She looks over at me, tears shimmering in her eyes.“You have no idea what you’ve done for me, Garrison.From the moment we met, you’ve been healing what you didn’t break.Thank you so much.For this.For everything.”
“Baby, I wish I could take the credit, but that’s all God.He is the ultimate healer.I’m just grateful He put you in my life so I could show you what you deserve.”I reach out and run my fingertips over her cheek.“Which is everything, Katelyn.”
She smiles, and a single tear rolls down her cheek.I wipe it away with my thumb, then lower my hand.“So, listen, I also had some time to think.”
“Oh yeah?”she laughs, setting the Bible on the table in front of us.“When was that?In all your downtime over the last forty-eight hours?”
Laughing, I angle my body toward her.Pain shoots through my side at the awkward movement, but I push through it.“I love you, Katelyn Ellis.I know it doesn’t make any sense since we haven’t known each other long, and it’s okay if you don’t feel the same yet.I just want you to know that I have fallen madly, helplessly in love with you.”
Her eyes fill with tears, and she leans forward to press her lips to mine.“It doesn’t make any sense,” she whispers.“But I’m in love with you, too.”
I breathe a sigh of relief.“That’s good to hear.I was a bit mortified there for a second.”
She laughs, but it’s cut short when I pull her in and press my lips to hers.The feel of her against me, her soft curves and silky hair, is so familiar even as it’s completely new.As she pulls away and settles her head against my chest, I press a kiss to the top of her forehead and close my eyes, feeling peace settle over me for the first time in a long, long time.