Southern Sunrise (Southern 4)

I don’t say anything else. Instead, I walk into my bedroom and slip on a pair of shorts and a tank top. When I come out of the bedroom, he’s already in the kitchen cooking. I slip onto the stool, and I know I’m supposed to do work, but I can’t. Instead, I sit and watch him. “You still like steak, right?” he asks, taking the steak out of the freezer, and I nod. He pours me a glass of wine, and when he brings it to me, he kisses my lips softly.

Dinner is made with small talk. He tells me about meeting with Beau, and he talks about the work he is doing at the barn. When it’s time to clean up, I look at him. “You cook, I clean.” I lean down now and kiss him. “You know the rules.”

I clean up, and when I’m done, he comes over and grabs my hand, leading me outside to the hammock. He lies on his back and holds out his hand. “Lie with me,” he says, and I get in with him. With my head on his shoulder and my leg over his, we look up at the stars. “I used to do this,” he starts. “Every night, I used to go out and look at the stars and tell you about my day.”

I look up at him, and he leans down and kisses me. He spends the night telling me about the friends he’s made and the house he has in the woods. He kisses me every single time he finishes a sentence, and both of us fall asleep swaying in the hammock. When the sun comes up, we watch it together with his arms around me. I get out, then hold out my hand for him, and when we walk into the house, I make him coffee. He finishes his cup and then kisses me until my knees go weak as he leaves. “Tonight, let’s hit up the diner.”

“That’s a bold move,” I say.

“I want to take you out,” he tells me. “But we can wait until next week.”

“Are you going straight to the barn?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“I have to get my change of clothes,” he tells me, and I take a big step with my next words.

“Why don’t you pack it in your truck in case …?” I don’t say the rest, and he smiles. “I’ll see you later.”

“Oh, you can bet on that, Sunrise,” he says, kissing me one last time and walking out.

My day goes by so fast I don’t even have time to eat lunch, and when I’m getting into my car, I’m shocked when I see a red rose on my seat with a note.

I can’t wait to see more sunrises with you.

E

I bring the rose to my nose and make my way home. I don’t see his truck there, and when I walk into the house, I have to stop when I see rose petals all over the floor. My bag slips out of my hands as I walk into the house, and there are roses everywhere. “What the …” I say. Looking around, I walk to the big bouquet with a card. Seeing my name in Ethan’s handwriting on the front, I try to see through the tears.

To my love on her birthday. I have so much to make up for, but the biggest for me is missing your birthdays. Happy Birthday to the woman who gives me life, to the woman who makes living easy. Whose smile brightens up the room.

I love you with all that I am.

E

I bring the card to my chest and cry, and just like that, I feel his arms around me. “Happy Birthday, Sunrise.” I turn in his arms and cry in his chest. “I didn’t want you to cry,” he says, kissing my head.

“Then stop doing romantic shit,” I say through my tears as he laughs.

“I picked up some food,” he tells me, but I look up at him as he wipes away the tears from my face. “I got your favorite,” he says. “I mean, I had to text Jenna to make sure it was still your favorite.” I laugh when he says this.

“Where is it?” I ask.

“In the oven,” he says, and I look down.

“You know what I missed most about you?” I ask, and he smiles. “The way you kiss me.” He bends and kisses me softly on the lips. I step out of his grasp, and I hold his hand, bringing him to the couch. “If we are celebrating my birthday, then I want to do it with you and me making out on the couch.” He smiles at me, and I can see that he’s just as into me as he was all those years ago. I sit on the couch, and he just shakes his head.