Dalton nodded. “That’s all I want too. I want to be here for you always. And to be honest, I didn’t even think about how my job would affect you negatively. I was so caught up in how it was you who made me want to do this in the first place, you know? That had always been my focus, not any of the scary parts, which is so stupid of me. Of course you’d be scared.”
I reached for his hand and laced my fingers between his. “It’s not stupid. I didn’t even realize how much it affected me until you didn’t show up, and I immediately assumed you were dead or hurt. So I can’t promise that I’ll always be okay, and I know it won’t be easy. I clearly have a lot of fears to work through that I never even knew I had. But I don’t want to be without you. I’ve done it for the last ten years, and I don’t want to have to do it anymore.”
“I don’t ever want to live without you, Cammie. And I promise you, I’ll do everything in my power to always stay safe and out of harm’s way. My worst fear is hurting you again.”
Sighing, I said, “I know you can’t promise me that you’ll always be safe. You can’t promise that. And don’t, because I’ll be so mad at you if you break it. But I just need to know that you’ll try.”
Dalton pulled his hand from mine and grasped my shoulders, turning me to face him directly. “I will always do my best to come home to you. I know that nothing in life is a guarantee. You can’t promise me that you won’t get in your car later and not get into a car accident.”
He stopped talking, frowned, and then started again. “God, that’s a horrible fucking example, and I’m really sorry. Please don’t get into a car accident. But you know what I mean. There are some things we can’t control. I can’t lie to you and tell you my job isn’t dangerous at times. It is. But that’s part of why I love it so much. I know that I’m making a difference, making the world a better place. It gives me purpose, but so do you. And I never want to do anything that hurts you, Cammie. Ever.”
I looked into his green eyes, amazed at how much this man loved me. “You really are incredible. I mean, I always thought so, but you’re even more wonderful than you were. You’re so much more,” I said as I thought back to the boy I used to love. He had grown into an awe-inspiring man.
“I love you, Cammie. I never stopped. Not for a single day since we’ve been apart. Sure, it’s ebbed and flowed, I’m not going to lie about that, but it’s never disappeared completely. Not once. And I always knew it.” He brought my hand up to his face and kissed my knuckles, sending the warmth of his affection shooting through me, and I smiled.
“You’ve always been a part of me, Dalton. When you didn’t show up that night, I realized that I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. I had just found you again . . . just gotten you back. And I knew in that moment that I had never really stopped loving you.”
“Say it,” he demanded as he lifted my hand, turning it palm up. He dropped a kiss into my hand, then pressed kisses up my arm.
“Say what?”
“Tell me you still love me.” When I bit my bottom lip, bringing it between my teeth, he growled my name.
“I still love you,” I said, unable to fight the smile that played on my lips.
“Then dance with me.” He pulled me from the couch and onto my feet as he plucked his cell phone from his pocket and fiddled with it. Music played through the tiny speaker as he placed it on top of the coffee table.
Walking back to me, he extended his hand. “May I?”
“May you what?” I teased as a familiar tune surrounded us.
“Have this dance. I blew prom, and we didn’t even get to dance at the reunion. I want my dance now,” he said firmly before grabbing me by the waist and pulling me close.
Lyrics filled the air between us, and I tilted my head. “Is this . . . is this ‘Stand by Me’?”
His lips curled into a smile as he nodded, the unfamiliar voice still singing in the background.
“But who’s singing?” I asked.
“Imagine Dragons. Isn’t it rad?”
I laughed at his word choice. “It is pretty awesome.”
“Now hush and listen to the lyrics.” He lowered his head to rest against mine and we moved together, our bodies swaying to the music.
It was romantic, the two of us dancing alone in my living room to the raspy tone of the lead singer’s voice, the simple lyrics striking a chord within my soul as he belted them out with so much emotion and grit.
“You’re all-in, right?” Dalton said softly against my hair. “You and me. Me and you. No going back.”
“I’m all-in,” I whispered. “No going back.”
I rested my head against Dalton’s shoulder as my feelings for him grew. I didn’t care how crazy it all might seem to an onlooker; they didn’t know my heart. And my heart had wanted this man since I was fourteen years old. It was about damn time it won the fight and got him.
“I hope you’ve got dating out of your system,” he murmured into my ear, “because this is it for you. One penis for the rest of your life.”
“Now who’s the stalker?” I choked on my laugh as it stuck in my throat. “You’ve married us off already and attached me to your penis?”
He leaned back and looked me right in the eyes as I waited for another penis joke. “Married, kids, white picket fence—whatever you want, the whole shebang. It’s okay if you don’t admit that you want it too. I don’t care. I just want you to know my intentions. I want to be very clear about where we’re heading.” He pulled me closer, pressing his lips to my hair as he whispered, “I’ve wanted this for too long.”