Gavin takes a deep, shuddering breath and keeps his gaze locked on mine. “Cora… We have overcome so many obstacles to get to where we are right now. And I’m so glad we did. All that aside, I remember the first day I fell in love with you. The first day of freshman year. Yeah, we were barely friends that day, but one look at you and I knew you were the one. Under that shady oak tree, our tree, everything changed. And afterward, in art, when I caught you drawing me into a self-portrait, I fell even harder.”
The backs of my eyes burn. Tears threatening to break free. My throat closes in on itself as emotion chokes me. My fingers wring the stems of the bouquet as I hold his gaze.
“Months later, on this very day, we became more than friends. We became each other’s everything. Every single damn day, I am thankful for you. For the love you give me. To have you at my side. To have you in my life. More than anything, I am thankful you gave me your heart and love in return. I’ve already experienced life without you, and know that will never happen again. Cora Elizabeth Davies, I give you me. All of me. The good, the bad and all the parts in between. I want to experience every day, for the rest of our lives, with you by my side. Forever.”
He plucks the matching wedding band for my engagement ring from his pocket and slips it on my finger, resting it atop the tattoo that matches his own, then slides my engagement band on after. I stare down at our hands and breathe easier than I ever have. Everything about this moment, about Gavin and I joining our lives in every possible way, feels more right than anything.
Feels more at home than ever before.
Gavin finishes his vows and I swap my bouquet with Shelly for a tissue. I dab my eyes and take a deep breath. “Cora…” the minister says.
Gavin
Cora slips her hands into mine and her fingers tremble beneath mine. Her eyes stained red from the happy tears she cried while I said my vows and slipped her wedding band on her finger. She peeks skyward and bats her lashes a few times before bringing her eyes back to mine. Then she smiles and my heart gallops in my chest.
“Gavin…” My name is a prayer on her lips. “You have brought so much into my life. Laughter and love, strength and beauty. Together, we have been through so much. Time may have been stolen from us, but you can’t shake destiny. And that’s what you are—my fate. My destiny. Fifteen years ago, you became something greater than my best friend. You became my everything. My first boyfriend. My first real kiss. And some things we won’t discuss in front of company.”
I burst out in laughter and our audience mimics.
“From that fateful first day during freshman year, the one where you sat beside me and ate the nasty school casserole, I knew we would never only be friends. But friends was the perfect place for us to start. Because through our friendship, we fell madly and deeply in love with each other. Gavin, I never want to experience another day of our lives apart. How can I not believe in kismet when it brought you to me more than once? Gavin Eli Hunt—see, even our parents knew we were two halves of a whole and gave us similar middle names. Life without you isn’t one worth living and I am eager to see what the future holds for us. I love you beyond comprehension. Will love you until we both take our last breath. Always.”
Cora takes my black titanium band in her nimble fingers and slides it up my ring finger. Nothing has felt as amazing as this moment right here. The moment we seal our lives together and become one. A unit.
My life is her life. And hers is mine. My fucking wife.
Fuck.
The tears are coming and I am about to cry like a bitch. But I don’t give a shit. This woman is in my blood. My heart. My every breath. And fuck if I don’t want to kiss the hell out of her right now.
The minister starts talking and I work hard to listen. Needless to say, it is a challenge. “Cora, do you take Gavin to be your lawfully wedded husband? Through good times and bad, sickness and health, until death do you part?”
Cora’s smile brightens the setting sun. “Hell yes.”
“That’s my girl.” I laugh.
“Gavin, do you take Cora to be your lawfully wedded wife? Through good times and bad, sickness and health, until death do you part?”
“Fuck yeah. And we’re never dying, baby.”
The crowd roars in laughter as the minister pronounces us husband and wife, and finally gives us permission to kiss. I wrap my wife in my arms and kiss the fuck out of her. In front of everyone, I kiss her like no one else exists.
Because no one does. And never will. It is just me and my girl. Forever. Always.
Epilogue
Gavin
Five years later
“You alright, baby?” I ask Cora as we hit the three-mile marker of a five-mile trail in the redwood forest.
“I need a water break.”
We stop on the trail and drink water for a minute. We have been hiking a little more than an hour, but we are more than halfway. Cora has been a trooper during this trip. Nonstop adventure. But we plan to only be in California for a couple weeks and I want to show her all the wonderful parts. The places I knew she would fall in love with.
California is definitely different than Florida with all its monster-sized trees and mountains. The scent of the air and saltiness of the water is different too. As much as I miss the landscape and long list of adventures here, I love our little slice of Florida more.
For our five-year anniversary, Cora suggested we come out to California and visit Mom, but also share some adventures of our own. The redwoods, Yosemite, and some of the obvious tourist spots. Our trip so far has been incredible.
