I had been driving for eight hours by the time I got home. I had left the morning after my phone call with Jay, before the sun had even risen, and it was lunchtime by the time I got back to my apartment. I had dropped my bags off and had a quick shower, before heading straight to the café.

Shelby ran to greet me and threw her arms around my neck before the door had even closed behind me. "I missed you so much!" She exclaimed.

I laughed and squeezed her back. "I've only been gone for a few days!"

"I know, but it felt like forever!" She pulled back and looked at me, tilting her head. "You're glowing! How did it go?"

"It was good. Dad and I talked a lot and he gave me some surfing lessons. It was nice, just what I needed," I smiled. "He owns a surf shop on the beach with a guy called Dane. I spent most of the time with Dad or with Ali, Dane's girlfriend. I promised I'd take you next time I go. I think you'd really get on with her,"

"So there will be a next time?" She asked with a smile.

I nodded. "Yeah. I mean, it was really awkward at first and we've got a long way to go, but there was definite progress,"

"That's amazing. I'm so happy for you!" She squeezed me again.

I jumped when the door opened behind me, almost knocking me forward.

"Shit. Sorry, Mel! I didn't know you were back," Jay said, greeting me with a kiss on my cheek.

"Hey. I got back about an hour ago. How are you?" I asked.

He smiled. "I'm good. Just getting everything prepared for tonight," I didn't need to ask to know that he was talking about Ash's homecoming. "He'll be in the clubhouse this evening, just so you know," He said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes as I pulled Shelby to our usual booth in the corner and Jay moved to speak to Robbie at the counter.

"So how are you really?" She asked me.

I nodded again. "I'm really good. It helped me a lot. With the whole Dad situation, as well as Ash,"

"Do you know what you're going to do?" She asked.

"I'm going to go and get my man," I grinned. "If he still wants me, that is,"

"Oh don't be stupid. He will always want you! This is amazing Mel, I'm so happy!" She squealed.

Jay approached us, holding a large bag in his hand. "So should I tell him you're coming?"

"No!" I blurted out, regretting it when Jay's face fell. "I mean, I want to surprise him. Please don't say anything to him!"

Jay laughed and kissed the top of my head. "I won't. I'm really happy you came around, Mel. You won't regret it,"

"I've heard that before," I put my hand up as he began to speak. "I'm joking, Jay. I'll see you tonight,"

He grinned again and said his goodbyes before leaving. I turned to face Shelby, taking a deep breath to try and steady my nerves. "Oh god. I'm really doing this!"

She nodded with a wide grin. "You really are!"

***

I didn't make it to the clubhouse until almost ten p.m. that evening. I had taken another shower at home and then changed my outfit several times, before settling on a loose tank top and skinny jeans. I had changed my hairstyle almost as many times and had eventually decided to just leave it hanging down my back in gentle waves. I was more nervous than I had been on our first date.

I was anxious to see him, but at the same time, I was terrified that he wouldn't want me. Or even worse, what if he decided to celebrate his homecoming with another girl? All of my insecurities were coming to the forefront, and I had finally decided to just get on with it. If he didn't want me, I would find a way to cope and move on. And if he had replaced me on his first night at home, then it obviously wasn't meant to be anyway. I had walked to the clubhouse, and paused outside for a moment, working up the nerve to go in.

"Are you going in or are you just going to stand out here all night?" I heard a voice say. I turned around to see Smiler sitting sideways on his bike with a cigarette between his fingers.

"I'm going in. I'm just," I paused.

"Trying to work up the bottle?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Something like that," I nodded.

"You've got nothing to worry about," Smiler said, nodding towards the door.

I took a deep breath and smiled at him. "Thanks," He nodded and I moved towards the building.

As I opened the door I took a look around. All of the Bulldogs were there, drinking and laughing. The music was playing in the background but wasn't loud enough that you'd have to shout to be heard. I caught Jay's eye as he looked up from the pool table. He grinned and motioned with his head towards the bar.

I saw him instantly and my stomach dropped. He had his forearms leaning on the bar and held a bottle of beer in one hand. His shoulders were slumped as he sat there alone, and he looked the picture of misery. It broke my heart. I took a deep breath and walked towards him, leaning on the bar next to him. He didn't even look up.

"So, do you believe in love at first sight, or should I come back tomorrow?" I asked, repeating the first chat up line he had used on me.

His head shot up and he stood quickly, knocking his beer bottle over as he did. "Shit!" He said as he made a grab for the bottle. He set it back down on the bar and looked down at me. "Mel," He breathed, his eyes wide.

