Chapter 7

~The Long Way~

A year has passed. There's been a lot of therapy, a lot of tears, and a lot of love. There were days I was sure I'd never make it, nights when Edward's body surrounded my own, and he was awakened by a call from Sunnyvale.

We tore up the rules. Edward started spending the night and gradually stopped making love with his clothes on. The haunted look faded, and he swears it's because he knows he can be completely truthful with me.

Six months ago, Edward returned from one of Kate's night-before-the-wedding episodes. A few hours later, Sunnyvale called to let him know Kate passed away peacefully in her sleep. Edward cried in my arms. He was grief-stricken but also relieved he was there with her that night.

We still keep our relationship a secret. Angela and Ben are the only ones who know. Sometimes they come out on the boat with us, or we do dinner at my loft.

Now that word has spread that Dr. Masen is a widower, he has even more groupies trying to hit on him. Sometimes I get really annoyed, but then I remember it's my bed he comes to at night.

Edward and I are off on the same day, and he tells me he wants to take me somewhere instead of taking the boat out.

"Where are we going?"

Edward rolls his eyes. "You'll see when we get there."

"What should I wear?"

"Dress like we're going on the boat."

I laugh. Then I remind myself I need to roll with change. Hasn't that been my life lesson the past two years?

Edward drives us down the coast, and we come to a deserted parking lot near the beach. I glance around at the scrubby terrain, but I keep my mouth shut.

Edward comes around and opens my door, taking my hand in his and holding it as we walk. He's starting to worry me because his jaw is tight, and he's not looking me in the eyes. It reminds me of the way things were. I remind myself how far we've come and try to keep an open mind.

We follow a winding path that leads to a flat outcropping.

Edward pulls back on my hand, slowing us to a stop. "Do you trust me?"

"I'm here, right? I trust you."

"Okay, let's go."

We walk out onto the outcropping, and I can see the water in the distance. "Is this the cove where we take the boat sometimes?"

"It is."

"Awesome! The view is going to be spectacular!"

We come around the edge of a tall boulder and walk toward the edge of the clifftop. The sky is a mottled blue-gray, and I blink against the stinging wind. The water stretches out as far as the eye can see, dark and mysterious. In the distance, boats bob in the current.

"You missed the most interesting part." Our eyes meet, and Edward points behind me.

I turn. On the backside of the boulder we just came around, someone painted a beautiful sunset over the water. In the lower corner is a replica of the cove with a boat anchored in the choppy water.

"Oh, wow! That is some serious talent." I move forward to get a closer look at the exquisite painting. Something bright at my feet catches my eye. Someone painted Forever on the ground in front of the painting. I turn to tell Edward and gasp.

Edward is on one knee, tears standing in his eyes. "From the first day—when you yelled out 'Who the hell is Doctor Hot?'—my life changed irrevocably. I tried to fight my feelings, but it was a losing battle, one I only fought because of guilt. Freddie, will you be my forever?" A black velvet box appears in his palm, and he opens it. "Marry me."

I sink to my knees on the hard stone, tears streaming down my face. A flash of gold and diamonds glints from the ring nestled in the box. I gaze up at Edward, into his green eyes so full of promise and hope.

"Of course I will! Are you absolutely sure you're ready?"

Edward puts the box down and cups my face, pressing his lips against mine. He deepens the kiss, his tongue playing against mine, and a roar of desire surges through me.

"Do you feel that?" he whispers.

I nod.

"Let me show you something else." He rises to his feet, pulling me up with him, and leads me closer to the cliff's edge. In the cove below, sits Edward's boat. The name has been changed to Freddie and Doctor Hot.

Angela and Ben are standing on the deck. They raise glasses filled with golden liquid.

Angela cups her free hand around her mouth. "Girl, you better say yes! Get your asses down here so we can party!"

Edward's arms slide around my waist, the warmth of his lips at my ear. "I hope I didn't change her name too soon."

I turn in his arms, the lump in my throat making it difficult to answer. I shake my head and press my face into his jacket. He lifts my left hand and slides the ring on my finger. It's a perfect fit. "I want you to be my forever."

I nod my head, the tears flowing like twin rivers. "Yes." I leap into his arms, winding my legs around him. He kisses me until I'm breathless, and liquid heat pools in my abdomen. "How long do we have to party with Ben and Ang? I want you inside me, Dr. Hot."

Edward groans, his hands squeezing my ass. "Not sure I can make it that long, Mrs. Doctor Hot-to-be."

"Quickie in the car on the way to the cove?" I suck his earlobe into my mouth and swirl my tongue around.

"Mm-hm. Now you're talking."

Edward lets me down. I turn and raise my left hand, the diamonds shining bright.

Angela whoops and hollers, elbowing Ben until he does it too. "Get down here, you two!"

Edward and I look at each other with secretive smiles. We can ask for forgiveness later. Like we have with everything else, we're taking the long way.

~*oOo*~

A/N: There will be more because Freddie and Dr. Hot aren't done talking to me yet. Some of you have already put in your future requests. I'd love to hear your thoughts. If there's a future take you'd like to see, let me know, and it might happen. I appreciate and treasure every single review. Thanks for going on this journey with me.

Huge thanks to my awesome betas, SassySue (chayasara) and Wendy (wmr1601), for wielding the sparkly reds and fixing my flaws. My awesome prereader Aleea (aleeab4u) gave a lot of feedback into this story, and it's the better for it.

I've heard notifications aren't going out to a lot of people. Princess and Animal updated this week.

Animal was featured on the TLS Sneak Peek on September 24th. Hop on over there if you want to read a teaser from future chapters. And I must thank the ladies at TLS for featuring many of my stories in their What We're Reading feature! Animal was up there this week! Mwah!

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