Prologue

8 years ago

There was no doubt in mind that I was living the good life. I was down right lucky. That was really all it was, though—pure luck.

When I met Susan.

When I enrolled in college and got in on a scholarship.

When I proposed to Susan and she said yes.

When we got married.

When her father insisted on buying us a big, beautiful house after we got married.

It was all fucking luck and I hoped it never run out, but then Susan's mother passed away and she hadn't been herself. I gave her time and space to grieve, but it took a couple of months for Susan's grief to not be as overwhelming, as all-consuming. She was very close to her mother, just as I was sure many daughters were with their mothers. It was a special bond, I knew, that Susan felt had severed when she passed. Although Susan knew her mother would always be alive in her heart, it was hard for her to believe she would ever feel happy again.

Thankfully, my Susan was getting back to herself and I wanted to enjoy every single moment of that, which was why I was glad it was the weekend. We had just finished another grueling week of classes, my own taking their toll, but now I could finally be present and spend some time with my wife.

I felt the familiar feel of Susan's soft, gentle embrace, her hands slipping around my waist, as she kissed the back of my neck. "What do you want to do tomorrow?" she asked, resting her head on my back now.

I swiped my hands over her arms and held her against me. Looking back, I smiled. "Whatever you want." It was just nice to hear her wanting to make plans again.

She laughed and released her hold on me, coming to stand in front of me. "Wy, you always say that, but I want to do something you want to do for a change."

I was a simple man, I didn't want for a lot. I just liked spending time with Susan, and the fact that neither of us were having to run to and from classes with our busy schedules was enough for me. I was content right where I was in our home. Always had been. But I considered her words, trying to see if I could come up with anything to appease her. I came up short. "Really, I don't care what we do. Maybe we should just stay in. You can read one of your romance books you love so much."

She gasped, her big, round green eyes staring into mine. I could stare into her eyes every day for the rest of my life and it still wouldn't be enough. I didn't think I would ever tire of watching her expressions. Her eyes were the most expressive and they always gave her away. "You can't be serious. Your big idea of a good time is watching me read?"

I pulled her against me, my lips hovering over hers. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips and I had to hold back a laugh. "I love watching you do anything," I confessed.

She smacked my arm and backed up, flipping her strawberry blonde hair to one side, as she shook her head. "Fine. I'm going to brush my teeth. You can come watch me do that. I'm thinking I'll turn in early."

"Tired already?" I cocked a brow and tilted my head. It was only nine o'clock and it felt like we had just cleaned up from dinner, takeout from our favorite Mexican restaurant.

She nodded and faked a yawn. "Yeah, I could really use the sleep, you know?"

The corner of my lips turned upward as I walked closer to her and wrapped my arms around her waist, lifting her up, and spinning her around. "You could use the sleep? Really?"

She giggled and demanded, "Put me down," in between fits of laugher.

I placed her firmly back on the ground and then brushed some hair from in front of her eyes behind her ear. "That's better."

Her eyes shone with love in that moment and I knew my Susan was doing much better. It was good to see her this happy again. "Come with me?" she asked, walking toward our bathroom, a hand extended out behind her for me to take.

I walked to her and grabbed her hand, engulfing it in mine. "I'd go anywhere with you," I said earnestly, allowing her to lead the way.

I always knew I wanted to get married and share my life with someone else. I didn't know it would happen so soon, but life never did work on a timetable. It was when I stopped thinking about it that life happened. Susan was the love of my life and my decision to marry her was easily one of the easiest—and best—decisions. We fell into an easy routine and it was the little moments I cherished the most, like waking up to her every morning, her hair a hot mess and her face makeup-free. She was beautiful and I couldn't help but smile at the idea that I got to call her my wife.

She looked in the mirror and caught me staring, my toothbrush still in-hand. I didn't look away, I didn't give a damn if she knew I was watching her or not. She looked like she was about to chuckle, but thought against it, her mouth full of toothpaste. She grabbed her hair with one hand and bent down to spit in the sink. "What's the silly grin for?" she asked, chuckling.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Can't a husband just look adoringly at his adorable wife?"

"I'm brushing my teeth and spitting in a sink. Quite possibly the most unattractive things."

I shook my head. "I disagree."

"All right," she said, shaking her head now. She put away her toothbrush and rinsed out her mouth. "Well, I'm going to go to bed."

"You sure I can't convince you to stay up and play a little?" I wiggled my eyebrows.

She laughed. "Maybe in the morning, Wy, it's been a long week. I really could use the sleep."

"Goodnight, my love." I leaned over and gave her a kiss on the lips. "See you in the morning."

She moaned in pleasure. "Maybe sleep can wait."

I chuckled. "No, you should get your rest."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, get all the rest you need now because tomorrow morning you're all mine." I winked.

Her eyes danced and she smiled from ear to ear. "I can't wait."

I watched her walk out of the bathroom and then turn around. "Goodnight, Wy. I love you."

She continued walking, so I knew she couldn't see me smile back at her. "Oh, Susan, I love you to the very depths of my soul."