Maine

Five years later

The September sun came through the pine trees in splotches as they swayed above us, rustling gently in the breeze as we sat beneath them on a thick blanket.

My legs were stretched out in front of me, Izzy’s head in my lap. It was my favorite way to catch up on our work.

Fall in Maine was my favorite time of year. It had been the perfect place for us to start our forever. Pine trees, enough room from both our families to breathe, and each other. I knew Izzy missed Serena, but she spent most of her time out on assignment, and they always made time to see each other when Serena was actually in the US.

I marked a student’s paper, commenting on the unique twist she’d used in her analysis of Macbeth, while Izzy read through what looked to be a briefing she was filing on behalf of a local nonprofit.

Peace. The feeling coursing through me was exactly what I’d been searching for my entire life, and it existed wherever Izzy was.

Finishing that particular paper, I took a moment to brush back her hair. It didn’t matter how many days I had with her. She always seemed more beautiful every time I saw her.

She put her briefing down, the sun catching on the diamond and gold band on her left hand, and she smiled up at me. “Almost done?”

“Three more. You?”

She flipped the document over, glancing at the length. “Probably ten minutes.”

“Any plans for your afternoon?” I trailed my fingers down her bare arm. Touching her never got old either. It was my favorite thing to do. Well, except talking to her. Or kissing her. Basically anything that involved Izzy, I was down for.

“Nothing comes to mind.” She slipped a hand under my shirt, and my stomach tightened. “Why? Anything you feel like doing?”

“I was thinking about carrying you back to bed and spending the rest of the day worshipping your body.”

Her lips parted, and she scrambled to her feet. “Yep. That sounds like a plan.”

“Can’t wait another ten minutes?” I laughed, already grabbing my pile of papers and the blanket we’d been sitting on.

“Nope.” She backed away with an irresistible grin, heading toward the back door of our house. “Work can wait.”

“I’ve never agreed more.” I chased her up to the house and, once I caught her, lifted her into my arms, tangling her up with the blanket.

The papers hit the floor with the briefing once we made it in the door. Then my hands were full of Izzy.

She was right. Work could wait. We finally had forever.