Currently, Mom is watching Clara, our three-year-old daughter. Us visiting California is more than a treat for Mom. Not only does she get to spend time with me and Cora, but she also gets to spoil Clara rotten.
Clara is the most amazing gift Cora has given me, aside from her heart. Until the day Cora told me we were pregnant, I never pictured myself as a father. Not that I didn’t want to have children with Cora. More like I was so wrapped up in our bubble, I didn’t envision beyond it.
But becoming a parent is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences. From learning we would soon be three instead of two to watching my gorgeous wife’s belly grow to seeing my daughter enter the world. As a man, I saw the world one way. As a husband, I saw it another. Now, as a father, I see so much more. More love. More possibility. Just more.
“Ready to finish the back half of the trail?” I ask Cora.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We continue along the rest of the trail, hand in hand. On occasion, we stop and admire something we see. Plants and trees, animals and streams. Nature and wildlife in California are the polar opposite of Florida, and Cora is in seventh heaven. Being in the middle of the forest is one of her favorite things and, every opportunity we can, we adventure somewhere with forestry.
After we reach the end of the trail, we call Mom’s house and talk with both her and Clara. Since we are in northern California, we won’t be at Mom’s tonight to tuck Clara in. Cora and I are staying at a bed-and-breakfast just outside of San Francisco and enjoying a couple days of our anniversary alone.
“Night, night, Daddy,” Clara says. Her voice is the cutest thing I have ever heard in my life. The melody is a sweeter, younger extension of Cora. Part of me wonders if Cora sounded the same when she was Clara’s age. Either way, it melts my heart and makes me goo in her little hands.
“Night, pumpkin,” I say and make a kissing sound into the phone. “Be good for Nana. I love you and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Love you, Daddy.”
“Here’s Mommy.”
I hand the phone to Cora and she and Clara have an in-depth conversation about which is better—chocolate chip cookies or brownies. Cora tells Clara her favorite is the brookie we buy at the vegan bakery near home. Cora yanks the phone away from her ear as Clara starts yelling “brookie” over and over. Clara and Cora exchange goodnights and I love yous before disconnecting the call.
“Yeah, I hope not either.”
I drive us back to the bed-and-breakfast and we get ready to go out for our anniversary date. As Cora puts on her jeans and sweater, I notice the way she stares at her outfit with extra scrutiny.
“Everything okay, baby?” I ask as I pull her into a hug.
She snakes her arms around my waist and squeezes me tight. “Everything’s fine. Just wondering if I brought warm enough clothes. The weather here is so much different than home.”
“You look beautiful,” I admit. “And if you get cold, just say the word and I’ll keep you warm.” I kiss the top of her head.
Once dressed and ready, we head to the restaurant in the city. Since Cora loves everything Asian, I thought she would love tasting how amazing food is out here. We arrive at the restaurant and are seated right away. After we order drinks, I notice Cora didn’t get a glass of wine—her typical choice when we go out and don’t have to worry about Clara.
Cora plays with her napkin and then places it in her lap. She stares at her lap a minute before locking her gaze with mine. Teeth capture her bottom lip and worry it.
“Baby, you sure everything is okay? You’re worrying me.”
She releases her lip. A smile brightens her face as she holds my gaze. “We’re pregnant.” And just like that, her confession steals my breath.
Cora
“Gavin? Did I break you?”
A minute ago, I told Gavin we were pregnant. Again. I expected his response to be like last time. Screams and cheers and swinging me in the air. Instead, he just sits across from me, frozen. A few minutes ago, he said he was worried. Now it seems to be my turn to worry.
Does he not want more children now?
It’s not as if we have done much in the prevention department. We have actually been pretty up-front about children and our future. Especially after we learned I was pregnant with Clara. Since I don’t have much time left to safely carry a baby, we thought trying now for a second baby was better than waiting.
But now, his current state has me not so sure.
Finally, his face relaxes. “You took a test?”
“Yeah, a couple days ago, after a trip to the store with your mom. She doesn’t know, though.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you thought you were pregnant? I hate that you were wondering alone.”
I didn’t have a logical explanation as to why I hadn’t told him yet. Guess I just wanted to give it another day or two before I took a test. Plus, we were going on our trip.
“Sorry I didn’t let you know I suspected it. I’ll blame it on foggy, pregnancy brain. You’re not upset, are you?”
Gavin shakes his head. “No, baby, I’m not upset. The opposite actually. I just wish I could’ve waited for the positive result next to you. I know it’s way too early to know, but I hope Clara gets a little brother.”
I roll my eyes and he laughs. “I’m sure Clara will love him or her, no matter what gender they are. You sure you’re okay, daddy?” Heat pierces Gavin’s eyes and I swallow. The same heat that pops up every time I call him daddy… in my seductress voice.
“You don’t need to worry about daddy, baby,” he growls across the table. “But let’s take the rest of the trip easy. Had I known before today, I wouldn’t have taken us on a five-mile hike in the mountains.”
