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CHAPTER THREE *EVERLY*

        My eyes open to a dazzling sunlight making its' way through the sheers that cover the sliding glass door leading from the bedroom to the lanai. I roll over looking for the comfort of Julian's embrace. The other side of the wide bed is rumpled but empty. I sigh, then stretch luxuriously. Memories from last night spark and I have to smile, then blush. I feel like a weight has been lifted. I was so afraid I was too messed up in the head to respond to Julian no matter how much I love him, how beautiful he is, how much he is the antithesis of Tate. But, no. He knew exactly how to touch me and he became the only thing in my universe. No past, no present...just he and I. It was bliss.

        I take a peek at the time and sit straight up with a gasp.

        2:30.

        I slept until 2:30 in the afternoon! Without waking. Without nightmares!

        I jump out of the bed, heading for the living area until I look down and realize I'm completely naked. I grab a shirt of Julian's and throw it on. But he's not in the living room either. Where is he, anyway?

        Then I see a note written on the back of a receipt propped on the counter.

        "Went for a run on the beach. Didn't have the heart to wake you. Won't be long. I love you, J."

        Grinning, I find a pair of cutoffs and my sandals. The little boardwalk behind our condo leads from the pool area off of our lanai to the beach. Some vacationers are still sitting in their spots from this morning while others have already packed up and called it a day. There are actually a few faces familiar to me from yesterday. I sit my butt down in the sand back by the path and wait, knees tucked under my chin. I realize he may not even pass this way, but there's something I want to do. So I wait anyway.

        After maybe 15 minutes, I see him running towards our part of the beach. My, he IS a specimen if I do say so myself. His chest is bare, broad and strong. He's got that six-pack thing going on right down to the dimples above his hips where the muscles cut in. And since he's got almost no chest hair, his body gleams with sweat. Women are staring at him. Color me smug.

        He stops at the water's edge behind our building, bends over his knees to catch his breath, pulls his ear buds out to wrap around his phone. When he straightens, I yell.

        "Hey!" I startle a couple nearby, but they don't seem to mind. Julian searches for me in the crowd, knowing my voice. When he spots me, he smiles and waves. Then I mimic his move from yesterday. I open my arms wide and laugh at the sky.

        "I love you!" I shout for all to hear. Especially him. Several people, who had seen Julian pull this same thing yesterday, give me wide grins. Julian's smile grows and he dashes at me, catching me up and twirling me around. Once he's planted my feet back in the sand, he kisses me once, but deeply. His sweaty skin on mine is a heady thing. His eyes shine when they meet mine. 

        "It's about time," he chastises softly. 

        "It certainly is." The older man sitting next to us whistles lowly, wiggles his eyebrows. We glance his way and burst into laughter. It's almost too much happiness to bear.

        There is simply nothing about Julian that is unlovable. I can't believe that what I felt for him the day I first laid eyes on him was the real deal. But somehow, I just knew. I knew he was the one and now here I am realizing I have met the love of my life. He is kind and patient to a fault. He's funny and laid back. He's whip smart. And looking at him is something I could spend forever doing with no complaint. I have done more healing in Sanibel in the 5 days we've spent here that in all the weeks before. Because I have realized love. One that is selfless and true. And all the physical therapy and psychotherapy in the world has nothing on that.