Revival

by Kirkpatrick, S.

  He kisses me passionately, and then backs away from me, adjusting his dick as he does. I smile to myself when I realize that he seems to have to do that a lot lately.

  “We’re already late, babe. If we don’t get on that bike now, we probably won’t get on it at all.” He tells me, holding his palm out for me.

  I place my hand in his and let him guide me to his motorcycle. It’s a classic old school hot rod that he rebuilt, keeping the old framework to show off his love of vintage bikes.

  He climbs on first, turning the key so that the bike roars to life beneath him. He tells me it’s his second favorite thing that vibrates between his legs.

  He then turns to me and helps me climb on behind him. Once I’m comfortable, he hands me my helmet and patiently waits for me to get it on and then placing the rest of my hair in a low bun on the nape of my neck to keep it from getting windblown.

  When I’m done, I wrap my arms around him and mold myself to his back, letting him know we’re good to take off. He revs the engine three times, his ritual, and then pulls out on to the street.

  I still have no idea where we’re going or what the plan is for tonight. Truth be told, I don’t really care. We’ve all been through so much this year. So many unexpected things have happened, that just being able to come together to celebrate our lives, and be a family… That’s enough for me.

  I take the time on our ride to do one of my therapy exercises. I mentally catalog all of the good things in my life that I have to be grateful for. Reasons to be happy and stay in the light, rather than succumb to the darkness again.

  I get lost in so many memories of the DRAB boys. I don’t remember a time in my life where they weren’t a part of my world. Even if it was with them being 2,600 miles away. They’ve always been my family.

  I smile to myself over all the girls’ nights Max included me in, welcoming me into the fold, no questions asked. I remember all of the drinking games that poor little Sonya always lost because she’s such a lightweight. Max has brought happiness to all of us, in so many ways. She’s the unofficial matriarch of our crazy family and she takes care of us all in so many ways.

  I squeeze Dex a little tighter, grateful every day that he loves me, grateful that he was so willing to fight alongside me, to help me find my strength to heal. He knew I didn’t need a knight and shining armor to save me. He tells me all the time I had the strength inside to save myself, I just needed to be reminded of that.

  I think of Dr. Nichol’s and her unyielding dedication to my recovery. Without her, I would have never found the path to healing. She’s the reason I was able to pull myself out of the darkness. It’s amazing that such a tiny person can possess such a big heart. I don’t know how I would have done all of this without her.

  I think of Darrell and his overwhelming generosity to me, and his affection for Dex. For such a large man, I found it surprising to learn that he’s just a giant teddy bear. When he aligns himself with someone, he gives them his all. He’s often said Dex and I are the closest thing to kids that he’ll ever have and that he feels lucky to have met us. If only he knew just how much Dex and I feel the same way about him.

  I think of my brother and how much he’s done for me, all of my life. He did whatever it took to provide for me when we were younger, never letting me go without. He may have been overbearing at times, but I know it all comes from a good place, full of love and loyalty. He’s never made me feel like he resented me for any of the sacrifices he had to make in the name of taking care of me. He did them all proudly, and I know if given the chance, he would do it all again.

  I’m pulled from my thoughts when I realize where Dex is taking us. This place has always been a home away from home for me. My safe haven and favorite relaxation spot. I’ve come here to celebrate, to compete, to relax, to hide away from the rest of the world to hang out with Dex, and to get away just to be able to breathe.

  Kure Beach.

  I squeeze Dex around the waist and he takes one of his hands off a handlebar long enough to squeeze my hands back, confirming he knows exactly what I’m thinking. He knows how much this beach means to me.

  He drives his bike up the coast, right up to a laid-out picnic with all of our family waiting for us. Abel, Max, Kat, Jake, Brody, Ryan, Karen, and Sonya, hell even Darrell and Henry are here as an added surprise.

  Dex turns the bike off, holding his hand out to the side to help me off first. I dismount, and once my feet are safely planted on the sand, I drop my helmet to the ground. Dex dismounts and walks toward me, and I tackle him to the ground, kissing him all over his face.

  “You. Are. The. Best. I. Love. You. So. Much. Thank. You.” I praise, punctuating each and every word with a kiss.

  This man… He’s everything.

  “So it’s a good surprise then?” He asks, lifting up so he’s now in a seated position with me in his lap.

  I drape my arms around the back of his neck, smiling, as a few tears slip through my lashes.

  “It’s perfect, babe. Thank you.”

  “Anything for my girl.” He tells me, smiling bashfully.

  I kiss him one last time before standing and help him to his feet and dust the sand off of my new dress. He pulls me into his side, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we walk side by side to everyone who is waiting on us.

  Max swarms me first, enveloping me in a hug tighter than her big belly should allow her.

  “It’s so good to see you, Bree. We’ve all missed you so much.”

  I hug her back and then look to everyone there.

  “I’m sorry I’ve pushed you all away since I got home. It took me a while to find myself again, and you guys shouldn’t have had to pay the price for that.”

