Epilogue

 

ONE YEAR LATER

 

“This song will always be us to me.”

Tessa smiled and rested her forehead on Kip’s shoulder as he slowly moved them around the dancefloor to the acoustic version of “State of Grace” by Taylor Swift.

It made sense. It was if the song had been written for them specifically.

She let herself enjoy the feel of being in his arms. It had been far too long since they’d had a quiet moment together.

The past few weeks had been filled with planning Brady and Lo’s wedding and Kip had been busy at work.

But she had kept going knowing she’d get this. A slow dance at sunset on the beach with the greatest man she’d ever known.

“Hey, so did you know that there is in fact a limit on how many pieces of wedding cake you’re allowed to have.” Steve licked pink frosting off his fingers loudly.

Tessa sighed and closed her eyes.

“We’re trying to have a moment here,” Kip reprimanded Steve gently, but Tessa could hear the amusement in his voice.

She would be amused with Steve later.

They’d had to spend a lot time together planning the wedding. And while Tessa appreciated his help and money, she needed a small break from… well, Steve. All of him. His voice, his jokes, his appetite, his face.

“Right,” Steve said like he’d forgotten. “I thought I’d let you know that the bus is ready to go when you are.”

Tessa stopped and turned to look at the blond surfer.

He gave her a cheeky grin, coupled with a wink and tossed the keys to Kip.

Okay. Maybe he wasn’t so bad.

She thought they’d be the last ones to leave since the bus had broken down again and her car was parked a mile and a half away (Steve’s fault).

Kip took her hand and led her off the dancefloor and away from the lights and revelry.

“I have something for you when we get home,” he said mysteriously when they had both latched their seat belts.

The past year had not been easy. It had been filled with a lot of hard soul work and life transitions.

But they came home to each other every night and they talked things through.

And they were honest.

It had been difficult.

But it had been some of the most worthwhile work she’d ever done.

When they got back to the beach house, Kip made her close her eyes as he led her upstairs to their room.

“This always makes me nervous,” she said, feeling for the step with her foot. “I fall down, you know. Maybe you forgot, so I’m reminding you…but I fall a lot.”

Kip chuckled and tightened his arm around her waist. “You’re safe with me.”

Yeah, she was.

They reached their doorway and she heard him take a breath.

“Okay.”

She opened her eyes and it took her a second to spot it.

Above the headboard on the wall was a rectangular piece of repurposed wood—with black writing on it.

She frowned and took a step closer.

It wasn’t…

Was it?

Tessa hiked up her dress and crawled onto the bed to get a closer look. She traced the nicks on the surface and the worn edges of the corner. She slid her finger through the indentation at the top that used to serve as a pencil holder.

“This is our desk,” she said, hardly believing the words as she said them.

Her eyes focused on the black marker scrawl and as she read the words, tears gathered.

 

A girl with a messy heart

Tattooed my soul on her skin.

A mistake and a half,

A hopeless tide of wishes,

And now we finally have the time.

 

A boy with a messy soul

Tattooed his words on my heart.

A brave and reckless hope,

A bright and bold future,

And now we have the time.

 

The top half was the poem he had written for her when he’d realized who she was. The bottom half was from her to him the night the doctor called and said the tests had been negative.

“How?” she asked, sinking to her knees in the bed and staring up at it.

“Most of the credit goes to Adam,” Kip said joining her on the bed. He curved a hand around her thigh. “Do you like it?”

She rolled her eyes and he chuckled. Did she like it?

“I think I need to show you,” she said, right before she tackled him.

 

 

 

THE END