Tattered Souls

Chapter 41: Home

Sam

As we pull into the drive way, I hop out and hold the door from her again earning me a kiss on the cheek. "You're so cute."

I smile and lead her to the front door before opening it and letting her go in first.

As I close the door behind us, happy slides around the corner running full speed towards me.

He barks as he hops on my leg trying to get me to pet him. I laugh, "alright alright I give up." I pick him up and he showers me with licks clearly happy to have me home.

I look past him at Paige and she's about to burst from a cuteness overload or something. "This is the cutest dog I have ever seen in my life."

He hears her speak and looks back as if he just noticed she was there.

She holds out her hand for him to smell and once he does, he happily licks it and reaches for her face.

"You wanna hold him?" She quickly nods so I hand him over and it's like love at first sight.

She's trying not to cry at how adorable he is while he's trying to cuddle into her neck. "Saaaaam he's too precious."

I smile walking to the kitchen to grab a drink as she follows behind me tickling his tummy.

I open the fridge to grab us something to drink and cringe at the fact that all I have is beer.

I look back and see her heading towards me after setting happy down and panic noticing the trash bin full of beer cans.

I rush over to close it so she doesn't see but she notices anyways. "Something wrong?"

She walks over and when she sees the empty cans in the bin and the empty bottles on the counter, her smile fades.

"Sam...how much have you been..." she stops mid sentence and makes a beeline to my bar.

I rush after her, "wait Paige I- " but it's too late.

She stands with her hands covering her mouth as she peers into the cabinets of my empty bar.

The last time she was here it was fully stocked.

I had enough alcohol to throw a few parties and still have extra.

Tears formed in her eyes as the realization of how much she broke me set in. "Sam...I-I'm so sorry...I never meant to.."

I wrap my arms around her bringing her close. "I know baby I know. I...I was broken. I didn't know what to do so for weeks I just..."

I sigh rubbing her back as tears stained the front of my shirt.

"I was in a dark place and drinking was the only thing that could make me feel something. Losing you broke my heart. Before all of this you were my best friend. My soulmate. Not having you in my life was tearing me apart."I gently push her away a little so I can look into her eyes. I wipe the tears off her face as she sniffles in my arms.

"You are my whole world. I was prepared to do anything I could to get you back, even if it meant getting on my knees and begging." I lowered myself down on my knees and held her hands.

"You are my light, my smile, my heart and soul. I know things have been a little rough but I don't want to think about that. I want to think about our future not the past. I know everything is happening so fast and we still need time to process everything, but...will you stay with me? Will you stay by my side so we can go on this journey together?" She smiled getting choked up as she looked down at me.

"Of course I will. I'll stay with you forever if you'll have me." A smile spread across my face as she gently cupped my face and pulled me up into a kiss.

The spark I felt when our lips touched gave me goosebumps.

When we pulled apart she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in for a hug.

As my arms wrapped around her waist, I felt her bury her face into my neck. "Gosh why do you have to be so sweet sometimes."

I laughed knowing she was trying to hide a blush. "Anything for you doll." She pulled back to look at me and rolled her eyes playfully.

"You're just never going to let that go huh?" I smile gently lifting her chin.

"Not a chance." She looks down at my lips and smiles as I lean in to close the gap between us.

We were finally together.

Finally able to share our love for one another with no restrains and no judgement.

Before all of this, I would have never pursued her.

I would have stayed the adoring best friend that constantly gets on her nerves.

But I'm glad things changed.

I'm glad we made that deal, and I'm so grateful to have such an amazing woman by my side, as long as I shall live.