You and I Forever

YOU AND I

Forever

You and I

Book Three

Melissa Toppen

Copyright © 2015 Melissa Toppen

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events

are entirely coincidental.

You and I,

Forever

You and I Book Three

Written by Melissa Toppen

Table of Contents

chapter one

chapter two

chapter three

chapter four

chapter five

chapter six

chapter seven

chapter eight

chapter nine

chapter ten

chapter eleven

chapter twelve

chapter thirteen

chapter fourteen

chapter fifteen

chapter sixteen

chapter seventeen

chapter eighteen

chapter nineteen

chapter twenty

chapter twenty-one

chapter twenty-two

chapter twenty-three

chapter twenty-four

chapter twenty-five

chapter twenty-six

chapter twenty-seven

Chapter
One

“
Where are we going?” I bounce nervously in the passenger seat of Bentley's car, watching the country side pass by through the window.

“
You'll see.” He glances at me out of the corner of his eye before turning his attention back to the road. “It won't be much longer.”

We have been driving for several minutes. If I had to guess, I would say we are at least ten miles outside of the city by now. Gone are the buildings, the sounds and the lights. Now, all replaced by the fields and open spaces that lay beyond Chicago. Bentley turns left down a narrow two lane road and then turns right again about a mile further up.

I have no idea what he's up to but I know it's more than
just a drive
as he had said when he asked me to come with him. Though up to this point, I have no idea where he could be taking me. When he slows to a near stop and pulls off to the side of the road, killing the car engine, I turn a questioning gaze towards him.

“
We're here.” He smiles widely at me, his dimples on full display.

“
Here?” I question, glancing around. “There is nothing
here
but fields and woods.” I say to Bentley's backside as he climbs out of the car and shuts the door behind him.

“
Are you just going to sit in there?” He calls, waving for me to join him. Pushing open the door, I peel myself out of the car, instantly hit with the peaceful silence of the nature surrounding us.

“
Bentley. What are we doing here?” I ask, not trying to hide my confusion as I shut the car door and take the hand that he extends to me.

“
Just come on.” He says, leading me through an overgrown patch of land into a small clearing a few feet from the road. “So, what do you think?” He asks, laughing lightly when I look at him like he has six heads.

“
What do I think about what?” I ask, gesturing that there is nothing around us. And I mean that literally. There is nothing. No houses that I can see, no cars. Just trees, trees and more trees.

“
Our new home.” He says, smiling widely at the confused look on my face.

“
Our new home?” I question.

“
If you want it to be.” He says, nodding as he looks around the open green space.

“
What are you saying?”

“
I'm saying that I bought this land and if you like it here, we will start construction on our house immediately.” He rocks back on his heels, seeming very proud of himself.

“
You want to build a house with me?” I physically have to force my mouth closed otherwise it would probably be on the ground. I am shocked, floored. We haven't really talked about this. I mean, I knew he wanted to look for a home in Chicago, but I had no idea that he intended to include me in those plans.

“
Anna. I've made my feelings very clear to you. I want a life with you. I want it all.” He says, stepping forward to take my face in his hands. “All you have to do is say yes.”

I hesitate, unsure of what exactly I am saying yes to. While it all sounds wonderful, it also seems like a bit too much, too fast. He's still living in Seattle ninety-five percent of the time, not to mention that it has only been a couple of weeks since our reconciliation. The last thing I want to do is rush this.

“
Bentley.” I breathe.“I... I don't know what to say.” I finally meet his eyes.

“
Say yes.” He says, smiling sweetly at me, his thumbs rubbing gently against my cheeks. He sees the hesitation in my eyes, I know he does, but it doesn't seem to bother him.

“
We're just talking about the house right?” I ask, my forehead scrunching together in apology.

“
For now.” He says, lowering his hands from my face and letting them rest gently against my shoulders. “Come on, I will walk you through it so you can get a visual.” He smiles, dropping his grip on me to take my hand and lead me further away from the road.

“
I was thinking we would fence all this in.” He gestures around the property. “We could put a gate there.” He points to the road. “And then a long driveway here, leading up to the house which I think we should build right up against the woods.” He gestures to where we are standing and then points to the back of the property a few acres away, that is covered in thick trees and shrubbery. “We can build any type of house you want. Big, small, brick, siding, I don't care. I want you to have whatever you want.” He says, pinning his hopeful eyes on me. “What do you think?”

