A lot can happen in one year. I remember back to that fateful day, exactly one year ago, when Brax told me he was taking me home. And he certainly did. That was the day that everything changed where our life together finally began.
Even in the bleakest of situations, and the hardest of times, hearts can be unified and mended beyond what you ever imagine possible. At least that’s how it is for us. Every day we grow stronger, every day my mind heals a little. I’ll never forget what happened to me, but now, I can reflect on the past and know it made me the person I am today.
I’m the wife of the most powerful man in the city. That man just happens to be the most loving, loyal, and protective husband you could ever wish for.
Throwing back the covers I step from the bed. Running my hand across my forehead, I feel confused. I hear music. But our house, the one we had built, isn’t anywhere near any other houses. Well, there was once a house, we had the owner move out, and we demolished it. Because this land held so many memories, it was the one place we managed to agree on.
After everything, my mother went quietly. I chose not to speak to her, and even a year after finding out the truth, I’m still not ready to have a relationship with her. My heart can’t quite forgive what she did to me. At least not yet.
Stretching my arms above my head, I step over to the window, pulling open the curtain. I look out as far as I can see. The early morning sunlight shines down on the man that owns my heart. I hold my hand over my mouth, gasping at him standing outside, in front of the old oak tree. Lights are hanging from the tree. A picnic blanket is set out and now I see the source of the music. I chuckle to myself, shaking my head a little from side to side. For a man so feared, so formidable, he is the cutest, most affectionate, loving man. Slowly, Brax turns his head, noticing me admiring his hard work from the window. With a wave of his hand he summons me down. Opening the window, I lean out, shouting over to him.
“What are you doing?” I ask, crossing my arms as the cold morning air gives me a chill.
“Breakfast, baby,” he says with a huge, eye-reaching smile. How can I resist? I give him a slight nod, closing the window and grabbing my robe. I race down the stairs and out of the door leading to our yard. Opening the sliding door, I stop at the sight of perfection standing in front of the tree. I love being out here anyway, but this, this adds a magic sparkle to the one place we’ve loved for as long as we’ve loved each other.
Grinning at me, I race over to Brax, flying into his open arms. “You did this for me?” I ask, kissing his neck, before looking right into his beautiful green eyes.
Scooping me up into his embrace, I feel my feet leave the ground as his lips meet mine. Kissing me softly I melt into him. I’ve never once tired of his touch, or his kisses. They’re my most favorite thing. My body aches for his touch first thing in the morning and last thing at night, like a drug I just can’t get enough of.
“I told you I would make every day special. Today, baby, we are having breakfast in our favorite spot.” Slowly lowering me down, I look over his shoulder and at the tree behind him. My heart soars at the carvings on the tree, and I almost have to pinch myself. “I’m so lucky to have you. This, here, now. It was all worth it. You know that, right?” I look up at his dazzling eyes staring back at me and my stomach flips, over and over. Damn, he does some crazy shit to me. The lines around his eyes show as he bites back a smile.
“Do you think we would have been this good together, had we not spent years apart?”
“Of course,” he says, scrunching up his nose and drawing his brows close together. “We were always meant to be together, Izzy.”
“I know that,” I reply. “But everything that has happened, brought us to this point. We have the most amazing house in the only place I ever wanted to live. We talked about it as kids. About moving to the tree and building a house here. But do you think if we’d turned out to be your average Joe Blow that we would have had this?” I hold up my arms, glancing back over at the spectacular house we had built. “I truly believe that we are exactly where we’re meant to be, and everything that happened led us here.”
“That’s some deep shit. Jesus, it’s like seven a.m., let’s eat before I have to head out.” He lets out a deep, heart-warming laugh.
“Shit, you’re working today?”
“Baby, I work every day. You know that.”
He was right. Ever since Carter has been out of the picture, Brax hasn’t stopped. He reclaimed the bars and restaurants that he’d once co-owned. Everyone that dealt with Carter, now deals with Brax. Nate and the Savages have been instrumental to the success Brax has had. And I sit proudly by his side. I’m involved in every decision that is made within the business. In fact, Nate and Tara have been a huge part of our lives. Luckily, they were both okay after receiving wounds when they came to rescue me from Carter.
