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“She would never approve. Never be okay with this.” My head shook, my palms fisting ocean sludge. “It’s been years.”

“Years have a way of making things look a lot clearer,” he told me. “We talked. We cried. Tara may never fully accept it, but she understands this is real. She doesn’t want to be the forever wedge between us. She loves you. We both love you. And even though that love was built differently, it comes from the same place.” Heaving in a deep breath, Reed stood. He rose from the sand-blanketed shore and took a step toward the water, placing a hand over his heart. “It comes from here.”

My chin lifted, my eyes glued to him as I watched him plod into the water. An inch at a time. A new barrier crumbling between us. Shallow tide kissed the toes of his boots as he pressed forward, until the ocean swallowed his feet to the ankles.

Both of us. Together.

On the same side of the waterline.

I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed, hypnotized. Spellbound by his careful approach, his body sinking deeper into the water. And then he sat down, right across from me, caging me in with two long legs.

I leaped at him.

Water sprayed and splashed, mingling with my tears, as I launched myself into his arms and he caught me before we tipped backward and submerged, just for a moment. But I was already drowning. Sinking with shellshock and love so pure I couldn’t breathe.

He held me close, wrapping both arms around me and peppering kisses into my hair.

I pulled back to cup his cheeks between my hands, then sifted my fingers through soft brown-black hair. His eyes glittered, the shadows gone for good. “You’re here to save me,” I breathed out.

Warm lips brushed against mine as he whispered, “Maybe you’re here to save me.” Then he pulled me to my feet and spun me around, his smile engraved like it had been carved with rare diamonds. “Dance with me.”

Laughter poured out of me as he twirled me in the water.

I clung to him, my fingers digging into his arms, never wanting to let go.

Never needing to let go.

Reed hummed the chorus of Wonderwall, knowing there were no more walls standing between us.

No more barricades.

Just the open expanse of our shared horizon, painted with the colors of hard-fought love.

We danced.

We swayed beneath the moon, the stars, the vastness of possibility, water drenching our legs and a well-deserved future soaking our minds.

He held me. He dipped me.

And when he pulled me back to his chest, he murmured softly, “Do you like this song?”

Tears of joy flooded me as I pressed my cheek to his chest and listened to every perfectly timed heartbeat, serenading precious melodies against my ear. “It’s my favorite.”

EPILOGUE

June, 2005

Ladybug bounded through the front door of our quaint bungalow, her timeworn, snow-white muzzle connecting with my face for over-eager kisses. At thirteen years old, she was far from feeble, still brimming with puppy energy and unconditional love.

There was a time when I thought I’d never seen her again. But things in life that were meant to stay always managed to find their way back to us.

I held her close and kissed her snout, drinking in memories and baby powder softness.

“Mommy! Auntie Tara is here!”

As Ladybug collapsed into my lap, my best friend sauntered through the door with two giant suitcases, Whitney trailing behind her.

“Longest. Drive. Ever.”