at Taj that they’re going to learn to surf and stay in Merleigh’s cabin for a while. I turn to Merleigh when she stands, and I place a hand on the side of her face. She closes her eyes and tips her head into my palm, exhaling. “I’m so sorry I reacted the way I did,” she tells me, “I was just scared and a little overwhelmed.”
Her eyes pop open and she stares up at me. “You’re the most incredible human I have ever met, Merleigh. You shine so much beautiful fuckin’ light into this world. My boys would be lucky to have you in their world, but more than that, I would be lucky. I need you. I love you. I don’t want to live another fuckin’ second without you, and I’m sorry it took me so long to show you that.”
Her eyes light up and she smiles a big, toothy smile. “You love me?”
“More than I’ve ever loved another person in my life.”
“I love you too, Bohdi, and I want this. I want all of it. I want every piece of you, broken or not. Because you’re exactly what I need in this life. You’re the strength I’ve lived so long without, and I would love nothing more than to help you raise your beautiful sons.”
I bring her close and press my lips to hers, kissing her slowly and deeply. She’s so fucking perfect, the kind of perfect you rarely find in a person, and when you do, you don’t let go.
“Ew,” Taj’s little voice comes from behind us.
I chuckle and let her go, and her cheeks go a beautiful shade of red as she smiles at my son. “Hey buddy, what do you say we go and get some ice cream and then go to the beach?” she asks him.
He claps his hands together. “Can I have chocolate?”
“You can have whatever flavor you want, two if it makes you happy!”
“Yay!” he cheers. “Then can we go to the club and visit with Alarick? I like it there.”
Merleigh smiles. “You know, I quite like it there, too. I think it sounds like a great plan.”
Merleigh puts her hand in mine, and I squeeze.
Fuckin’ best day of my life.
Without a doubt.
Maybe Isla did us all a favor.
Maybe, she finally did right by us.
MERLEIGH
“They’re such cute kids,” Zariah says, smiling at the boys who are currently looking at all of the bikes lined up outside the clubhouse. They’re obsessed with them and certain, one day, they’re going to join the club, too.
“They are,” Briella agrees. “I can’t believe their mom just upped and left.”
“Good riddance,” Waverly shrugs. “She was a pain in the ass anyway.”
“Amen to that,” Aviana nods. “Speaking of a pain in the ass, how has Cova been since you got back?”
I have been meaning to go and see Cova, but things have been crazy in the last week and I simply haven’t had the chance. I owe it to her, though. As someone who understands what she’s going through, the least I can do is go and see her. Even if she doesn’t want me to.
“She’s angry, bitter, and miserable,” Briella sighs. “I don’t know what to do with her anymore. She just doesn’t want to be with us and I’m thinking maybe, I should just let her go her own way.”