I owe them much more than I can ever repay, and my heart aches for them. They are so clearly in love with each other, but Jeffries forbids it. He always did have a thing for Tara. Nate going against his own father was never an option, so he called their secret relationship off. Tara is heartbroken, but she doesn’t let it show.
After months of online schooling, I finally graduated. I know for most people that’s not a big deal. But for me, it’s an achievement. I wanted to feel normal. And this was all part of me achieving that.
Running my hand down his arm, I reach for his hand, intertwining our fingers, sitting down on the picnic blanket he has set out. Reaching inside the basket, he places the food out on the plates, and pours fresh orange juice into the small glasses.
“This is all very well thought out.” I smile as I give him praise. “Food, location, music. It’s perfect.”
“Well, I may have had some help on this one,” he says with a wink and I know instantly that he means Tara. Cooking isn’t really his forte, but he does try.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me.”
“The idea was all mine,” he interjects, lifting the back of my hand to his mouth.
“Well, it’s perfect,” I say offering him a kiss, only pulling away at the last second before our lips meet.
“Seriously,” he says with wide eyes, “that’s how you’re going to repay my hard work?”
Rolling to the side, I stand up from the blanket, bare feet against the grass. “Come get one,” I say, sticking out my tongue.
“You know there’s only one winner,” he muses, jumping up from the blanket, his legs wide apart and leaning forward in an attack stance. I squeal a little with nervous anticipation. Racing around the huge oak tree, I press my back against the tree. I rub my palm across the harsh bark, finding some comfort in doing so. My chest heaves as my heart pounds in a mixture of exhilaration and excitement.
“Mine,” he says creeping around the tree. I make a dash for it, only he manages to grab a hold of my wrist, pulling me into him.
“I believe you owe me something, Mrs. Harris?”
“Really?” I say, struggling in his bear-like hug. I can’t help but notice how sexy and disheveled he looks this morning. It’s my favorite look on him, the one I yearn for when I open my eyes in the morning.
His hand works slowly up my back, my body shivering in anticipation. His cold hand touches the back of my neck, drawing me closer to him, our lips meeting finally. Kissing him deeply, I lose myself in this man. A man I killed to be with.
Yeah, guilt is a bitch. Some days I think I’m a survivor, and I must be strong to do what I did, right? That I fought for the life and freedom I have today. That, undoubtedly takes strength, and I thank God every day that I had the strength when I needed it most. Other days, knowing I caused someone to take their last breath, plays tricks on my fragile mind. Yes, it was part of our story. But it’s not a part that I like to think about.
But I believe, without any doubt, that the fight for my life led me here. Back into the arms of the one person who shows me that despite the evil that has been inflicted on me, there is still love, even in the darkest of times. A song playing on the music player catches my attention. Slowing the kiss, I pull back, looking up at Brax with a smirk.
“Dance with me?”
“You’re joking, right?” he laughs out loud. “Baby, I have two left feet.”
“This song, Brax. This reminds me of us.”
I listen to the lyrics, the singer describing two kids falling in love. I wrap my arms around his waist, slowly swaying from side to side.
“Perfect,” he whispers. “Sounds just like us.” As he sways with me, I press my head into his chest, his heartbeat thudding against my ear. Reaching down for my hands, he holds them in his, stepping back and then pulling me back into him.
“I thought you said you couldn’t dance,” I tease.
“Watch this,” he says lifting my hand up and grabbing my waist, making me spin on the spot.
“Who even are you?” I laugh, falling clumsily into his chest.
“I will be whoever you need me to be.” He hooks his finger under my chin, pulling my head up until our eyes meet. I feel the familiar feeling of butterflies in my chest. “Always.”
“You, me, and this beautiful life we have together is all I’ll ever need, Brax.”
Two broken, damaged souls fused together as one. We healed the scars—the scars of us.
Together, we are perfection.