  “You don’t have to apologize to anyone.” Max tells me. “I told them all to give them your space or I would personally end each and every one of their lives. You needed time to heal and you wouldn’t have been able to do that if we were all up your ass the whole time. Trust me, I know the feeling.” She tells me, giving me a knowing sad smile.

  Sonya, the girl I’ve been growing closer to steps to me next, embracing me, her words eliciting more tears from me.

  “We will always be whatever you need us to be. That’s what family is for.”

  “I don’t know what I did to deserve you all, but I am so grateful to have you.” I tell them honestly.

  “Okay, no more heavy shit. My man card is apparently up for review as it is.” Abel says, making his way toward me, his eyes a little glassy.

  “Fully revoked.” I hear Ryan whisper to Brody.

  They both snicker as Abel turns to stare them down. Dex puts his hands up in front of him, signaling to Abel that he didn’t have anything to do with that.

  I don’t what that was all about, but I let it go as my big brother envelops me in his arms and hugs me, lifting me off the ground, and spinning me in the air.

  “Welcome back, Sis. We’ve missed you.” He whispers in my ear.

  “I love you, Abel.”

  “I love you more. Always will.” He says as he places me back on the ground, next to Dex

  “I’m trusting you with her. Best friend or not, I will put your dick in a blender if you ever fail her.”

  “I’ll buy the blender if it comes to that point, trust me.” Dex replies.

  The guys shake on it, cementing the agreement. Max and I exchange a look and laugh to one another as she walks over to Abel, their arms instinctively wrapping around the other.

  “Can we eat now?” Ryan asks.

  Everyone laughs. Leave it to Ryan and his one-track mind.

  We all take our seats on the sand in front of the blanket covered with food and the conversation flows immediately. Everything feels so natural and easy. No amount of time or hardships could break the ease we all have together.

  The food is amazing, the laughs are plentiful, and I smile so much that my cheeks honest to goodness hurt by the time we’re all
done eating. It feels so good to have everyone together again and at my favorite place in the world no less.

  “Okay, are you guys ready for the surprise reveal?” Max finally asks.

  The guys all make a simple ‘yeah’ of some kind, whereas all of us girls squeal, clap, and dance around in place. I can’t wait to find out what the babies are!

  “Okay while I get everyone’s bags out of the basket, I want each of you to grab a piece of paper and a pen from the center of the blanket and cast your votes on what you think the babies are. Two boys, two girls, or one of each. Put your name on it because whoever gets it right, we have a little surprise for you.

  We all grab the supplies and do as instructed. I know Dex thinks it will be two boys, but I think that’s just wishful thinking on his part. Wanting to have two little boys to teach how to fix bikes and play sports with Abel. But I have a gut feeling that the universe is going to curse Abel for being a man-whore before Max and give him two girls.

  We cast our votes by putting them in the white pale that Max hands around. As we pass around the pale, Max walks around to each of us and hands us a small paper bag that’s folded over so no one can see inside.

  “Alright on the count of three, open your bags and see if you were right.” Abel instructs us.

  My brother leans over and places his hands on Max’s growing belly while he places a gentle kiss on her temple. Without taking their eyes off of each other, they count in unison.

  “One. Two. Three.”

  I tear open my bag, eager to find out. Nephews? Nieces? One of each?

  The bag rips in two, allowing a unicorn and mermaid statue to fall onto my lap.

  “Oh my gosh! It’s girls! Two girls! I was right” I scream, jumping to my feet. “Congratulations you guys, this is amazing!”

  I run over to the other side of the blanket and embrace both Max and Abel in a hug, genuine excitement pouring off of me. I am so happy to two little nieces to spoil and play with.

  “You were the winner. Ready for your prize?” Abel asks as Max pulls something else out of the basket and hands it to me.

  I nod my head and take the wrapped item Max hands me.

  I unwrap it gently, unsure of what’s underneath.

  Inside I find a baby book with the ultrasound photo showing that it’s two girls in the pocket on the outside. I smile up at them, a slight look of confusion on my face.

  “Open it!” Max tells me.

  I flip the book open and see a beautiful script that reads

  A book of our lives.

  The story of Breelle and Emery.

  My fingertips run over the words again and again.

  “You named the babies after me?” I ask, not able to believe what I’m seeing.

  “We were thinking, what names could we give our daughters that would mean something special? Something we would be proud to tell them about why we chose what we did for each of them. I think naming them after the woman who was willing to sacrifice her life for theirs, is pretty fitting.” Max tells me, placing her hand on top of my trembling one.

  I can’t find the words to express what this means to me, how honored I am. I close the book, place it on the blanket, and pull them both Max and Abel in for a hug as I tell them I love them.

  I never in a million years would have expected them to name their children after me. But choosing the babies over myself was never a question or a dilemma. It just was. There was no choice for me. I would always protect those babies, even at the cost of myself.

  “What if I wouldn’t have won?” I ask, curiously.

  “The other winner would have just gotten some of the insane amounts of cupcakes I made when I couldn’t sleep last night.” Max laughs, rubbing her belly.

