198. Courtney
Chapter 198
Courtney
Sterling pauses. “Maybe we should wait.”
I smile at the man. “You said you wanted to show me something.”
His eyes drop to my neck and the bandages the EMTs put on my cuts last night.
“Sterling. They’re just scratches. I can walk a bit.”
Honestly, I want to stay inside and cuddle up with him and Ben on the couch all day. But Sterling told me he wanted to show me something. So I’m going to let him show me something.
He puffs out his cheeks, then nods. “Okay. But if it’s too much, tell me.”
“I promise I will.”
Sterling takes my hand, and we start down the path that leads from his back deck to the little lake behind his house.
Ben bounds ahead of us, turning back when he gets too far away, then darting back down the path.
I take a long inhale.
It’s beautiful out today, the sun making it feel warmer than it is. But I’m still wearing my new winter jacket and boots.
Sterling insisted .
Just like he insisted on tying my boot laces.
And making me breakfast.
And holding me in his arms all night.
I don’t need him to baby me like he is, but I think he needs it.
Even when I told him I’d taken some of my things to the Laundry Cabin, he just kissed me and told me he understood.
Then he told me he’d be moving everything back into his house today.
I really am obsessed with this man.
I squeeze his fingers.
He squeezes my fingers back, and we walk in silence.
Past the lake.
Up a hill.
Through more woods.
Until we end up in a clearing.
It’s beautiful.
The big blue sky.
The gentle slope of land…
“I don’t have a ring yet.” Sterling’s words have my feet stopping.
I look up at him, heart pounding. “What?”
He turns to face me, taking both my hands in his. “I don’t have a ring yet, Courtney Kern. But I’ll get one. Because I want you to stay with me. Now. Forever. Into the mystery that happens after this life.” He rubs his thumbs across the sensitive skin of my wrists. “I should have talked to you about all of this sooner. When I knew…” I watch his throat work. “When I knew I loved you, I should have told you.”
Brightness erupts behind my ribs. “You…”
The side of his mouth pulls up. “I love you.”
A part of me knew it. So much of me felt it.
But to hear him say it.
“I love you too.” It comes out quietly, too choked with emotion to be loud.
“Good.” He lifts one of my hands and presses it to his chest.
I flatten my palm over his heart as he lets go to brush his thumb over my cheek .
Then, carefully, to avoid my bandages, he moves his hand to the back of my neck.
“I want to build a home here with you.” His eyes move to the side, looking at the land around us. “I’ve thought about it over the years. Figured I might someday. But I want that day to be now. And I want it to be with you.” He looks back down, gaze on mine. “You can work at my side. You can find something else to do. You can change your mind a thousand times. Whatever it is, we can find your passion together.”
A sob bursts out of me.
Because I believe him.
And because I can picture it too.
Sterling leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Can I tell you another thing?”
I blink through the tears and nod.
His smile is so warm and full of love that I know it’s an image I’ll keep in my mind forever.
“Ben was never just for you.” The dog hears his name and presses his body between our legs. “He’s ours. Our baby. And if you want more furry babies, or human babies, I’ll have as many or as few as you desire. I’ll do anything to keep you. You just tell me what you want.”
I look around at the towering trees. At the snowy mountain peaks in the distance.
I picture the ground covered in wildflowers.
I imagine a herd of dogs.
And maybe one child.
And I feel something that must be joy blossom inside me.
Never in my wildest daydreams would I have thought this life was possible.
Never had I imagined a man like Sterling would be the one to change my life.
I slip my hand free of his grip and place it on his chest next to my other one.
“I just want you,” I tell him truthfully. “I’ll take the rest of it, but I don’t need it. I only need you.”
We exhale together .
The doubt. The worry… It vanishes from between us.
Then Sterling Black’s mouth is on mine.
And I close my eyes.
Because this is it.
The start of my forever.