Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
CRANE
We fit together so well.
Sierra sleeps on my lap for most of the plane ride home, and when we land, her phone is alight with text messages and voicemails.
Sierra stares at the screen; her brow furrows as she shakes her head.
“That fucker.”
We’re standing at the carousel waiting for our luggage, but I can’t pay attention to anything but her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Declan,” Sierra mutters, pushing her hair behind her ear. “He wants his diamonds.”
Anger trickles down my spine, more so when she groans.
“Who asks for a gift back?”
“He can have the diamonds back, but he’s not having you.”
Pulling her into my arms, I vow that one day I’m going to buy her diamonds.
Diamonds so bright they dazzle her.
“I know.” Sierra peeks up at me, wrinkling her nose a little. “Will you stay at mine until the wedding?”
I nod.
“Thought you’d never ask.”
“I don’t have much room…” Sierra pauses. “Is that okay?”
“Is that okay?” I chuckle, spotting our luggage making its way around the carousel. “I’d live in a trash can with you.”
Sierra’s eyes glaze over as I kiss her head, making my way through the bodies to get the suitcases.
I need to think about the wedding, and what we’re going to do after it.
Mom won’t ever move back here, but I doubt Sierra will leave.
Either way, I’ve made a promise to my girl.
I’m never leaving her again.
“I’ll grab my stuff from Kai’s and meet you at yours,” I tell Sierra as the Uber picks us up from the airport.
Sierra nods, frowning at her phone again.
Declan is going to be buried beneath her patio if he keeps fucking texting her, that’s for damn sure.
Sierra nestles into the crook of my arm, and I stare out of the window idly.
When I’d come on this trip, I’d fully prepared to see that fucker with his hands all over Sierra, but I didn’t see this coming.
Sierra, curled up in my arms contentedly as Kai grins at me from the front seat.
“You two look good together.”
“I know.” I smirk, and Lorena rolls her eyes.
“Like the cat that got the cream, right, Michaels?”
“Right.”
We drop Sierra off first, and I watch her until she disappears, her sweet smile making me grin goofily back at her.
“Well…” Kai drawls.
I ease back into the seat, chuckling to myself.
“Come on, you’re in love.” Lorena jabs my arm, grinning at Kai.
“Damn, with my little sister too.”
“Yeah, well, you can’t help who you fall in love with.” I shrug, crossing my arms.
“So, are you staying in town?” Kai turns his head to mine, his eyes hopeful.
I knew we’d have such a good fucking life together, despite the history this place holds.
The memories.
Declan.
Dad.
But why should we leave?
Sierra’s career is here. I could start one…
“Maybe I’ll open a tattoo shop in town.”
I say it lightly, but Kai nods, pointing a finger at me.
“I’d love you to stay, but I want you to know that I understand if you can’t.”
The Uber slows, and we pull up at Kai and Lorena’s house.
“You do?”
I tug my suitcase to the sidewalk as Kai sighs.
“Yeah. This place doesn’t hold good memories for you. But, Crane, seriously, talk it through with my sister. I’ve never seen her this happy, and, well…I’ve never seen you this happy either.”
“Speaking of your sister, I need to get moving. I don’t like the thought of her on her own.”
“You’re her boyfriend, not her bodyguard.” Lorena laughs, heading toward the house.
Boyfriend.
What we have doesn’t feel like it deserves a term so juvenile.
Sierra should be my fucking wife.
And she will be, one day.
SIERRA
The house smells musty, so I open the windows to let in some air in.
My phone beeps again, and I grit my teeth when I see Declan’s name on my screen.
I set off to find the diamonds he wants so badly, tearing my room apart trying to find them.
But they’re gone.
I fall back onto my bed, staring at the empty velvet box I know held the diamonds before I left for Miami.
I know they were in there.
Swallowing hard, I glance around the room like the diamonds are hiding, and groan.
“Fuck.”
I shower, racking my brain the whole time about where the diamonds could possibly be.
If I’d been robbed, surely they’d have taken the box?
There’d be signs of a break-in too, and as far as I can tell, everything seems fine.
So where the hell were they?
Dragging a brush through my hair, I stare at my reflection.
My skin has been kissed by the Miami sunshine, and the marks on my throat and breasts remind me of Crane.
There comes three knocks on the door, and I grab my t-shirt and shorts, forgoing underwear.
Crane gazes at me from the doorway, his suitcase and backpack almost as tall as he is.
“Alright, roomie?”
Biting my lip I step back, and he pushes his baggage aside, reaching for me.
“I missed you,” I moan against his lips as he runs his hands down my back and into my shorts.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m here now.”
His mouth meets mine, his hand moving up to cup my face as he kisses me slowly.
“So beautiful, Sierra.”
“Mmm, you’re not bad either.”
“I want to talk to you.” Crane pulls away, leading me to the sofa.
Immediately I panic, visions of him telling me goodbye filling my mind.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” I whisper, my throat thickening with emotion.
I can’t lose him again.
I know that whatever happens, I’ll never love anyone like I love Crane.
Please don’t leave me.
Crane shakes his head no.
“No, Sierra. I told you. It’s me and you.”
I let out a shaky sigh of relief and nod.
“Okay, so what then?”
“You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
I tilt my head at him, a smile breaking across my face.
“Uh oh.”
“But I’m feeling kinda lucky. So I’m gonna come out and say it.”
I sit up straighter, my eyes popping out of my head as he inhales, staring at me with his exquisite amber gaze.
“Right…” I whisper, my heart thudding against my chest.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Crane gazes at me, nodding his head as though to enforce his point.
My heart stops. "Crane, we just got back together. Don't you think we should—"
"Should what? Waste another five years? I know what I want, Sierra. The question is, do you?"
My heart fucking melts, and my eyes fill with tears of happiness.
“You,” I whisper back, lifting his knuckles to my lips.
“It’ll seem fast, but I’ve been in love with you for years, Sierra.”
I’m nodding in complete agreement.
I’m loving this, whatever it is.
“So I wondered if you wanted to make it official.”
I frown, tilting my head to his in confusion.
“Official? As in…Facebook status official?”
Crane laughs, shaking his head as he leans forward, giving me a lingering kiss that leaves me begging for more.
“No, Sierra, I’m asking you to marry me. I haven’t got a ring yet—”
I jump up, knocking over the table in the process, my thigh throbbing in protest as I hobble toward him.
“Are you serious?!”
How?
Where would we live?
“I’m serious, Sierra. I should’ve asked you years ago.”
I climb onto his lap, ignoring the pain in my thigh as he laughs, holding me tight.
“I’d love to marry you, Crane, but where would we live? Oh my god, I’m so happy right now!”
Crane chuckles, kissing me again before nuzzling my neck.
“Semantics, my darling. It doesn’t matter where we live, or what we do, as long as we’ve got each other. I need you to own my surname. Have my babies. I wanna cover you with tattoos.”
“Did you rehearse that little speech?” I gasp, cupping his face in my hands. “Because it was pretty fucking special.”
“Is that a yes?”
I stare at Crane, his eyes smirking at me as I nod enthusiastically.
“It’s a motherfucking hell yes!”