I take a long look at him before turning back to the edge of the property. I try to envision a house, a life here with Bentley. Our children playing in the front yard, chasing the dog around, laughing. It's everything that I want and yet, it still scares the hell out of me.

“
It all sounds wonderful. But have you really thought this through?” I ask, turning inward to face him. “I mean, a house. That's a huge step.” I say, taking a shaky inhale. “Are you sure you're ready for this?”

“
I'm ready to start my life with you Anna. I have wasted years without you. I don't want to waste another second.” He says, taking my hands in his. “So is that a yes?” He asks, pouting out his bottom lip playfully.

“
Now how can I say no to that?” I smile, laughing when he sweeps me clean off of my feet and spins me in his arms.

Pulling me tightly against his body, he nuzzles his face into my neck. “I love you Anna Blake.” He says, pulling back to lay a feather light kiss across my lips.

“
I love you.” I say, just as he sets me back to my feet.

“
We can meet with the builders first thing tomorrow.” He says, laughing when he catches my expression. “I already scheduled the meeting in hopes that you would say yes.” He crinkles his nose in apology.

“
Of course you did.” I shake my head at him, not the least bit surprised by his preparedness. If there is one thing I have come to expect out of Bentley, it's that he is nothing if not prepared. “Were you so sure I would say yes?” I ask, taking his hand as he leads me back towards the car.

“
Actually, no.” He laughs lightly. “But I hoped you would.” He hits me with his baby blues, the sun hitting the gold and green speckles just right causing them to almost sparkle in the light reflecting off of them.

“
When did you arrange all of this? I mean, you just got back into town yesterday.” I observe, sliding into the passenger seat when he pulls the door open for me and then shuts it.

Crossing to the front of the car, he doesn't attempt to answer my question until he slides into the drivers seat next to me and fires the engine to life. “I looked at a few lots the last time I was in town.” He says, meeting my gaze for a brief moment before turning his attention forward and pulling the car back out onto the road.

“
But I was with you.” I interject, trying to figure out when he could have possibly had time to do this.

“
It was before.” He says, immediately making me realize that he was out here looking at land before him and I had even reconciled.

“
But... I don't understand. Why would you be out looking at land when you didn't even know if we were going to be together?” I ask, a little shocked by his confidence.

“
It didn't matter. I was going to build it anyways. Because even if you had turned me away, I was never going to stop fighting for you.” He says, reaching across the console to grip my hand. “But this way, you get to design it rather than me guessing what you would like.” He gives me a lopsided grin before turning his attention back to the road.

“
So how long does something like this typically take?” I ask, assuming that it will be several months before us living together will be an actual thing.

“
If we get started soon, construction should be finished by the new year.” He says, laughing when he catches my shocked expression.

“
But that's just a little over four months away.” I gape at him. “There's no way they can build a house that quickly.”

“
You would be surprised how quickly I can make something happen.” He throws me a wink, shaking his head like I should know better.

“
But we're not moving in then right? I mean, I will still have five months of school left.” I start but he cuts me off.

“
And it's close enough that you can commute.”

“
And leave Andrea roommate-less for the last half of our senior year?” I interject like I can't even begin to consider doing that to her.

“
Andrea is a big girl. I think she will be just fine.” He shakes his head, clearly ready to shoot down any objections I may have about us living together so soon.

“
I know but.....”

“
No buts. Either you want this or you don't Anna.” He says, his tone stern.

“
I do. I do.” I immediately start. “It's just....”

“
It's just what?” He asks, his tone a bit softer.

“
Doesn't it seem like maybe we are moving a bit fast?” I bite my lip, hoping I am not pushing this issue too hard. The truth is, I want nothing more than to live with Bentley. I just want to make sure that we do things right. “I mean, we have not even lived in the same city before and we are just going to jump right into living in the same house together?”

“
Would it make you feel better if I told you that starting next week I will be back in Chicago, this time permanently?” He laughs when I squeal from my seat, a large smile stretching across my face.