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I nod as she holds my hand. Thinking of the people in my life that are important, I surprise myself when the list ends up longer than I had originally thought. I created a family here in Gilley Cove and I was too burdened to notice it. Now that the burden has lifted, I see it.
“And I’m okay if you and Kase get married.”
I glance down at my feet and shift in the bed, folding my legs up.
“Ellie.” She waits until my eyes meet hers. “I’ll be all right. He might have loved me a long time ago, but who doesn’t have high school sweethearts they once upon a time loved?”
“This is a little different, Everly.”
She takes a deep breath. “Yes. A little. But we can figure it out. You’re in my life to stay no matter if you’re with Kase or not. You can’t take back meeting me.”
“What about you? What are you going to do?”
“That’s a loaded question. I had my perfect. I just need to see if it’s worth finding my way back to it.”
“Well, I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
“Are you kidding, we’ll be talking all the time!”
We both glance to the door when Kase clears his throat. “I don’t want to interrupt, but I have chocolate,” he smiles, holding up a bag of chocolate covered almonds. My favorite.
“Oh, you win. All I brought in here was Reed and he was more interested in the bullet.”
* * *
“What time is it?” I grab Kase’s hand and peek down at his watch. My racing heartbeat won’t let me sit still. I cross and uncross my leg, fairly certain if I had a skirt on it would’ve chaffed my inner thighs already from the movement. I glance around the small office, papers askew on the bulletin board and the need to fix them makes me hop up. By the time I’m done, they are straight and lined up. Kase keeps quiet knowing I need something to do while we wait.
The zipping sound of a plane landing outside grabs my attention and I run to the window. “Is that them?” I ask.
“There shouldn’t be any other plane landing here,” Kase jokes. I narrow my eyes at him and he laughs. “Yes, it’s them. Let’s go.”
I push the door open and rush out, waiting for the plane’s engine to turn off. When the plane door lowers, Max is the first one out, followed by the others. I bounce on my tiptoes until I see him. He walks off with aviators on and a scruffy beard, glancing around. When he sees me, a smile spreads across his leathered face.
I jog toward him, still not all the way healed, but Kase would be all up my ass if I full out run. “Dad,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. I keep it loose knowing he had it rougher than I did since he was shot a few times.
“Hi, sweetheart.” His arms tighten around me. “It’s so good to see you.”
Old Spice fills my nose, a smell I’ve always found relaxes me. It means he’s close. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“Right back at cha’,” he says, pulling back, and his eyes move down to my stomach.
“It’s healing great. Stop, worrying.”
“Never.” His eyes shift behind me. “You must be Kase.”
Kase steps forward and they shake hands. “Yes, sir. It’s great to meet you.”
“Call me Dalton. Thanks for sending a private plane. It’s better than the commercial planes who cram you in like sardines.” His gruff voice makes my heart happy. He’s rough around the edges and soft as butter on the inside, but he’d never admit it.
I sit in the back of the Jeep, letting Kase and my dad get acquainted. I knew they’d get along great. It’s been a month since Ray shot me and Kase’s focus has been razor sharp on one thing, helping me heal. He’s pretty much spoiled me to death. The only thing he hasn’t done was talk about getting married. Every time I bring it up, he changes the subject saying we have our whole future to plan it, let’s focus on healing.
Well, I’m healed.
I figured I’d wait until my dad left to have a serious talk about what we’re doing. I haven’t worn my ring since I left Texas and Kase hasn’t brought it up even though he’s made it clear that we’re together. Chalking it up to him needing time to deal with his feelings too, I haven’t pushed it.
Everly and Reed are coming out next month. She wanted me to heal without distractions and let Kase and I work our stuff out. He told me about the kiss in Texas. It stung to hear, but in the end, I’m glad he did. It helped him realize he wanted me. I talk to Everly almost nightly, but I keep my frustrations about Kase limited to Tori. I know I won’t ever feel comfortable talking about Kase to Everly, but it’s a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things.
Kase carries my dad’s bag up the stairs as we take the elevator. “He’s a good man,” my dad says as we wait for the elevator.