“I’m not that fragile, Gavin. Besides, I need to maintain my girlish figure for as long as possible. Soon enough, I’ll look like a whale.”
Gavin shakes his head. “No, baby. You’ll be the most beautiful woman in the world, still. There is nothing sexier than the love of my life carrying my unborn child inside her belly. If anything, you get sexier with each stretch mark.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. “Gavin…” I whisper.
Dinner goes by much quicker after the we’re pregnant conversation. Chinese food in San Francisco is phenomenal. Anytime we eat Asian in Florida now, I will undoubtedly whine and complain. Plus, I think pregnancy makes it taste even better.
We arrive back at the bed-and-breakfast and head to our room. Three breaths after the door closes, Gavin and I frantically rip each other’s clothes off. In the last five years, a few things have changed in our relationship.
The addition of Clara.
Our need to kiss and grope and be completely consumed by each other.
How much we love each other.
The last two have multiplied to levels I never knew existed. With each passing day, I don’t think I can possibly desire or love Gavin more than I already do. But each day I wake up next to him, his warm skin and beachy-pine wrapped around me, I learn a new truth.
Our love is boundless.
Gavin yanks my shirt over my head and tosses it to the floor before bruising my lips with his. The rest of our clothes hit the floor seconds before we land on the mattress. Everything about us—our life, our love—grows hotter with each passing day. As Gavin kisses down my body, he stops and hovers above my abdomen a moment.
“Hey, little man. Yeah, Daddy is predicting you’ll be a boy. Don’t let me down, okay? Us guys got to stick together.” I laugh and Gavin continues. “Anyway, I can’t wait to meet you. And for you to meet me and Mommy and Clara, your big sister.” Gavin presses his lips to my belly and kisses me tenderly.
Gavin Hunt. My best friend. My lover. The best husband. And an even better father.
“I love you, Gavin,” I whisper.
He crawls up my body and kisses me reverently. “I love you, too, baby. Forever.”
“Always.”
Bonus Content
Want more Gavin and Cora?
You can get their bonus story here!
Thank You
Thank you so much for reading Time Exposure, book two in the Click Duet. If you would take a moment to leave a review on the retailer site where you made your purchase, Goodreads and/or BookBub, it would mean the world to me.
Reviews help other readers find and enjoy the book as well.
Much love,
Persephone
Up Next in the Bay Area Duet Series
When I started the Click Duet, it wasn’t my intention to write an entire duet series. But I connected and fell in love with this circle of friends. Glimpses of their stories popped into my head and I just knew there’d be more.
The Inked Duet—Fine Line (book one) and Love Buzz (book two)—are the next two installments in the Bay Area Duet Series.
Who’s story is up next? Jonas and Autumn! When Jonas lost his chance with Cora, I just knew his story would be next. And let me tell you, I love it so much and know you will too.
Second chance at love, single parent, a bit angsty, and dashes of suspense anyone?
Preorder Fine Line and Love Buzz now! Don’t forget to add them to your TBR!
More by Persephone
Depths Awakened
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Distorted Devotion
Swept off her feet by love, life takes a dark, unexpected turn. Now the love of her life may be the cause of her death. Check out this gripping, romantic suspense.
Undying Devotion
A long-term couple with a secret life. Their friends envy the bond they share, but remain oblivious to their lifestyle and how deep the bond lies. A turn of events has her wanting to spill every secret.
Beloved Devotion
She asks the love of her life to marry her. When her girlfriend hesitates, then says yes, she is determined to learn why. As the pieces start to fall in place, she discovers she doesn’t know her fiancée at all.
Ink Veins
Persephone Autumn’s debut collection, Ink Veins, explores topics of depression, love, and self-discovery with a raw, unfiltered voice.
Sweet Tooth
Two people with the same rule. No dating. What happens when they bend the rules? A steamy standalone romance with a trigger warning.
Click Duet Playlist
Here are some of the songs from the Click Duet playlist. You can listen to the entire playlist on Spotify!
I Still Wait For You - XYLØ
Malibu Nights - LANY
i love you - Billie Eilish
High School Sweethearts - Melanie Martinez
The Beach - The Neighbourhood
Falling - Harry Styles
Out Of Love - Alessia Cara
BLUE - Troye Sivan, Alex Hope
Connect with Persephone
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www.persephoneautumn.com
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www.persephoneautumn.com/newsletter
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Acknowledgments
First up… my family!
Thank you for always cheering me on. For standing in my corner and supporting this journey in my life.
To my wife… for always being one of my biggest fans. For reading my books (when you get a break in your work schedule) and helping me brainstorm ideas. Also, you pimp me hardcore. Ask everyone you meet if they read books and then market like I pay you. Love you!
Time Exposure (Click Duet #2) (Bay Area Duet Series) Page 18
