Reckless

Careful, that one’s got claws,” Cade offers right as Willa shoves a pointy elbow into his ribs.

I grin. “That’s okay. I like having my back scratched.”

It makes me realize what I’ve missed out on all these years. It makes me realize all the things I don’t have.

The things I never will

Not like I begrudge anyone else what they have. It’s more that I long to have it too

“Winter Hamilton, will you marry me?”
I smile through the tears. “Would hate to make a liar out of you after how long you’ve been telling people you’re going to marry me.”
He winks at me. “When you know, you know.”

“That night we were reckless.” His voice cracks. “But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.”

It strikes me that perhaps I’m not an easy woman to love, but Theo does it so effortlessly that I feel like I could be. Like I deserve to be.

“Anything you want to say to this future wife of yours tonight, Silva?”
I don’t need to think twice.
I hold the mic up to my lips and murmur, “Te vivo.”
It’s better than “I love you”.
It’s more accurate.
It’s us.

“Am I fucking you like a princess or a slut later?”
And just before she kisses me, she chuckles and responds with, “I don’t care as long as you fuck me like I’m yours.”

The woman everyone told me was cold, mean, and unavailable is so thoroughly mine.
And that’s special. That’s everything.

No, Winter may not say the words, but she expresses her love in different ways. She embodies it so effortlessly.