She stills, and I wonder briefly if it’s too soon. If I’ve crossed some line I should have stayed on the other side of. But then, she turns her face up and kisses me.
“I love you too, Dean.”
Kleo
Bright light washes over me, and I open my eyes. Dean’s still holding me on the back porch, his cheek resting on my head. Waves crash in the distance, and somewhere I hear the laughter of campers.
Campers. Shit! I get to my feet a little too quickly and nearly knock Dean and me both over in the process. Pain shoots through my neck, and I cringe, covering it with a hand.
“What the—Kleo? Are you okay?”
“The camp! We’re late!”
“It’s okay. Judson was coming back this morning, and Keith and Amber are here.”
“How do you—”
“They came by this morning. I guess about an hour ago? I must have fallen back asleep.”
I lean against the railing, breathing deeply to calm my thundering heart.
“You okay?”
I nod. “Just sore.”
Dean gets to his feet and walks over to me, pulling me against his chest. “Good morning, beautiful,” he greets, and I smile.
“Good morning, handsome.”
“Well a good morning to you too,” Judson says from behind us.
“Go away, Judson.”
“I brought you gummy worms,” he says, and I look over Dean’s shoulder.
“Redeemed.” Stepping away from Dean, I grab the gummy worms and tear the package open as I walk into the house.
“I’ll get you some coffee,” Dean offers, disappearing into the kitchen as I take a seat on the couch.
Judson knows me well enough to know that I have zero interest in harping over what happened to me. I hate it. The constant replaying of events over and over again. It’s mentally draining.
“Sleep well?” he asks, and I nod.
“Okay. How are you?”
“Pissed. Shaken up. But overall, okay.”
“Did you talk to Dad this morning?”
Judson nods. “He and Mom will be out later.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” He sighs and runs a hand over his hair. “Listen, I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I have to know. Are you okay?”
I glance over at Dean as he preps the coffee pot. He looks exhausted, his clothes wrinkled from sleeping sitting up. If this had happened to me even a month ago—I probably wouldn’t have been okay. I imagine it might have sent me spiraling back to that girl seeking control in whatever way she could.
But now, I’m happy. I have Dean, someone to hold me when the nightmares are too much to handle.
“I really am,” I tell him honestly. “I’m a little freaked out, but I feel stronger.”
“Well, you did shatter the dude’s nose.”
“I did?” I stare at him in surprise.
“You did. You kicked his ass, Kleo.”
“Good.” I sit up a little straighter.
“If she’d have had her battery organizer, I doubt he would have lived,” Dean says as he steps into the room with three steaming mugs of coffee. He hands one to Judson before taking a seat beside me and handing another over.
Judson chuckles. “Probably a lot of truth to that statement. How are you doing, Dean? I know you and Polland were close.”
Dean’s cheeks flush, and he shakes his head. “I wish I could have taken a chunk out of that fucker.”
“Same.”
“We can’t all be as badass as me,” I joke, hoping to alleviate some of the tension.
“In case you haven’t noticed, Dean, Kleo hates talking about how she feels.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“I handle things in my way,” I defend. I deflect. I know that not everyone handles things the same way I do, and there are a hell of a lot of people who felt like I mishandled my reaction. But my stance is and has always been this: There is literally nothing you can do to change the past. You can choose to pick up and move on or wallow.
Granted, my pick up and move on wasn’t overly healthy before—hello near death by alcohol poisoning—but I’m hoping to keep a better handle on it this time.
Two years ago, my life changed. My course was altered irrevocably by a man I knew nearly my entire life. Coming home was my way of making a final attempt at regaining some part of what was taken from me. I glance up at Dean, and he looks down at me. I wanted to find my place here, to rediscover my home, but I could never have imagined how wonderful the new course of my life would be.
Epilogue
The next summer
Kleo
I'm reaching for the knob when the door opens, and Dean strolls in, shirtless and covered in sweat. No matter how many times I see him or how many nights I spend wrapped in his arms, shirtless Dean is not something I could ever get tired of.
"You planning on staring at me all morning?” he asks, amusement apparent in his lopsided grin.
“I haven’t decided yet.” I turn on my heel and walk back into the cabin. “Welcome binders are prepped and in the appropriate cabins,” I tell him as I start to prep the coffee pot. I know he doesn’t like to drink any until after his shower, but I try to have it ready for him when he gets out.
He stops and leans on the counter behind me. “Nice. You’re at it early. Trying to make me look bad?”
"Impossible.” I smile as I shut the basket holding the fresh grounds. “I just figured I'd get an early start. After all, we only have a week left.” I turn and lean back against the counter as Dean walks into the kitchen and stands in front of me. “Why are you walking around naked?"
"I'm not naked." He leans in, caging me between his hard body and the countertop. “But I could be.” Leaning down, he trails his nose over my shoulder, pressing kisses to my collar bone as he moves higher.
His words combined with the sensual touch turn me to mush, and I practically melt in a puddle at his feet. The bastard knows how to get me going, that’s for damned sure. He trails his hands down the sides of my body, cupping my ass and lifting me to the counter as he steps between my legs.
“Would you like that, Kleo?” he asks, and I nod.
“Very much so.”
Dean grins and leans forward to nip at my bottom lip. Then, he lifts me and carries me down the hall to our room before tossing me back onto the bed and covering me with his body. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”
“Not yet, but it’s still early.” I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, kissing him softly. It’s like heaven to me, the impeccable bliss that is being loved by Dean Lewis. It’s not something I ever thought I’d get to experience. And I’ve been careful not to take a single day with him for granted.
After everything we went through last summer, with the attack and having to deal with Polland’s trial, it put more strain on our relationship than most deal with. And yet, Dean stayed by my side every single step of the way.
He’s become my best friend, my biggest confidant, and the love of my life.