Peace of Infinity

by Maegan Abel

  Fourteen Months Later

  “It was sappy. Don’t even try to pretend you aren’t going to give him shit about it,” I said, laughing as Gavin opened the door to the house. It was still his house, but if he heard me call it that, he would be pissed. Of course, over the last year or so, I’ve found that pissing him off occasionally can lead to some amazingly hot makeup sex.

  Stitch bolted out to the yard the second the door opened and I laughed as he practically knocked me on my ass. Gavin shook his head. “I told you I should’ve come home before the reception to let him out.”

  “Fine, you were right,” I said, sticking my tongue out as I dropped my bags on the kitchen table. It had taken us two months to agree on a new table but this one, while expensive, was sturdy enough for our needs.

  We’d tried it out.

  Several times.

  There was something to be said for sex in the kitchen.

  “Could you repeat that? I’m not sure I heard you,” Gavin said, walking over with an amused expression, leaving the door wide open for when Stitch finished his business.

  “I said don’t be a dick, Officer Fuck Weasel.” I smirked and wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me softly, smiling against my lips in a way that sent tingles down my spine.

  It had been almost a year and a half and while some things changed, others didn’t. I still held my ground when it came to relationship-type things. I wasn’t always sure why I did it and he didn’t understand my hesitation, but he respected it. He respected me and who I was in this cycle, and I loved him even more for that.

  “Do you have any idea how sexy you look in this dress?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “I look sexy in anything. Or nothing,” I replied, sinking my teeth into his lower lip and reveling in the hot as fuck groan he gave off as I did.

  “You have a point there,” he conceded, his hand making it to my ass just as Stitch ran inside. His cold body collided with our legs as he shook the rain from his fur. “Your dog is a cock-blocker.”

  I laughed. “He’s your dog, too.”

  “Fair enough.” Gavin shoved Stitch playfully away and headed to close and lock the door. “Come on, it’s time for your present.”

  “What present? It’s not Christmas yet,” I said, letting him grab my hand as he passed and led me to the massive tree taking up most of the living room. What could I say, I might not be a romantic, but I loved Christmas.

  “In light of the occasion, and since we have breakfast tomorrow with everyone before Dom and Cara leave, I figured I’d let you open one present tonight to hold you over,” he said, pointing to a spot on the couch.

  I bounced on the seat, watching as he smirked at me. “Do I get to pick which one?”

  “No,” he chuckled. “Do you want a beer?” I shook my head quickly. “Well, I’m getting one.”

  I scowled, knowing he was only doing that to annoy me. I leaned back against the couch cushions, feigning boredom. “Whatever.”

  He outright laughed as he headed back into the kitchen and pulled out a beer. “Does Cara know where Dom’s taking her?” he asked as he walked back in the room.

  “No. It’s driving her crazy,” I said, smiling. “She’s been trying to get me to tell her for weeks!”

  “I’m shocked you were able to keep it a secret.”

  “Shut. Up.” I crossed my arms, pouting. “And give me my present already.”

  He laughed, already beyond used to dealing with my petulance. Sometimes it bothered me. Even though I remembered more of our time together now, it felt like I was in competition with myself. It was ridiculous, of course, and I never told him I felt that way, but it was honest. I always worried he wished I was one of the easier versions of me. I watched him walk over to the tree and scan like he was trying to decide which gift to choose. I groaned in frustration. Finally, he pulled a smaller one from the stack and carried it over.

  He handed me the package, which was a small square about half the size of a shoebox, and I shook it, but couldn’t hear any movement. It didn’t feel heavy, though. I smiled up at him as I started ripping open the paper, finding a plain white gift box beneath. It was taped shut, so I used my nails to pick the tape off one side. When I finally broke the seal and opened it, I froze. There was a piece of foam, a perfect shape for the box with a small cutout. It was made specifically so nothing would move. And inside the cutout was something small, velvet, and black that looked way too much like a ring box.

  “Gavin,” I said, my voice somewhere between warning and nervous. We hadn’t discussed marriage and I wasn’t sure how I would feel if he were to ask right now. I stared at the box, but he didn’t speak. I wasn’t sure what to do. If I opened it and saw a ring, I would have to give him an answer. I wasn’t sure I was ready. Even after today, watching my sister start her happily ever after in her dream wedding on Christmas Eve, I didn’t know if I was ready.

  “Just open it, Ev,” he finally said, his voice sounding tight with nerves.

  I took a deep breath and carefully plucked the small box out of the foam, wiggling it free as if it was explosive and I was afraid it would detonate. Hell, it just might. It could very likely blow my entire world to smithereens if I didn’t respond the right way to what was inside. I straightened my back, placing the larger box on the table in front of me and running my finger over the soft fabric to delay for another few seconds.

  Then, I lifted the lid.

