Wade wasn’t ever going to ride again.
I could feel the bitter taste of regret in my mouth, knowing it was all my fault. If he hadn’t been there, risking his life to pull my reckless self out of danger, he would have never been shot.
Sensing my inner turmoil, Max gently guided Ray to aseat, the quiet concern in his eyes palpable, then came back to rest a hand on my lower back, his touch warm and reassuring.
“Let’s go for a walk.” He whispered, pushing me towards the door. He nodded at Hank, a silent gesture to keep an eye on Charlie and Ray, as he walked me out the doors of the hospital and to a bench located right outside.
He gestured for me to sit, his hand outstretched, but I huffed and plopped down onto the unforgiving concrete, the cold seeping into my thighs in defiance.
“Now, I want you to listen to me,” he said, his eyes boring into mine, “and I want you to listen good,” the last phrase a low growl. “None of this is your fault.”
“But...” I started, the word catching in my throat, as I tried to reason with him. He held up a hand, fingers splayed in protest, and I rolled my eyes, the gesture a physical manifestation of my frustration. Even after all we had endured today, Max still had the ability to remain calm and steady.
“No buts. What happened with Wade was a freak accident. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, except the fucker who pulled the trigger and met his timely demise at the hand of Sheriff Cortez’s wrath. Wade knew what he was getting into going into that building. He came in armed, ready to get you and Charlie to safety. He chose to put himself in danger because you two are important to him, to all of us.”
A wave of despair washed over me, and tears flowed from in my eyes, salty and hot against my skin. Max took both of my hands in his, his touch warm and reassuring, and gently squeezed.
“Stella,” he said, his voice firm but laced with warmth, “you and Charlie are family, and one thing I hope you’ve learned is that we will move heaven and earth to protect our family.”
He coasted his thumb across my lower lash line, gathering the wetness as he went. My eyes were swollen and burning from all the crying; I was so exhausted. The weight of everything that had transpired over the last thirty-six hours weighed down on my shoulders.
“Baby, look at me,” He whispered. “You are safe. It’s over. Wade is going to be okay. Sure, he won’t be able to ride anymore, but that’s not gonna stop that stubborn fucker from finding ways to get himself in trouble. You’re okay. We’re okay.”
“We’re okay,” I repeated, the steady thump of his heart a comforting rhythm against my ear as I leaned against his chest. He pulled me into a hug, a silent caress that communicated his love more profoundly than words ever could. His lips brushed my hair lightly as he held me close.
It was truly over.We were safe.
epilogue
MAX
SIX MONTHS LATER
The ornate frameof the full-length mirror in the groom’s suite reflected my anxious face; I tugged at my bow tie, the starched fabric feeling stiff and uncomfortable against my neck. I didn’t know why I was nervous. There had been no reservations when I’d proposed to Stella a month after her and Charlie’s abduction. So, why was the fact that I was going to be walking down the aisle to my forever, giving me heart palpitations?
I had known, as soon as I had stepped foot out of the hospital the night of their rescue, that I wasn’t going to wait to ask her to marry me. I already had the ring hidden in a shoebox at the top of my closet. How Stella had managed to avoid it still baffled me to this day.
I had taken her to the cove on one of our weekly “parents’ day out” dates, the ring burning a hole in my pocket the whole way there. Remembering our first trip, Ray and I had carefully packed a picnic basket, the familiar weight of it acomforting echo of the day I’d fallen in love with Stella Jacobsen. Giving in to a wave of nostalgia, I decided on another fondue dessert night, the rich smell of melted chocolate filling the air around us.
Since the weather had cooled significantly, bringing in the brisk evening air of fall, the fireflies weren’t as prevalent. I had wanted to wait until the first week of May to bring her here, just like Ma had done for Wade and me, but life was short and we weren’t ever promised tomorrow. I couldn’t wait one more day to have my ring on Stella’s finger and the promise of forever.
After we had eaten, I drew Stella in between my legs, wrapping my arms around her to stave off the cold. As she leaned back into my chest, I crested my lips down the gentle column of her throat, feeling her pulse beat steadily beneath my lips.
“Marry me,” I whispered, the words hanging in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion.
“Okay,” she replied simply, like I had just asked her to take out the trash or pick something up at the store.
I turned her in my arms, allowing her legs to straddle my thighs, as I reached into my pocket to grab the ring. I held the glittering diamond between us, its facets catching the moonlight, causing it to twinkle and glow, just as the fireflies had once done.
“Marry me,” I repeated, holding the ring out for her to take. I was a man of many words, but Stella always rendered me speechless. We didn’t need words to express how we felt about each other, we just felt; raw and unfiltered.
“Max...” she whispered, my name barely audible above the sound of her own ragged breathing and the soft sobs escaping her lips. She looked up to meet my gaze, her emeraldeyes meeting mine and reflecting all the love we felt between us.
I placed my hand on her cheek, wiping away the tears that continued to fall. “Marry me, Stella. You and Charlie are my entire world. I can’t imagine a future without you in it. I told you once that I want all of you. I want your morning bed head, your mid day laughter, and your night time yawns. I want to watch Charlie grow up, never missing another moment. I want to create a life together, one that may or may not involve miniature versions of us so Charlie can have a sibling.. or three.”
She chuckled and wrapped her slender fingers around my wrist, holding my hand to her cheek. The tenderness in her gaze told me everything I needed to know; she was just as lost to me as I was to her.
“What do you say, Trouble? Will you put me out of my misery and marry me?”
