“Morning.” I say huskily.
“Morning.” She says back with a small smile.
I lean down and press a quick kiss to her lips.
“How are you doing today, darling?” I ask gently.
“I’m ok. It hurts that she left me behind but we were never really that close anyway. Plus, now I have you.” She says before she leans up and kisses me.
“Yes, you do. I love you, Auden.”
“I love you too.”
We kiss some more before the snoozed alarm goes off and we reluctantly pull apart and drag ourselves out of bed and into the bathroom. We wash each other off quickly before pulling on our uniforms and heading down for breakfast. Estelle has eggs and toast already laid out for us when we slide onto the bar stools. We eat quickly and then head out to the car. We pull up to school a couple of minutes later. We only have a few weeks left before we graduate and I can’t wait to be done with this place and to get to spend all of my time with Auden at our home.
I’ve been keeping it a secret, but I told my parents about Auden a couple of weeks ago and they told me that they’re not coming home and ended up giving us the house. It might sound like a nice gift but I know that they never really liked this house or this town. I’m sure that they’re happy to be rid of both and that they can pat themselves on the back for doing something for me and feeling like parents for five minutes. I have enough money in my trust fund that Auden and I could go anywhere we wanted but I think she actually likes this small town and our house.
The other secret I have is the ring I bought from the jewelers a month ago. I know that Auden is it for me and I can’t wait to propose to her and to see her walking around with my ring on her finger. I’ve got it planned all out for after graduation. I know that there will be lots of parties but since that’s not really our scene, we’ll go out to dinner and then come home where the house will be filled with flowers. I’ll get down on one knee and ask her to be my wife and she’ll say yes and then we’ll spend the rest of the night making love. I can’t wait.
Graduation Day
* * *
We throw our hats into the air after what feels like the longest commencement speech ever. As soon as we do, I turn to Auden and wrap her up in my arms.
“Congratulations, Baby.” I whisper into her ear.
“You too, Ryker.” She whispers back to me before brushing her lips softly against mine.
I grab her hand and we wind through other students and their parents to my car. We head right to the restaurant and the waitress leads us to a secluded table in the back. We talk and laugh all throughout dinner and when she goes to the bathroom, I slip my cell phone out and text to make sure that everything is set up at home. When I get the all-clear I slip my phone back in my pocket and pay the bill as Auden comes back to the table. I hold my hand out to her and she instantly slides hers into mine.
I lead her out to the car and we drive home as she talks about how excited she is to be done with high school and how good dinner was. I didn’t think that I would be nervous for tonight but my hands are sweating as I park the car in the garage and go around to help Auden out. My heart rate picks up as I lead her into the house. I feel the ring in my pocket as I hear Auden gasp behind me once she sees all of the flowers.
I turn to her and drop down onto one knee, keeping a hold of her hand, I look up at her as I slide the ring from my pocket.
“Auden, I love you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I would be honored if you would be my wife. So please Auden, would you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
I expect to have to hold my breath for her answer but her response is instant.
“YES!!” She screams and she launches herself at me. I easily catch her and roll so that she lands on top of me. I slip the ring on her finger as she smashes her lips against mine. She starts to tear at my clothes before I can even catch up and I swoop her up in my arms and practically run up the stairs and to our bedroom with her.
We collapse onto the bed, each shedding our clothes as fast as possible and a minute later I’m sliding into her slick warmth. We both moan together as I sink balls deep into her. She’s soaking wet for me and I start to slide easily in and out of her tight heat. Her nails dig into my back as I continue my tempo. I look down and see my ring on her finger as her hands rest on my chest and that’s all it takes to set me off. I reach between us to rub her clit as I pump my seed deep inside her. At the first spurt and touch of my fingers on her clit, she goes off like a rocket, screaming as she creams all over my cock.
I roll to my side so that I don’t crush her as we catch our breath.
“I love you, Auden. So much.”
“I love you too, Ryker.”
We smile at each other and I know that this is the start of our happily ever after. I will spend the rest of my life loving and protecting, laughing and fighting and making up with this girl.
Chapter 12
Auden
* * *
Ten Years Later…
* * *
“Mommy!”
I smile as I turn and bend down to catch my daughter as she throws herself at me.
“Whoa! Hey there, little one,” I say as I brush her hair back from her face and give her chubby cheek a kiss.
“We missed you, mommy,” Rue says as I set her back on her feet.
“I missed you too, baby girl,” I say as I let her take my hand and lead me into the house.
Ryker is inside with our son in his arms and I lean up on my tip toes and give him a kiss before I take Ronan from him and carry him into the kitchen.
“How’s the Center?” Ryker says as he follows after me.
“Good! The new sports equipment came in and we managed to get it all put away. How’s Ronan feeling?” I ask as I snuggle him closer.
“Better. His fever went down and I got him to eat some of his bottle. Doctor Raine said to keep an eye on that and if it spikes again, we can take him in again.”
“Poor baby,” I say as I kiss his forehead.
Ryker and I got married about a month after graduation and we had a quick honeymoon before we went off to college. We both graduated with bachelor’s in business and decided to move back into the house here where we first fell in love. We found out we were pregnant two weeks after we moved in and we spent a year living off of his trust fund and preparing for our little girl.
After Rue was born we had a talk about what we wanted to do with our lives. I knew that I wanted to help other kids who had been like me with an unstable home life. Ryker just wanted to be with me.
We had looked around the town and realized that a lot of kids and families were going without so we opened up the Community Center. Ryker had the building bought almost as soon as I brought up the idea.
We opened the day after Rue turned one. Every day we have kids come in after school. Ryker usually helps the other volunteers with the sports and homework areas and Rue and I stay in the kitchen. I love creating new recipes with the kids. Sharing my passion for cooking and seeing the kids who come in so proud as they carry leftovers home to their parents makes my day every single time.
We’ve been running it for the past three years and I’m so proud of what we’ve done for this town, what we’ve built here.