  “There’s one more surprise.” Abel tells

  “Oh gosh, there’s more? How can you two possibly top that?” I ask, lightly laughing as I wipe the tears from my face.

  “Not us.” Abel says.

  I give my brother a look of confusion, unsure what he means by that. He rolls his eyes and chuckles.

  “Turn around.”

  I do as he says and a gasp leaves my lips as my hands fly to my chest, to protect the heart that’s about to break free from my body.

  Down on one knee, holding a velvety black box open…

  Is Dex.

  The man to whom my heart has belonged to since I was twelve years old.

  “I have loved you since before I even knew what love truly meant. The feeling I had in my chest when I was 9 years old and watched you punch a boy three years older than you for making fun of one of your friends… I had no idea that was love. When I was 13 years old and couldn’t go to sleep without calling your house to tell you goodnight… I had no idea that was love. When I was 15 years old and saw your face every time I closed my eyes… I had no idea that was love. But I do now.

  Here we are, all these years later, and I have never once shut my eyes without seeing you behind my closed lids. I want to spend every day of the rest of my life, trying like hell to be worthy of your love. Breelle Emery Cooper, will you give me the greatest blessing of my life by agreeing to spend the rest of yours with me?”

  “My, my, my. Are you askin’ me to go steady, Dex?” I ask, throwing his words from earlier back at him.

  “Ya damn right I am.” He laughs, tackling me to the sand.

  He pushes my loose hair out of my eyes and then holds my left hand up in the air.

  “So what do you say? You wanna ditch the Cooper name and let me make you a Wilson?”

  “You’re damn right I do.” I tell him, as he slides the beautiful diamond ring on to my finger and kisses me with a passion that my brother surely doesn’t approve of.

  Everyone around us hollers ou, clapping and screaming their approval, my brother included. Dex lifts me up off the ground and spins me around, looking happier than I’ve ever seen him before. A feeling I can very much relate to at this moment.

  He places me firmly back on the ground and all the girls swarm me, wanting to see the ring. Dex did an amazing job picking it out. It’s beautiful. The center diamond is a cushion-cut with a halo of small diamonds around it and a smooth white gold band. It may or may not have been on my dream board when I was a kid, something he no doubt found when he was moving my stuff into the house from my old apartment.

  “Congratulations Bree, you got a good one!” Sonya says. “I meant the man, but the ring is stunning too! I love the cushion cut!” She says animatedly.

  “The best one.” I hear my brother’s voice boom behind me.

  I turn to look at Abel, wondering where he stands on this. He was just starting to get used to Dex and I being a couple. Well, if you can really call it that. He’s kind of fought Dex every step of the way since I came home.

  “I’d have to agree with you there.” I say to him, testing the waters.

  “Don’t worry, Sis. I helped him plan this whole thing.”

  “You knew?” I ask, genuinely surprised.

  “We had a heart to heart today. There’s no doubt in my mind that he will love you and protect you in every single way. And if I’m being honest, he will probably do a better job at it than I would. You don’t need your big brother fighting alongside you anymore, worrying about your every move. You need a partner who you can bare your soul to. And I know that’s him. So when he asked for my blessing today in my office, I gave it to him.”

  “Thank you, Abel, you have no idea how much that means to me.”

  I give him a big hug, and raise up on my tippy-toes to give him a kiss on the cheek, something I haven’t done since we were kids.

  While everyone takes their places around the blanket to eat the dessert Max made for all of us, I take a seat in between Dex’s legs with my back to his front. He snuggles his face in my neck and places a kiss there.

  I sigh in response, feeling more complete and whole than I have in my entire life. I have everything I’ve ever
wanted out of life.

  I have a family. A big one!

  I have a job that brings me joy and fulfillment.

  I have the man of my dreams.

  But most importantly…

  I’m finally healing.

  When the guys moved back to Deacon Hill, I would have never let myself imagine we’d be where we all are today. But that’s the beauty of life I suppose. The mystery of it all. You never know what’s going to happen next.

  I, for one, am ready to see what the next chapter holds for this motley crew we’ve all assembled. If it’s anything like what we’ve already been through together, we’re in for a hell of a ride.

  The end.

  For now…

  Stay tuned for the next book in The Survivor Series!

  Revival Playlist:

  If Our Love is Wrong by Calum Scott

  Thank You For Saying Goodbye by The Glorious Sons

  Rise Above This by Seether

  That’s What You Get by Paramore

  Risk by Deftones

  Gravity by John Mayer

  Wake Up Call by Theory of a Deadman

  Sound of Madness by Shinedown

  Little Things by One Direction

  Face Everything And Rise by Papa Roach

  Parasite by Breathing Theory

  Broken by From Ashes to New

  There Is by Box Car Racer

  Sabotage Internal by The Spill Canvas

  I Think I’m Paranoid by Garbage

  All American Nightmare by Hinder

  Basket Case by Green Day

  I Am the Fire by Halestorm

  Notes in Constellations by Chiodos

  She’s a God by Neck Deep

  Back to Life by Zayn

  Cold by Crossfade

  Have Faith In Me by A Day To Remember