Page 28 of Everlasting Vows

Abbi gasps. “Oh, Nix, that’s stunning.”

My chest puffs up with pride, and one side of my mouth tips up. I knew she’d like this one. “I was hoping you’d like it. I can order the stones tomorrow and hopefully start laying them next weekend if the delivery can get here by Friday.” I look up at her for agreement, only to find her frowning at the image with pursed lips. “You’d prefer not to use stones?”

Her narrowed eyes snap up to mine. “It’s not that. It’s just that this looks like a lot more work. You’ll have to fit the stonework together like a puzzle and maybe cut pieces to fit. It’ll be heavy work, Nix. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

I shrug. “I want to do it right, Abs. Either way, it’ll be a lot of work, but I think the combination of stone and wood will look better when it’s done.”

“I agree. It’ll look beautiful, and I guess there’ll be less maintenance over time. But maybe we should hire a company to do the work. Save your back.”

I’m already shaking my head before she finishes. “I want to do this. For you.” I blow out a long breath and look at the hole I’ve dug in our garden over the last three weeks. It almost mirrors the hole I’ve dug in our relationship. If I can make this hole in the ground something beautiful, maybe I can do the same for my marriage. Maybe I can take us back to a time when everything was good between us. “I’ve let you down so much. Let me build you the backyard we dreamed of. And maybe in the process I can rebuild our marriage too.”

Her eyes track over my face as if she’s looking for any subterfuge—she won’t find any. Her lips part on a breath, and my eyes drop to her mouth without direction from me. In the past, I would have leaned forward and melded my lips to hers. Kissed her until we couldn’t breathe. Probably fucked her where she sits. But we’re so far apart, we may as well be on different continents, and I fear my kiss wouldn’t be welcome until her eyes drop to my mouth. With my heart beating wildly in my chest, I lean forward slowly. Slow enough that my intention is clear, but giving her enough time to withdraw if she wants to.

As the space between us lessens, she doesn’t pull away. My heart bounces around inside my chest cavity with something that feels a lot like hope. Her tongue darts out and slides over her bottom lip, making it glisten beneath the fading afternoon sun. My breath falters.

Finally, our lips meet, and that familiar zing moves through my body. Being with Abbi has always been a full-body experience, and it’s no different after more than thirty years together. My soul sighs at the first press of her lips. I tease her with soft pecks and light nips while her hot breath paints my lips and sends fire licking down my spine.

Without breaking our kiss, I move to the space between her legs, pushing them apart with my thighs, and reach up to cup her jaw, slipping my fingers into her soft, wavy hair. Her hand slides up over my shoulder, wrapping around me, pulling me closer. As I step into her, I deepen our kiss, using my tongue to press between her lips. We fall into a familiar pattern of taking and giving. Our tongues taste and lick. Our lips meld together, fitting as if we were born to kiss like this for eternity, and if I have my way, that’s how we’ll live out the rest of our days.

Her long legs wrap around my hips, bringing our pelvises together. The heat from her pussy meets my hardening cock, and before I know what I’m doing, I roll my hips, grinding myself against her once … twice. Our kiss grows more frenzied, teeth clashing as she returns my fervor, rubbing herself harder against me. Her fingers dig into my back, her short nails sharp against my skin. I grip her hips, holding her in place, my fingers digging into the softness.

It feels like a dream. To be kissing Abbi. To have her return my affection. Something I was terrified would never happen again. We linger in the moment, giving and taking in equal measure, sighs ghosting between us as we leisurely grind against each other.

I question my past self for the mistakes I’ve made, the opportunities I’ve wasted. The loss and devastation I’ve left in the wake of my neglect. The possibility that I could lose this woman. And I vow to do everything in my power to rekindle what we once had. I’m willing to put the effort in to keep Abbi by my side. To make her fall in love with me again. But I won’t use sex to do it—not until we can share a bed—so I slow our kiss with pecks and soft licks to the swollen pillows of her lips.

Pressing my forehead to hers, I open my eyes and regard my wife carefully, searching for any signs of regret. My shoulders relax when I find none, as her lips curve slightly.

