Chapter 25 pt 3
**Johnnie**
This is the moment that I have been waiting for. My family loves her nearly as much as I do. Now it is time for me to both show her and tell her how much she means to me. We walk along the rim of the water's edge. A slight breeze rushed off the water making her shiver. “Cold?”
“No actually, it feels good. This moment, this sunset I will always remember. It's the day I have waited all my life to feel. To go through my life without that connection to my parents was so hard. It was a living nightmare. But how I feel right now will drive that nightmare away for good. This is definitely a night to remember,” she said.
I squeezed her hand, “For me, the best night was seeing your face through the screen. But right now seeing your beautiful face looking back at me and being here with you will push that night back to the second best.” We take a seat in the sand, away from the water. I wrapped my arms around her. “All the moments together are my favorite, with you.”
“Same with me. From day one, I have just felt this awakening. Something I never saw coming. You're so different than I thought you would be. Your genuine kindness always comes through. I am falling for you more each day,” she confessed.
I turned her face to mine. “Alexis, I started falling when we chatted on the phone. When I held you for the first time, I fell. Alexis, I am not just falling in love with you. I am in love with you. I love you,” I said as my lips crashed to hers. She melted into me. My hands run up and down her body. I wanted to mark this moment in history. My lips clung to hers before I peppered feathery light kisses up and down her neck. “Say that you will always be mine?”
She rests her forehead on mine," Johnnie, always. I will always be yours. I love you.”
“You have given me the best gift of my life.” I kissed her once more.
Of course, my brother had to join, but I don't care that we now have company. All that matters is that my girl loves me as I do her. “Hey, beauty and the beast. I need to hang out for a minute. Bro, I need this cruise so tell Clint I will do whatever he wants short of cleaning toilets.”
“I'll let you two talk. Johnnie, we will continue this later.” She leaned in and whispered, “I love you.” A huge smile lit up my face as I kissed her.
**Alexis**
I stand up and walk back to the house. I am on cloud nine. I found Lynn and she invited me to sit with her. “It is so nice to see him finally get his shit together.”
“Do you think I'm enough?”
Lynn smiles, “Oh by miles, Alexis. He just needed to find the one worthy of his time. You are that and I can feel his love for you and yours for him. I am curious, have you both said it to each other yet?”
“Yes, we both just did. Turns out he's loved me from the start.”
She hugs me, “Good. Just remember it is not a competition of who loves who more. It only matters that you love each other best.” Love each other best, what a wonderful way to put it. Johnnie is my best and I will aim to give him mine over and over again. I should probably tell him more about my past now that I can finally leave it all behind.