Cassie and I have been together off and on for over twenty years, ever since her grandparents started watching her during the summers when she turned five years old. Over the years I’d shortchanged her more times that I could count when it came to being romantic, so this year, when she said we weren’t trading gifts for Valentine’s Day, and that we should write each other a love letter instead, I decided I would go all out.

Since we didn’t want to read them in front of each other, I’d sent mine to work with her and she’d slipped mine into my jacket pocket before I left the house this morning. It took me a week of hard thinking and a little bit of drinking to come up with the right words to tell her just how much she meant to me.

I smoothed my palm over the copy of the letter I’d sent. I’d put my heart into it, bled onto the fucking page. There was no way she could top it. Anticipating how she’d feel when she read it, I skimmed the letter one more time…

Dear Cassafrass,

Damn, girl, our first Valentine’s together as an official grown up couple. You’ve got to admit, you always knew we’d end up together, didn’t you?

I can remember the first time I saw you. Your grandma and grandpa were taking you out for breakfast after church at the Lovebird Café. Remember when Duke used to make those buttermilk pancakes in the shape of a face? He’d use chocolate chips for eyes and make a smile out of banana slices. Whipped cream for hair. You’d ordered one of those for breakfast and when you looked up you had a tiny bit of chocolate stuck to the corner of your mouth. Even then I knew you were going to be someone special.

In all the years since—the years we hung out skipping rocks, the years we figured out how to kiss, the years we did a lot more than kissing—you’ve always been the only one for me. Even when I thought I’d lost you for good, you still held onto a piece of my heart.

There’s never been anyone but you. You’re the only one who pushes me to be the best man I can be. The only one who calls me on my shit. The only one who can drive me insane and get me hot as hell all in the same breath.

You’re it for me. You’ve got the kind of hold on me that I’d never be able to shake loose, not that I’d want to. We’re like that love song, you know the one? The one where they know they’re going to be together even though she leaves and tries to move on? Hell, we’re like every love song…the ones that haven’t even been written yet.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love the fuck out of you. You’re my yesterday, my today and my tomorrow. I can’t remember a time when you haven’t been a part of my life—and you’ve always been the best part.

 Yours,

Robbie

A smug satisfaction turned the corners of my mouth up as I thought about how those words would touch her. Still smiling, I reached for the small square of paper she’d slipped into my pocket. Eager to see how her words would stack up against mine, I unfolded the pink piece of paper.

Dear Robbie,

You always say I talk too much. Plus, there’s a general consensus that actions speak louder than words. So I’m going to keep this short, simple and to the point. I’m leaving the café early today and will be waiting for you at home in our clawfoot tub. Whipped cream optional, clothes definitely not allowed.

Love you always and forever,

Cass

Damn, she’d bested me again. With my heart pounding in my chest, and that familiar need beginning to ache deep inside, I reached for my keys, eager to get home to my one and only.

To read more about Robbie and Cassie, check out the first book in the Lovebird Cafe series, Sweet Tea & Second Chances!