• This contains spoilers for Found. •

Cale's POV

9/15/18

"SHIT, SHIT, SHIT," Grayson's usually delicate voice comes outs rough as she whispers profanities from the bedroom of her family's beach house.

With a few more extra pulls I straighten out my black bow tie in the bathroom mirror before taking a step into the other room. My eyes immediately lock on my girlfriend sitting on the edge of her bed with her arms on her knees and her head heavy in her hands.

My feet take the few steps towards her as worry strikes through me. "Gray, what's wrong?" I question hurriedly squatting next to her hunched over form. Her small body shakes before me and the worry that once filled me turns to fear. My hands pull at hers to uncover her beautiful face. A face I never get tired of in all honesty. Her soft pink kissable lips, her rosy cheeks that frame her heart stopping smile, and her bright ocean blue eyes that I constantly drown in.

She's mine, and that's something I will never tire of in this lifetime.

Grayson sniffles slightly as if she's trying to hold back hot, thick tears. "This wasn't suppose to happen," she complains as her eyes begin to wet with unwanted tears.

"What wasn't?" I ask confused as a shiver of anxiety begins to wind through me. What has her so worked up?

"It's too soon," she almost shouts with a huff. She stands up from the bed and begins to pace the room frantically. Her hands tangle in her lightly curled hair as if she wants to tear it out piece by piece. As she continues to stride around the room my nerves tighten in my veins, but that's when my eyes fall to the now empty bed.

To what she left behind.

Grayson must notice my gaze because the sounds of her footsteps stop, and a small gasp flies from her lips. "Cale," she breathes as if she's afraid of my reaction. Afraid of what happens next for us.

My shaking hand reaches out to grab the small white plastic stick. Everything in this moment stops when I read the singular word, and everything I once thought I knew changes. Everything I once thought I wanted changes and morphs into this new version of a life I didn't even know I wanted. Know I needed.

I lift my gaze to lock on her wide bloodshot eyes. "Is this real?" I question as my voice comes out gruff and filled with pure shock.

She bites her lower lip before nodding once. "I've taken four," she states as a single tear slides down her rosy cheek.

My free hand runs over my face in utter disbelief that this is happening. "Shit," I mumble as I once again focus on the plastic stick that has completely altered my view on the world in less then thirty seconds.

Grayson takes a few cautious steps towards me. "Cale," she begins. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean for this to happen—" she rambles but I quickly cut her off.

"Why are you apologizing?" I ask slowly rising to a standing position. I know this is scary, believe me I did not expect this at all. But I'm far from being angry in this moment.

A small shrug lifts her bare sun kissed shoulders. "Because I'm only twenty three," she points out as if her age is the deciding factor in all of this. "And we are barely settled and haven't talked that much about our future let alone kids," she adds more quietly this time as if she's worried that I don't want her. Won't want her because of this.

"Grayson, you know I love you?" I ask as my eyes trail up the woman my heart beats for. The woman I messed up with so many times that I still to this day can't comprehend how she decided to give me another shot. But I have spent every single minute of our time together making sure she will never regret that decision. That I will be the man she's always deserved since that summer spent under the sun together.

More tears well up in her vibrant eyes. "Yes," she sighs.

"You know I want to spend every second of the rest of my life with you, right?" I push taking a step towards her timid body.

"Yes," she chokes out almost breathlessly.

I take another step until I'm right in front of her. Slightly taller than her so she has to tilt her head to look me in the eyes. I reach out to grab onto her hand pulling her body into mine always loving the way she fits so perfectly into me. "Then why wouldn't I want this?" I question as if the answer is obvious.

She tries to pull back but I don't let her. "Because what if we aren't ready?" she asks with a cracked voice. "We aren't married yet, we aren't prepared to have a child Cale," she voices weakly.

I shake my head. "Who says we aren't?" I ask with raised brows.

She opens her mouth to find the words to argue back with, but they seem to elude her. "People," she finally spits out as a reason.

I fight back the chuckle at her excuse and lift a hand to caress her damp cheek. "Gray," I say her name gently. "Do you want this baby?" I ask wanting an honest answer. Because I know what I want in this very second, but what she wants matters more.

She pauses watching me as her eyes flicker over my face trying to find the right words for this moment. The words she thinks will appease me. The words she thinks will hurt me. Every possible outcome fills her eyes as she mulls over her thoughts. Finally with sagging shoulders and her gaze holding mine she breathes her answer. Her truth. "I think I do."

My thumb swipes across the soft skin of her cheek. "I think so too," I agree as a faint smile cracks across my face.

Her eyes light up at my words and her lips part to expose a beaming smile that almost stops my heart for a second time today. "Holy shit," she says as a laugh bubbles out from her chest. "We're going to be parents," she states as if everything has just hit her all at once.

"Yeah," I sigh contently. Because in this moment everything is absolutely perfect. The woman I love more than anything is pregnant with my child. I don't care if this child wasn't planned, if we aren't married yet. I love Grayson Kennings, and I will love our baby just as much if not more. "We're going to be parents," I agree bringing her in close to brush my lips against hers.

She presses her lips more firmly into my own bringing her hands to rest on my shoulders. "I love you," she breathes into me. Giving me life. Giving me her love. Her heart. And now giving me something more, something greater than us.

"I love you more," I tell her truthfully. Because I've never known anything more true then her. From the moment I set eyes on her on that beach all those years ago my nineteen-year-old self knew. Knew that she was it for me. That she would ruin me and bring me life all at once.

And now, seven years later she's mine and my child is growing inside her. A piece of her and me coming together to make something so permanent and beautiful.

Giving me one last peck on the lips she pulls away. "Ugh, we're going to be late," she groans as her eyes fall to my wristwatch. "Let me fix up my makeup," she tells me as she heads towards the bathroom rubbing away the lingering salt water on her cheeks.

My eyes fall to the small wave tattoo on her shoulder. The tattoo that resembles the version of what's on my ribcage. No matter how many times I see the small piece of ink that's permanently scarred her body I can't help but feel my body warm. We are like the waves. We needed to be washed new to be able to come together on a different shore after so many years.

I sit at the end of her bed and relax. "Who cares if we're late?" I counter not caring all too much this very minute. All I can think about is peeling off Grayson's yellow sundress, kissing every inch of her perfect body, hearing her breathy moans in my ear that turn me on like no other, and then taking her in every position imaginable.

Her blue eyes lock in on me. "Cale," she chastises with a raised brow.

"What?" I shrug letting my dirty thoughts fall away to focus. "Colt's been late to everything his whole life," I state, and even if she doesn't want to admit it she knows I'm right.

She flicks the light off in her bathroom and strides towards me. "It's his wedding day," she says as she places a hand on her hip.

"Yeah, yeah," I grumble before standing from the bed.

She reaches out a hand towards me and my fingers lace through hers instantly. "Let's go," she says with a smile pulling me towards her.

I return the smile because I know. I know I would go anywhere with Grayson, to the ends of the earth if I have to because she is my forever. She is the love of my life, and suddenly the ring that's been sitting in my pocket for a month now doesn't feel as heavy. I don't feel nervous like I have in the past. Because I know she's it and always will be.

She's my breath of fresh air. My purifying wave.

Grayson's my shooting star. She came into my life just like that first burning star. Blindingly beautiful and full of life.