I already asked her kids and mine and got their blessings. They all will be there to support us.
I asked John, too. This time, I am doing it right, and he said yes.
I blew Tessa off for two days, wanting her to miss me, to sit and think about what’s going to happen. To have the time to grieve if she needed it, and the time to look forward to what’s to come.
Next, I decided it was best to send the Links Construction crew a letter, letting them know I am getting married. It’s the right thing to do, right? I didn’t ask them to come. I actually didn’t even tell them the date.
Two days later, I received a package. Inside was the necklace I had given Tessa when her team won the state championship in field hockey back in high school. There were diamond earrings, a bracelet, and the ring I had made for her when I asked her to marry me the second time. There was also a note.
Lucas,
I held on to these, and now I know why.
I am sorry things are so horrible between us now. I want nothing more than love for you.
Some of us aren’t strong enough to take a step at true happiness and a lifetime of knowing every day when we wake up that we are exactly where we were meant to be. I know it’s a choice, and a fight, and something different. Something rare. Something that doesn’t always happen because we try to make it what we want. Not what is best and right for the other person.
Tessa Ross has loved you forever. And I know you have loved her for the same amount of time. The rare thing I spoke of is fate. Fate has brought you back together, but strength has made you not give up.
Love, in its truest, most beautiful form, will ensure a lifetime of happiness for the two of you.
I am sorry about what Ashley has done to you. What we all have done. I am so sorry Tessa lost Collin. He was a good man. I am sorry that all of that happened to both of you.
But I am so happy, Lucas. So happy that you now have the family that you deserve and a woman who has treasured your friendship and kept you in her life because you are worth it.
She sees in you what so many others failed to recognize.
I see you, Lucas.
Congratulations.
I love you.
Audrianna
EPILOGUE
Iwalk into the house and see Lucas staring at a letter. He doesn’t even look up at me. He hasn’t noticed I walked in. Then I see a single tear fall down his cheek.
“Lucas?”
He jumps and quickly wipes away the tear. “Hey, baby.” He turns his chair, pulls me down onto his lap, and nuzzles into my neck.
“Talk to me.”
“Do you have any idea how much I love you? Do you have any idea how much you mean to me, Tessa?” He doesn’t let me respond. “You, my kids, your kids, Piper, your family are everything to me. I have no one else that matters.”
“Lucas—”
“No, hear me out. I don’t give a fuck about any of it. You, my kids, your kids, Piper, the whole Ross clan, it’s all I need. You are all I ever needed. Not any of the other shit. Not football. Not dozens of women. Not drugs. I know this—hell, I have known it—but … but fuck, baby, you have no idea how much I love you. It’s never gonna change, just get stronger.” He kisses me hard on the mouth then pulls back. “Check this out.” He holds up a gold chain, the necklace he gave me in high school, with two field hockey sticks crossing and engraved with, “LYA.”
“I know our past sucked a lot of the time, but it got us here.” He clips it around my neck. “Then the earrings. You were so afraid it was gonna be another ring. Will you wear them?”
“Of course.”
He helps me put them on.
“The bracelet, too, baby. Remember this? A birthday gift?”