Chasing Arizona

Meant To Be

Okay, guys. This is it. One of the last chapters. Next we'll be starting October's journey. Hope y'all are as excited as I am. 

Arizona

Between two of my sisters I ended up a mass of lingerie I didn't bother to take out of their respective bags, but blushed and thanked them anyway. October got my favorite bath and perfume, along with a plush robe that I couldn't wait to try out. X got me a tablet and a gift card to spend on books and various music. December, who at one point I'd been the closest to, had managed to score tickets to a concert that had been sold for a few months now, smiling wanly when I nearly threw myself at her in appreciation. My aunt and uncle had purchased the entire Sons of Anarchy DVD collection for me, and the last of the new book series I'd been reading before I left Red Mire. Caine and I had agreed not to exchange gifts but I'd went ahead and put the last of my savings toward a trip to Northern Outdoors in Maine. It was supposed to be one of the top hunting lodges in the US. He was going to choke me when we were alone. 

My hands grasped the last gift, a box no larger than the size of my palm, and I looked around to find the person responsible. A throat cleared to the right of me, Rhett's smiling face coming into view when I quirked an eyebrow in question.

"Before you open your gift, I think you should know that I -- I'm in love with you, and I have been since, well shoot, probably since the moment I walked into the Neon Bottle that night. I had to go that night, and now I know why. Because I needed to meet you." The crackle of the fire is the only noise in the room and all eyes are on us. The breath in my throat catches and I can't breathe for a second, eyes watering as I look at the man who has helped change my life completely. The man I was massively, utterly in love with. Before I know what I'm doing I'm in his arms with my lips pressed softly against his. As we part, I whisper words of adoration and love, unable to stop crying as I do. I've never felt this before, loving this man. He's made me want to be better, made me want to live a life worth remembering. We spend moments lost in one another's eyes, the rest of the world fading around us. "I know it's not fancy, or exceedingly extravagant, but I wanted it to mean something to you." He finished, looking down at the box. 

Shakily, I opened the box. 

It wasn't a ring, but it meant more to me than any ring could. I'd only seen photos of the necklace before. I could hear Aunt Rose's cry as she caught sight of the gift and my sisters looked on in puzzlement as I cried silently. No one spoke for a minute, confusion clouding most of the room. That is, until Caine spoke up.

"Your mother used to wear that exact same necklace every day, something to remind her of her sister, she said. It was destroyed in the accident that I was made to believe killed you four, the only thing they were able to save out of the car was a small safe full of photos and a box with that necklace. They were all damaged a bit due to the safe not being fireproof, but I managed to save the jewels. They used to sit in a pouch in the back of my closet until Rhett came to me asking for help for your gift. The garnets represent your mother and aunt's birthstone, the number five representing the day day they were born. However, unlike your mother's necklace, yours is engraved a little differently." 

Gazing down at the silver charm, lit up with light pink and deep ruby colored gems, I breathed out unsteadily before flipping it over. 

One simple word that would once again, change my life forever.

Forever.