I could feel the sun coming through the window invading my sleep. I squint as I try to open my eyes and rub the sleep out of them. Soon after I am awake, Matt comes bursting through the door and plops on the bed beside me.

"Hey bunny, so spill it! How did your night go? Tell me all about it."

"It was amazing! He took me to the beach where he had a lean to set up with a blanket, pillows, and a little table with lights around. It really was amazing. He brought chicken alfredo, a salad, and wine. We talked for a long time. He wants me to be his girlfriend again."

"That sounds so romantic. Did you say yes?"

"I said we will take it one step at a time. It's been so long, I don't want it to fall apart."

"You're scared, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. We burned so bright back then and it was snatched away so quickly. I don't want my heart to be broken again."

"Bunny, I saw the way that man looked at you, and I don't think there is any doubt that that man is head over heels for you."

"I am scared."

"Don't think about it too much. Just let it happen."

"Thanks."

"I'm hungry. How about breakfast?"

"As long as you're cooking."

"You got it. How about omelets this morning?"

"OOOO, that sounds good."

"Okay, I'll start and you get showered."

He gets up and heads into the kitchen as I head into my bathroom to take a shower. Once I am finished and dressed, I head into the kitchen and am hit with a wonderful smell. Did I say that Matt was a good cook? One reason why I'm glad he is my roomie. Yeah, cooking is not my favorite. We had been sitting, eating and talking when we heard a knock at the door.

"Are you expecting anyone?"

"Not this early."

He gets up and heads to answer the door. I hear him answer and then I hear that voice that I have missed so much.

"Hey man, didn't get enough last night?" I hear him laugh.

"Not really, but I am bringing her car back."

"Well, come on in."

I hear his voice and quickly get up and head into the living room and quickly walk into his arms. He wraps them tightly around me and kisses the top of my head.

"Hey, I wasn't expecting you this early."

"I thought we could spend the day together."

"That sounds lovely. What were you planning?"
"I was thinking maybe we could go hiking like we used to do."

"That sounds perfect. Let me go get changed."

I go back to my room and throw on some shorts and a tank top and grab my sneakers and head back to the living room. The guys were sitting on the couch laughing.

"I'm glad to see you two get along."

"You have got yourself a pretty cool guy, bunny."

"I think so too."
"Are you ready to go?"

"Lead the way." I say with a smile as he takes my hand and we head out the door. As we approach his car, he pulls me into him and places a kiss on my lips.

"I know this is a stupid question, but how did you get your truck here?"

"My friend drove your car over here and got an uber home. I wanted to spend more time with you."

He opens the passenger side for me and I climb in and he shuts the door and climbs in the other side. He starts up the engine and heads out.

"I want to take you to my favorite place. I go there a lot when I want to be by myself. I have thought of you a lot there." He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it. "You know, I never thought we would ever see each other again."

"I guess fate had other plans for us."

"When I walked through the doors at the shop, I thought I was dreaming."

"I wasn't sure what to believe when I saw you. I just hoped that someone wasn't playing a trick on me. I wasn't sure what to believe. I just know that my father had a lot to do with it and I haven't talked to him since. I think I saw him at graduation, but he never came to talk to me."
"I'm sure he was probably still trying to give you space, but still supported you from afar. You are his only child and didn't want to miss your accomplishments."

"I know, and someday I may go talk to him again. The whole Jenkins thing still makes me angry and I am still scared he is out there and after me. That night still haunts me."

"Don't worry about him. I am here now. I will protect you."

"My knight in shining armor." I smile as I lean over and kiss his cheek. I see a smile cross his face. We talk for about an hour and are soon parking, and heading off to the trails. We walk along the trail hand in hand like we used to do every so often he would pull me in, stealing a kiss. It feels like we never left each other. We fit together so naturally. We finally stop and he pulls me off the trail into the woods. He takes me to a beautiful spot surrounded by trees and greenery. A small waterfall babbles in front of us. It is quiet around us except for the movement of the water and is so peaceful.

"This is my favorite spot. It's not much, but it's quiet and I love the sound of the falls. It's very peaceful and helps me think."

"It's beautiful, I love it."

He sits down against a tree and pulls me down to sit in front of him and I lean back into his chest. He wraps his arms around me as I sink into his embrace. I could stay here forever. I feel so safe right now. All thoughts of Jenkins are pushed away. We sit in silence for a while and listen to the water as it falls. He reaches up and slides my hair off my shoulder and kisses my neck as a moan escapes my lips as his travel to my ear.