"Hi," I smiled softly at him.

"You're here!"

"Ten out of ten for observation," I grinned at him.

He laughed and shook his head. "I don't know what to-" I stopped him with a finger on his lips, before hooking my hand around the back of his neck and pulling his lips down to meet mine.

He froze for a second, and I worried I had made a mistake. But then his fingers found their way into my hair and he pulled me closer, his other hand dropping to my waist. He pulled away after a minute and rested his forehead against mine.

"I can't believe you're here," He said, his eyes still closed.

"I love you," I told him, grinning as his eyes shot wide open.

"What?"

My grin faltered. "I love you," I said uncertainly. 'What?' wasn't exactly the response I'd been hoping for.

"You don't believe in love," He said quietly.

"I realised something this week. I went to California to see my dad,"

"Yeah, Jay told me," He said, stepping back to look at me properly.

"He made me realise that I was wrong to back away from you. I was making myself miserable, just so that I could avoid being miserable. That doesn't make sense, I know, but I can't explain it. I was so scared that the club, and everything that comes with it, would make me miserable. So I backed away, but I was miserable without you. I couldn't eat or sleep. I couldn't laugh without feeling guilty about it. I couldn't live without you. And that was when I realised that I love you. I'm in love with you," I bit my lip and held my breath as his eyes searched my face.

"This is the part where you're meant to say it back, you idiot!" Jay shouted, making me laugh and breaking the tension.

Ash cupped my face in his hands and kissed me hard. "I love you, too," He told me in between kisses. "So much it hurts,"

"I was scared you wouldn't want me anymore," I said in a quiet voice.

"You're crazy. I'll always want you," He said, kissing me again. "I was right,"

I frowned. "Right about what?"

"When I said I'd make you believe," He grinned, and I laughed before pulling him into another kiss.

I remembered when he'd said that on our first date, just before he'd kissed me for the first time. I'd thought he was crazy for thinking that he could do it. But he had, without me even realising. And I wouldn't change a thing about it. It wouldn't be easy; I knew that. I wasn't naïve enough to think that it would all be plain sailing from here. But maybe my dad had been right when he'd said that real love could exist with a little hard work. And maybe we both just needed to believe; believe in love, believe in us, believe in each other. 

***

Ash had been home for four months when he brought me back to the Grand Canyon. He had brought me to the place we had sat when he first kissed me. For the last few days he had been distant and quiet, and part of me thought that maybe he had brought me out here to break up with me. But then I wasn't sure if he was cruel enough to break up with me at the place we had our first date. And I really hoped that he wasn't because I had something that I needed to tell him.

We had been sat in relative silence since we arrived and I turned to look at him.

"What's going on Ash?"

"What do you mean?" He said, still not looking at me.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"It's where we had our first date," He said as if it was obvious.

I rolled my eyes. "I know that. What's on your mind? You've been distant for days. Are you breaking up with me?" I asked, my voice quiet and shaky.

His head whipped around to look at me. "What? No!"

I shrugged. "Well, what then?"

He sighed and moved to sit in front of me, taking my chin in his hand. "You know I love you right?" I nodded. "I can't imagine my life without you in it. You make me a better man; the best version of myself I can possibly be. My every thought revolves around you." He paused to wipe away a tear that had escaped my eye. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Mel. Marry me,"

My heart stopped and my breath caught in my throat. "Are you serious?"

He nodded. "Deadly. I know it's kind of quick, but I love you. That's not going to change. I want you to be mine forever. I will spend the rest of my life trying my best to make you happy. So will you?"

I nodded and threw my arms around his neck. "God, yes!" I breathed, before pulling back to kiss him hard. "I need to tell you something," I said, chewing on my lip.

He looked at me, worried. "What?"

"I'm pregnant," I said, closing my eyes. I was too scared to watch his reaction. I was shocked when he kissed me suddenly, and I opened my eyes when he pulled away. He had the biggest grin I'd ever seen on his face.

"We're having a baby?" He asked. I nodded again and laughed as he jumped up with his hands in the air. "I'm going to be a dad!" He shouted. "And a husband!" He reached down for my hand and pulled me up, before lifting me by my waist. I laughed and wrapped my legs around him. "God, I love you!" He whispered, leaning his forehead against mine and looking into my eyes.

"I love you, too," I told him, grinning when he slipped his hand between us to rest on my stomach. "Both of you,"