  Inside sat a gorgeous necklace, the chain buried beneath the holder and the charm, a beautiful silver infinity symbol, shining perfectly against the black background. I swallowed, surprised by the tears I felt burning and the stab of something that felt a lot like disappointment.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said, not wanting Gavin to think I didn’t appreciate and love the gift because I did. It was absolutely gorgeous.

  And I didn’t want a ring. I wasn’t ready for that.

  Yeah, lying to myself still didn’t work.

  “I want you to remember what you’re feeling right now,” Gavin said softly, his arms coming around me as he pulled me so I was resting with my back against his chest. He had one leg stretched out along the back of the couch and one on the floor, but it was his hands I was paying attention to. In his fingers was a diamond ring as simple and elegant as the necklace had been. I tore my eyes from the ring and tilted my head up to see his face. “You can pick the date. I don’t even care if it’s two years from now. And it doesn’t have to be cheesy or romantic.”

  “I don’t want kids,” I blurted, following the words with a groan as I felt him laughing silently against my back. “I mean it though, Gavin. I don’t want kids, so if you’re expecting the stereotypical—”

  “Stop,” he said, his laughter not so silent anymore. “You never want kids. This isn’t a deal breaker so stop trying to make it one. Quit panicking for a moment.” He pressed his lips against the spot right behind my ear and my body relaxed into his again. “I love you. Just you. Just as you are. Will you marry me, Evangelie?”

  “Gavin,” I said again, not sure how I managed to get even that word out around the lump in my throat. It was impossible, completely and utterly unbelievable, that someone could know me so well that even their proposal was exactly how I needed it. But there he was. My Infinity. I stretched my neck to kiss him and he leaned down, obliging me for a moment before pulling back.

  “I need to hear you say yes, beautiful,” he whispered, looking into my eyes with a pureness and love I never imagined I could receive. But I did. And I returned that love with everything in me.

  “Yes,” I whispered back, almost afraid to break the moment. Taking my left hand, he carefully slid the ring into place and pulled it to his lips to kiss it before leaning down to kiss me again.

  “This life,” he said, his voice still soft as he spoke against my lips. “This life, and you, this one is my favorite.”

  I think I’ve used the word surreal in the acknowledgements of every book I’ve written b
ut it’s just the truth. It’s absolutely overwhelming to be sitting here thinking about the past ten months of work on this book. It’s been a long journey.

  First off, as always, thanks to my beautiful family. Seriously, they are the best. All of them. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for those that I love. All the traveling I get to do is not only made possible because I have amazing family, but it’s made even better because Maegan’s Mom gets to come with me!

  A huge, giant, squishy thank you to Allison for allowing me to take two characters we created for fun and share their story with the world. Gavin and Evie have come to life in a whole new way during this experience and standing at your wedding was like watching Gavin and Evie get their happily ever after!

  To my amazing editor Monica, just know I’m about to ugly cry trying to come up with words for you. Thank you for listening to me complain and change my mind and rewrite and change my mind again with this one. I needed so much help turning the bones of this book into the beautiful story it is now. I couldn’t have done it without you. You’re the best half of this friendship, just so you know.

  Rachel and Heather, the two of you read SO many drafts of this book and helped me find the holes. I can’t even explain how much I needed that. Being so close to a story makes it difficult to see when things need to be clearer.

  Dee, Loretta, Raquel, Kandi, and Katie, as betas and friends, you all rock my socks off! Every word that you said meant the world to me and I lost count how many times you ladies made me cry! Thank you so much for being my fresh eyes and helping me push through the rough patches.

  The bloggers, every one I’ve met at a signing as well as those I’ve only met online. Every time you post or share about one of my books, it makes me giddy. This community is so large that I can’t thank you all individually, but if you’re reading this, it’s for you.

  To the “Cool Kids” who keep me going, every day that chat makes me laugh and I love that I have a place I can go to ask completely off the wall questions and not get judged… well, not too much anyway.

  And last but NEVER, EVER least, the readers. Holy crow. Holy, holy crow. Meeting you at events, interacting via email or messages, even those that I’ve never had the pleasure to talk to, every last one of you deserves a thank you. Thank you for picking up this book and taking a chance on me. I know there are so many authors out there to choose from these days but whatever made you pick up this book, thank you. And I hope you enjoyed it!

  Perfectly Broken (Broken Series #1)

  Unforgivably Broken (Broken Series #2)

  Broken Holidays (Broken Series #2.5)

  Silently Broken (Broken Series #3)

  Maegan despises writing about herself in the third person. She also hates touting her accomplishments…

  Now that we got that out of the way, I’ll tell you what you need to know. I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I went back to school in my late twenties and studied Stage Production Technology. I now work in the alterations shop of a major department store as well as backstage in the various theatres around the area.

  I’ve been writing since I was six years old but in 2013, the idea of Lili built from a writing challenge and The Broken Series was born.

  CONNECT WITH ME

  www.maeganabel.com

  www.facebook.com/AuthorMaeganAbel

  www.twitter.com/MaeganAbel