Idiot.
I’ve been running away from her instead of toward her. Just like I did before.
Never again. I will wait until she’s ready. But I will not run from her again, and I won’t let her run from me. What we have is worth fighting for.
I retrace my steps and veer onto the correct trail, then sprint along the now familiar path. When I burst past the tree line, the parking lot comes into view.
There, propped against the bumper of my Jeep, with her pack at her feet, is the most beautiful sight. Maggie, tear-streaked face, hair a riot around her head, sweat-soaked shirt and all.
My heart racing, not just from the sprint back, I run over to her as hope wars with concern. “Are you okay?”
Her hands fly up to her face as she slumps in on herself, and a sob escapes. I drop the pack at her feet and wrap her in my arms. Fingers clutch at my sweaty shirt, and I tighten my hold on her. I’d hold her forever, wipe away every single one of her tears, and make sure shenever cries over me again, if she’ll just let me back into her life.
“You’re so stupid,” she says into my chest. The words are muffled but still deliver the hit.
“I know,” I whisper against her hair, feeling the admission deep in my bones.
“You wrecked me.”
“I’m so sorry.” My voice breaks on the word. She’s killing me, but it’s no less than I deserve.
Her fingers release, and her arms snake up around me as she buries her face in my neck. “But I love you too.” The soft, broken whisper nearly takes me to my knees, and I clutch her tighter as the moisture in my eyes finally spills over.
I don’t know how long we stand in the parking lot, just holding each other. I’d stand with her until I have no more strength to give. I’d rip my soul open again, just to feel the sweet relief of having her in my arms again.
Finally, her sobs quiet and my tears ease off. She eventually pulls back, and my heart plummets. I’m not ready to let her go.
But she cups my cheek and presses a kiss to my lips. Right out in public. Where anyone can see us. And finally, relief floods my veins. Angling my head, I seal my lips to hers, and when she opens for me, my soul sighs at the soft caress of her tongue stroking mine.
I drop my hands to her hips and back her into the Jeep because I need more. I want to fuse with her, never leave her side. She took all of my dark and ugly truth, and she still loves me despite it.
The car next to us beeps as the doors unlock, startling us from our impromptu make-out session. I brush an errant curl from her forehead, lingering on the soft look she’sgiving me. Finally feeling like I’m getting back on solid ground.
Maggie pulls away and bends to grab her pack. “Mind giving me a ride home?”
Reluctantly, I pop the back door open to stow our packs. I’m scared of what might happen once we leave this place. “Mind if I stay awhile?” I give her a wink to try to get us out of the deep.
It might appear playful, but my heart is in my throat when she answers, “For how long?”
It’s a loaded question, and we both know it.
I lift a shoulder and cling to the hope that things can still be right between us, that I can say whatever I feel, and she’ll stick by me. “I dunno. For dinner? Or maybe forever?”
She drops her gaze to her feet, but I can see the soft smile playing about her lips. Hell yeah. Fucking score.
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” she says as she rounds the side of the Jeep and climbs in.
Relief is heady and sweet as I join her in the cab. “Buckle up, princess. This is gonna be one helluva ride. Oh yeah, and snacks are in the door pocket.”
Epilogue
Maggie
“This is bad,” Kate declares from her station at a two-seater table. In front of her, she’s organized a bag full of unopened mail into neat piles and is systematically going through each item.
“Uh, I thought you were just providing some home-health assistance,” I say as I pull the last of the trays and pass it to Tisha to wash.
It’s the end of the day, and Kate has been here sorting her bag of mail for an hour, waiting on Jackson to get done helping Cal so they can go to the gym for some training. She made it into fire recruit school and has been meeting with Jackson daily to work out. I’m pretty sure she’s made them quiz her every waking hour when they are on duty too.
