Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
When it’s done, and I’m a huffing, spent mess of tangled limbs and on the brink of collapse, Eva doesn’t move. She remains planted on top of me, one hand resting delicately on my chest while the other cups my cheek.
We stay here for hours, cuddling under a broken street lamp until birds start chirping to welcome a new day.
And I lie here, stroking the side of Eva’s head, breathing deep lungfuls of her vanilla essence. For the first time in years, my mind is clear. Calm.
Happy.
EPILOGUE
EVA
Ten Days Later
“We’re so proud of you, Eva. This is such an enormous accomplishment,” Mother says, pulling me into one of her tight hugs.
“Family hug,” Father yells, throwing his arms around me and mother.
“It’s only two years,” I say as the hug breaks. “I’ll be back in no time.”
I’m trying to approach this from a position of strength. I don’t want a sad goodbye that’ll leave me depressed during my whole flight to London. I want to go with the warmth and excitement of this crazy opportunity.
“But it’s going to be the longest we’ve been apart,” Father sighs. Even he’s starting to show signs of emotional turmoil.
The intercom announces boarding for my flight, and my heart sinks into my belly. Mother and Father have been at my side the entire time, and while I appreciate their company, I’d been hoping for Arthur to come around.
But why would he spoil my last goodbye to my folks, even if he knew it would make me the happiest girl on the planet?
Even now, while we shuffle through the airport terminal, where I’m saying goodbye to America, I still cling to hope. A single glimpse of him hiding in plain sight would be enough. One last look.
It doesn’t come. Tears instantly rush to my eyes as I wave at my parents and disappear down the long corridor leading to my airplane. I wipe them away viciously and climb the steps into the cabin.
And as I shuffle down the row to my chair, I get my final wish. A look at Arthur Hancock’s handsome face. His ridiculous size, towering over anything around him, holding a tiny in-flight magazine in his enormous fingers.
He lifts his head, and our eyes lock.
“Hey, Princess,” Arthur says, dropping his magazine to the floor and getting up from his chair. He has to keep his neck and shoulders craned to fit in the tiny cabin. “Isn’t this a mighty fine surprise?”
Tears sting my eyelids. Moments ago, they were there for fear of never seeing Arthur again. But now they’re a mess of excitement, happiness, and so much love for this man.
“What are you doing here?” I wipe the first threatening drop out of my eyes.
“Eva, I—” He cuts himself off to take both my hands in his. He stares so deeply into my eyes, it feels like he’s about to burn through my soul. “When I first met you, I still wore the hard outer shell of a Navy bruiser. I taught you how to fight because I know how cruel this world can be. I needed to be sure you’d be safe.”
His hands run up the lengths of my arms, over my shoulders, and he pulls me against his chest. “But what I never expected was that you’d be teaching me, too. We’re two sides of the same coin—”
“That’s exactly what I said to my dad,” I interrupt as the tears start to fall. Why bother holding them back in front of Arthur? He’s seen the best of me and the worst of me. And still, he’s here at my side, leaving his entire life behind to travel across the world.
“You showed me that it’s good to be soft, if only a little.” He presses a tender kiss against my forehead. “That there is still beauty and purity in this world. You taught me what it means to want to live for someone else and how to love unconditionally.”
What did he just say? I pull myself back and look him dead in the eyes.
“I love you, Princess. And I’m never gonna stop loving you until the day I’m in the ground. Hell, even that won’t stop me.”
I wrap my arm around his neck and pull his face down to mine. The soft smile on his rugged face shatters my heart into a thousand giddy pieces.
“I love you so much,” I whisper, losing myself to another intense kiss with my behemoth.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
ARTHUR
Two Years Later
“How long has this been going on?” Bart Collins asks while both of us stare at Eva, shaking hands with nerdy professors and accepting their praise and well wishes for getting through her master’s degree.
She looks stunning tonight. All dolled up in a long flowing dress, blonde hair tied in a tight bun atop her head, and golden glitter on her eyelids to bring it together. Every time I look at her, it feels like I’m falling in love all over again.