FORTY
Tobias
When we finish our shower,I bundle her up in a towel, keeping her close so she doesn’t get too cold. At least until I can get her into my bed, naked and gorgeous where she belongs—her big gray eyes looking at me like I’m the only thing in her world. Something I’ve wanted from her for longer than I’m willing to admit.
Because I’m fairly fucking certain I’m in love with her. A thing I’m still trying to process. I have no idea when exactly it happened. I’m not even clear when I figured out that’s what this gaping, gnawing fucking hole in my chest, which feels like it’s only full when she’s around, is. But I can’t live without her now. Not now that she occupies that space. Now that I’ve seen all the ways we fit together flawlessly.
I kiss her as I lay down next to her in the bed, cradling her jaw in my hand and seeking the feel of her mouth against mine over and over. Until we finally break for oxygen.
“Are we good?” I ask, wanting to be sure. “I didn’t take things too far for you?”
“No. It was everything I wanted.” She smiles, her eyes drifting over my face before she kisses me again. “You’re perfect. Frighteningly so.” Her fingertips run along my jaw, over the now fading scar the accident left on my face.
“Even scarred?”
“Scarred. Broken. Whatever you are. I don’t care. I’m here and I want it.” Her words wrap around my heart and anchor it. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear them after everything that’s gone on lately. The conversations I had today. The way my own father turns on me if it suits his mood.
“You okay though? You seem like you’re a million miles away,” she whispers after a bit.
“Just thinking about a lot and things that happened earlier today. Nothing about you. You’re the one person who gives me peace.” I sweep her towel-dried hair off her forehead and kiss the freckles on her nose.
“Anything to do with the raised voices conversation on your way in?”
“Something like that, yeah.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Her brow furrows with genuine concern as her eyes study me, and I’m opening my mouth to talk about it before I even know what I’m doing. She just has that effect on me.
“It’s my dad. He’s been an ass about everything that’s happened. Now he’s telling me I’m not handling the news about her leaking the tape the right way. Always has comments about my career. It’s a lot.”
“I’m sorry. That must be awful.”
“Part of inheriting the Westfield name. My brother and sister have had to deal with it too over the years. Just that I’m frequently one of his favorite targets.”
“Yeah, I can see that from someone like him. Just what I know of his public persona anyway. You’re the oldest. And Easton, he’s good but you’re better. Probably better than your father was even at his prime.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that. In his view, I’m a subpar WR2 who gets worse every year.”
“What?” She sits up abruptly. “Fuck him. Are you serious?”
I shrug. “Yeah. It’s his usual bit. He thinks he runs everything. That he’s better than everyone, and I’ve just turned into a poor imitation.”
“What an asshole.”
“Yeah… but sometimes I think it’s true. Some of what he says. He’s not a good man, and neither am I.”
“How are you not a good man?”
I give her a look.
“I’m serious.”
“Well I’m sure as fuck not Colt involved in all the nonprofit stuff and looking out for everyone.”
“You looked out for me when I needed it. For Xander when he needed you. You helped Colt and Joss work through everything and end up together. You donate money just the same as everyone else. You’ve been dragging out the work I have to do around here so I can feel like I still have a shred of dignity while I wait for the museum to open back up. It might look different for you, but you’re good Tobias. Good comes in a lot of different forms.”
“I’m glad you see me that way, Spitfire.”
“It’s not just me. When you got in the accident, everyone was at the hospital. Everyone wanted to be there for you. You’re loved Tobias. Everyone loves you on that team.”
