I leave the office early. Corinna’s been home, and despite the varying family members dropping in and out, I know she must be going stir-crazy. I debate on calling to see if she wants to run out to grab some food, when something tells me to wait and see when I get home.

Home. I’ve barely seen the inside of my apartment in the last month and a half. Corinna and wherever she is has become my home again. We’ve talked about the years in between, avoiding the subject of Jack’s betrayal, as it increases her stress when she doesn’t need it. All we’ve found is those years made us grateful for having this second chance.

Fundamentally, we’re the same people. Corinna is still the funny, smiling, warm-hearted, loyal woman I was falling for at twenty-one. She’s also stubborn, provocative, and has a vicious temper that can drop a person to their knees.

She’s everything I knew I wanted, and everything I couldn’t possibly dream of because she hadn’t fully come into herself yet.

As much as we both regret the time lost, especially with the specter of her surgery looming over us, it’s made me realize time won’t stop us. It’s why we’ll fight this battle and win.

There’s no way the light in those golden eyes will fade.

Life wouldn’t be that cruel.

Pulling in behind her car, I hop out of the Jeep and make my way to the front door. Using the key she gave me, I slide it into the lock. I’m about to call out to her when I see her hair cascading over the edge of the couch.

No…

I drop my bag and keys on the floor and race over to her, my boots almost slipping out from beneath me.

Her hands are tucked under her cheek. Her lips are tipped up turning a beautiful face into an extraordinary one.

And her chest is rising and falling.

I swallow hard, as tears come unbidden to my eyes. She’s just asleep. Smoothing a hand over her hair, I choke out the first thing that comes to mind. “I love you.”

When I lean down to kiss her, her lashes flutter.

“Hey, baby,” I whisper.

“I must have been dreaming.” She stretches. “It was such a perfect dream.”

“Scoot over.” She makes room for me on the couch. Prying off my boots, I join her under the blanket. “Why was it perfect?”

“It was a wish. Every wish comes true, right?”

Rolling partially on top of her, I murmur, “If you can’t tell the man who loves you so he can make them come true, who can you tell?”

“That wasn’t the dream?” she whispers, her lips curved in a mysterious smile.

I chuckle. “That’s the reaction I get to my finally telling you I love you?”

“You know I love you too, Colby. So, so much.” My heart pounds erratically as she tells me the words I already know but still celebrate hearing.

I nod, increasing the pressure of our lips against each other. I seal them together in a deep kiss where I pour every ounce of love into it. Minutes later when I pull away, I’m blinded by the blaze in her golden eyes.

My heart already begins memorizing this moment for the upcoming days when I’ll need this to comfort me and give me strength. My heart beats because hers does.

I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens during surgery to take her from me.

Needing to pull myself away from thoughts where our future may only be days instead of the years I want to imagine, I lighten the moment. “What do you think about going out for dinner?”

“And here I thought about making nachos,” she says dryly.

I quickly open my arms and roll off the couch. Standing, I reach down and grab her hands, pulling her to her feet. “You’re going to make nachos? Seriously, the woman I love making my favorite food ever? If you’re up to it, I can’t think of a better thing to eat.”

Corinna rolls her eyes. “Of course not.”

“I’ll make it worth your while.”

Laughing at me as she makes her way into the kitchen, she tosses over her shoulder, “I’m sure you will.”