Matters of the Heart

Epilogue

Epilogue

The weather was perfect. The sun was slowly climbing up in the sky. The waves were crashing against the shore. In the distance there was a rainbow arching through the clouds and falling against the ocean in a burst of color, sparkling against the water's edge.

Ali closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh saltwater air. There was something that felt so clean about the air here. She glanced back out at the ocean, watching the waves roll against the sand, leaving imprints of their wake against the shore. It was paradise. The only thing missing was Emily by her side.

Ali leaned against the railing of the condo, her elbows flat against the soft wood. She sipped on her hard earned mimosa as she watched a single swimmer challenge the high tide. She saw a bobbing head disappear under the water and then emerge several yards away. She glanced up at the cliff overlooking the ocean, wondering how many daredevils had flung themselves off of it.

Her thoughts started to wander to her past. She'd once been that trash-talking reckless child that pretended she was invincible. So much had changed since then. She had changed. Emily had changed her, in all the right ways. Her time with her girl had been the most precious gift in the world.

When she turned her attention back to the crystal azure sea, the tide had settled some. She peered off in the distance. The water was empty now, except for the aquatic life that lurked beneath the surface.

Ali lingered on the deck for a little while, enjoying the free entertainment that Mother Nature provided. After she finished her drink she walked back in the condo, leaving the glass door open so she could hear the sounds of the ocean. She heard the front door opening and she walked around the corner towards the noise, smiling when she saw the beautiful woman walking towards her.

Emily had a bag slung over her shoulder. Her hair was wet and tangled, but somehow still impeccably perfect. She had a loose white tank top and a pair of beach shorts on over her suit. She met Ali's gaze as she walked into the living room.

"Hey." She smiled sweetly. "You're up." She tossed her bag on the floor next to the couch.

Ali walked over to her without saying a word and kissed her. When she pulled back she had a frown on her face.

"Are you insane?" Ali asked.

"Huh?" Emily asked, her dumb 'confused puppy' look on her face.

"Swimming on our wedding day? In high tide, no less?"

"It's how I unwind." Emily shrugged indifferently.

"Are you saying you have to unwind before you marry me?" Ali teased her.

"Yes." Emily didn't miss a beat. She leaned forward and captured Alison's lips with her own. She pulled back with a smile. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

"Oh, kitty has claws," Alison mocked her.

"Sharp ones." Emily lifted her brow, tracing her nails across Alison's arms.

"Careful, sweetie. I bite." She took Emily's bottom lip in between her teeth and bit down. She inhaled Emily's intoxicating aroma. "Mmm, you smell like salt-water taffy." Alison felt like licking her cheek.

"Save some of that for our wedding night," Emily said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"What about our rehearsal wedding night?" Alison smirked, her hands snaking underneath Emily's tank top. She sighed when she felt Emily's damp body against her fingertips.

"I don't think we need to rehearse that. We're award-winning all-stars in that department." She grinned against Alison's lips, thinking back on all the times the past year that they hadn't been able to keep their hands off of each other. They'd even joined the mile high club.