N I N E T Y - O N E

EMERSON.

"Hey, " I whisper as she drops her head on my chest. "Hey. "

Adjusting against my body, she says, "How do you feel?"

"Happy?" I say more of a question than an answer, then I settle with. "Happy. You're in my arms. "

A smile crosses her face. "Emerson Ford. " She lifts her hands to my face. "You know how to make a girl feel good just at the brink of slumber. "

I show a proud smile. "You. Just you. "

She hums and drops her chin to brush her lips against my chest. Then she tips it again to meet my eyes, "But I meant the other way. "

"I know, baby. " I say, circling my hands around her waist. "And I'm happy. Maybe it's because you're here. Maybe it's because I've finally come to accept that, and the fact that she'll always be with me, or maybe it's because everything else seems perfect. "

"You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that. " She murmurs, pauses for the pass of a heartbeat, then adds, "Do you want me to come with you?"

I groan loudly. "I'll very much like that, Eva.