“Can I take you out tonight, Abs?” I murmur breathlessly. Hope rises when she accepts my invitation with a simple nod. I swipe my thumb across her bottom lip, and she kisses it. “Thank you.”

I pull into the parking lot, and Abbi leans forward, peering through the windshield. With narrowed eyes, she turns to me. “What are we doing here?”

Instead of answering, I release her seatbelt and climb out of the car. Giddiness unfurls in my stomach as I jog around to her side and open her door. “I wanted to show you something,” I tell her as I help her down.

Taking her hand, a familiar spark races up my arm. She tugs her jacket tighter around her body as I lock my truck, then lead her toward the chain-link fence. She almost has to run to keep up with my long strides, but I’m eager to take her on a trip down memory lane.

She giggles as she tugs on my hand; the sound echoing around us and makes a direct hit to the muscle behind my ribs. “Slow down. My legs aren’t as long as yours.”

I slow my stride and smile apologetically. “Sorry.”

“Why did you bring me here?” she asks quietly as I open the gate and step onto the sports field of our old stomping ground.

“Because I wanted to share something important with you.” I stop and collect her free hand in mine. “Humor me?”

She nods, and I can’t stop the rusty smile that splits my face. She and the kids are the only people who have ever made me smile as often as I do when I’m with them. I guide her to the bleachers and lead her up the steps until I reach the fifth row, then tug her until we’re three-quarters of the way across.

“Sit here, please.”

She does as I ask, even though she doesn’t understand my motives yet. But she will soon. I race down to the field and take up my high school position of tight end, then, bringing the memory forward, jog closer to where I was when my life changed forever. I look up into the bleachers, finding Abbi watching me with curiosity, her hands tucked between her thighs for warmth.

“I was a sophomore when I caught a pass from my quarterback on this field.” I reenact the actions from so long ago as I explain to Abbi that I fell hook, line, and sinker for her before she even knew I existed. “I was looking up to track him so we could make a trick play when my eyes caught on a girl I’d never seen before sitting right there in the bleachers.” I point at her. “She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen and became a major distraction throughout the game,” I laugh without humor because coach reamed my ass after the game. “I missed so many passes and played my worst game ever because I couldn’t stop myself from seeking her out.” I walk slowly toward my wife, who’s only grown more beautiful over the years. “It only took me a few days to find out who the mystery girl was, and that she was new to our school. Abigail Murphy.” I smile to myself. “I knew if I could build up enough courage to talk to you, that you’d be Abigail Steele one day.”

Her mouth drops open a little. She had no idea I had harbored a huge crush on her for more than a year before I approached her. “But you only started talking to me halfway through our junior year.”

I shove my hands into the front pockets of my jeans and take each step up to her slowly. I shrug. “I had no game and knew you were too good for me. The daughter of a lawyer and a doctor,”—I raise my brows—“there was no way you’d be interested in a stupid jock like me.”

She huffs. “Well, that’s absolutely not true.” Turning her body toward me, she watches me as I walk closer. “You weren’t stupid, Nix.” She shakes her head. “You were never stupid, and I was never too good for you. You had that all wrong.”

I sit next to her, sliding closer, and then tuck her loose hair behind her ear. “You were definitely too good for the likes of me, but I couldn’t stay away. Eventually, it got too much, and I pushed through my fear of rejection and approached you.” I slide my hand over hers and tangle our fingers together, then bring her warm hand up to my mouth, pressing it against my lips. “When you smiled at me, I thought the heavens had opened up and sent me an angel.” Her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink as she ducks her head. “You’re still too good for the likes of me, and I know I don’t deserve you once, let alone twice, but I feel like I’ve loved you forever. I’ll do whatever it takes to turn our marriage around and hopefully make you fall in love with me again. I’m asking you to open your heart to me again, Abs. I know it won’t be easy for you to trust me again because I’ve hurt you terribly, but I promise, this time, I’ll cherish your heart the way I should have the first time.”