Page 79 of Fractured Mind
“I can’t wait to share a room with you.” His voice is like gravel.
“Since we’ll be living together, will you wake up with me to watch the sunrises?” I ask shyly.
“Absolutely.”
I let out a contented sigh and smile as the sun disappears.
“I love you, baby,” he says with a smile.The smile that’s reserved only for me.
Despite the obstacles, we found each other and ended up where we belong. Now I realize why I didn’t feel at home in my old town... it was because I belonged with him. He has always been a part of who I am—it just took a while for my fractured mind to play catch-up.
EPILOGUE
Six months later
My alarm goes off.It’s still dark. Ashton grumbles and pulls me closer, which makes me smile. I tap the arm that’s around me. “Come on... It’s time to get up. Quick, I don’t want to miss it.”
He grumbles again but doesn’t budge, so I peel his arm off me, sit up, then shuffle over the edge of the bed. I stand while he’s yawning and stretching with his arms out wide. He looks at me with sleepy eyes.
I sigh. God, he’s handsome. I pick up my dressing gown from the end of the bed and pull it around me. Ashton stands, pulling his hoodie over his head. It cascades down his chest and abs. He meets me at the foot of the bed, and we walk down the hallway and stairs and outside, where we settle in at the table and watch the sunrise, loving that we get to experience this together, like we did when we were kids.
Afterward, Ashton makes me coffee and we sit on stools at the kitchen counter to drink our brews. Roman is the first to rise.He walks in with a smile, his hair damp from the shower. “Good morning,” he says in a chirpy voice.
“Good morning,” Ashton and I reply.
After his coffee is ready, Roman turns to us. “Where are we going for dinner tonight to celebrate the opening of the gym?”
A thrill rushes through me. Ashton glances at me with a smile before looking back at Roman. “The same restaurant we always go to. Maybe around eight fifteen. I know it’s late, but the gym closes at eight.”
“The time works well for me because I’ve got classes this afternoon anyway.”
There’s silence before Roman says, “You know everyone’s talking about the gym. You guys are going to do really well. The location, near the main street and not far from the highway, is going to pull in clients from nearby towns too.”
I nod. We got lucky with the large open-plan building that was available for lease. “How’s your degree going?” I ask Roman.
“I’m enjoying the psychology classes. Though I wish I could fast-forward the next four years of university because I’d love to start working already.”
I smile at him. I’ve always been fond of Roman. He might be good at football and easy on the eye, but there’s a deeper side to him. The woman who winds up with him will be a lucky lady. I giggle, thinking Ruby will want to provide the seal of approval to every girlfriend that the guys in our group have.
As I’m thinking of Ruby, she walks in. I find watching her in the mornings amusing. Her hair is always a mess and her clothing disheveled. She wanders over to the coffee machine. I know not to bother having a conversation with her until after she’s got coffee in her system. When the coffee machine beeps and her coffee is done, she picks up her mug with both hands, brings it to her lips, and exhales heavily. Then she turns and walks over to me, taking a seat beside me.
“Good morning,” I say to her through a smile.
Her hand rises from her mug, giving me a small wave.
Roman sits with us, putting his coffee and big bowl of cereal down in front of him.
Levi comes bouncing in the kitchen, his eyes darting between me and Ashton. “Are you guys stoked for today?” But he doesn’t let us reply. “I can’t wait to see all the sexy birds your gym brings in. Short shorts, sports bras...” He does a chef’s kiss. “You guys are geniuses.”
“Is that so . . .” I reply sarcastically.
“Hell yeah! Needless to say, I’ll be at your gym every day.”
I chuckle. “Hmm . . . I bet.”
Levi gets some bread and puts it in the toaster.
“How do you have so much energy in the morning?” asks Ruby. She’s scowling at Levi. Their banter always makes me laugh.