"Mmm, that feels so good."

"I didn't know how much I missed the taste of your skin until just now. I can't get enough."

"We have all the time in the world now to get to know each other again."

"I don't plan on wasting another minute."

I quickly turn around and straddle his lap, crashing my lips to his in a fiery kiss. Our tongues find each other's as they dance. I feel the heat spread across my body. In this instance there is just us and the world fades away. I soon pull away and remember we are in public.

"Let's get moving. I want to see the rest of this place."

"Give me just a moment." He smirks at me and as he pulls me down into him I realize why he said that.

"Ohh!"

"I told you I can't get enough of you, and this is what you do to me." My cheeks flush as he places a soft kiss on my lips. "I still love that shade on you."

I giggle as I get up and he slowly gets up after me as he adjusts himself in his jeans. We head off down the trails and eventually back to the truck.

"Are you hungry?"

"Starving actually."

"Why don't you ask Matt if he wants to come along?"

"Are you sure?"

"He's your best friend, and he's kinda cool. I know he will be around a lot so I guess I we need to get to know each other."

"Aw, that's so sweet. I will call him." I pull out my phone and dial his number.
"Hey bunny, what's up?"

"Hey, Eric wanted me to ask if you wanted to come out to dinner with us."

"Sure, I had nothing else planned for tonight."

"Great, we will be there in about an hour."

"Cool, meet you outside."

I hang up and we drive back to our apartment. As he promised, Matt was waiting outside for us. We pull up and he jumps in the back seat. We then head off to a restaurant. Once we parked and headed inside it wasn't long before we were seated. The waitress soon comes over and takes our order. I giggle a little when I see her try to flirt with Matt. He doesn't see it as she takes our orders.

"You know that waitress is trying to flirt with you."

"Yeah, and she would have more luck with Eric than me. I was trying not to encourage her."

She soon brings back our drinks and appetizer as she smiles at Matt. She is totally clueless. She heads back and not long after she brings out our dinner and walks away.

"So you both graduated from the same program?"

"Yes, she helped me through it all."
"He kept me sane a lot too. He is the brother I never had."
"I am so glad that she found you, Matt. It scares me to think what could have happened if you weren't there."

It's no problem, man. I saw a wrong being done, and knew I had to save her. You're here now so I don't have to worry anymore."

Once we are finished, the waitress clears our table and brings back the check. She hands a napkin to Matt and winks at him. Eric takes the check and refuses to let us pay. Matt looks at the napkin and laughs, showing that she left him her number. We all left as Eric leaves a tip behind. Matt walks over to the waitress and hands the napkin back to her.

"Sorry, but my boyfriend would be a little jealous if he saw this." He turns around and walks back to us as I look at her and her jaw hits the floor. She quickly turns around and storms off. We all just laugh.

"I guess she didn't like the fact you have a boyfriend, huh?"

"No, I guess not."

We all head back to the apartment and Eric comes along. As we are walking back, I look over at my car and I see something on my windshield. I walk over and I pick up a single dead rose and a note.

Note-

Hello beautiful. I finally found you. Did you miss me?

J.

I look over as Eric and Matt walk over to me. I look at them and they can see the terror in my eyes and the tears start to fall. Eric immediately wraps his arms around me and pulls me into him.

"Bunny, what is it?" I hand the note to Matt and he reads it.

"Who is J.?"

"That son of a bitch! He found her. How did this happen? I am staying here tonight."

"That's great. I think she needs you now. We all have to get up for work in the morning anyway."
"Come on sweetheart. Let's get inside."

I simply nod my head and we go inside. Why is he showing himself now? I thought that we had gotten over all this? What am I to do now? We head inside and all sit down in the living room. Matt puts on a movie and I don't even know what it was. I just curl into Eric as I hear them talking. I soon fall asleep. I don't know what time it is when I feel myself being carried to bed. Once we got to my room he set me down. I slowly walk over to the dresser to grab some pjs. He strips down to his boxer briefs and climbs into bed. Lifting the covers to climb over to him, I lay my head on his chest. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head.

"I love you sweetheart. I always have and always will."

My heart starts beating faster as a smile dances across my face.

"I love you too. I never stopped." I hear his heart thumping loudly as his hand caresses my arm across his chest. It eventually slows as I hear him breathing softly as sleep takes over.