I push forward. “I’ve spent my whole life being practical. Choosing the safe path, the logical path. Scholarships over relationships. Research over Jake.Proving myselfoverbeing happy. And where has it gotten me? Alone in a lab, working myself to death, convinced I have to earn my right to exist.”
I swallow, forcing myself to continue, even if it’s probably a really bad idea. “I’m terrified because I don’t know how to have this. How to deservethis. How to make this work when everything about us is impossible.” My voice breaks completely. “But I know I don’t want to lose it. I don’t want to lose you. And... I want you to know... I forgive you. For the mining. For the damage. I’ll always forgive you.”
I’m crying again now. Full ugly crying, right in front of him. “And I also just wanted to say... it’s not too late. Youcanheal. I’ve seen who you are. Past all the wealth. All the insecurities. All the guilt. You. Gregory. I knowyoucan change. I know youwillchange.Willheal. But... please tell me that we can figurethisout.Usout. Tell me it’s not too late for us.”
The silence stretches. He’s just looking at me with those blue eyes that have seen me at my worst and my best and everything in between.
Say something.
Please say something.
Anything.
“Gregory--”
25
Gregory
Tell me it’s not too late.
Her words hit me hard.
I spent half the night running calculations. Building strategies. Drafting a proposal in my head that could bridge the impossible gulf between us. Something that would prove I’m serious about changing. About being worthy of her.
I was going to pitch it to her. Lay out the whole plan. Show her I’ve been thinking about this. Aboutus. That I have a way to make this work.
But she beat me to it.
She’sthe one fighting.
For me.
For us.
I pull her into my lap. Can’t help myself. My walls are crumbling like weakened ore under pressure and I don’t even give a fuck anymore.
“You don’t know how to have this? How to deserve this?” I shake my head. “Youalreadydeserve this. A thousand times over. You just have towantthis. Wantus. Even when it’scomplicated and imperfect and we have to figure it out as we go. Even if it seems scary.”
She’s crying against my chest now. Full body shaking. “I want it. I’m scared but I want it.”
I hold her tighter. Like she’s the only fucking thing keeping me tethered to reality. Which she probably is. “Good.”
She swallows. “But what about... the impossible logistics?”
“Forget the logistics. We’ll figure out the logistics.” I tip her chin up so she has to look at me. Those warm brown eyes are swimming with tears and doubt and hope. “As I told you before, we’ll make it work.”
“How?” She presses.
“Forget the how,” I reply. Right now she doesn’t need a business proposal. She just needs to know I’m committed. “Just know... I’m all in if you are.”
She kisses me then. Desperate and hungry and fuck, I’ve missed this. Missed her. It’s only been a day of awful silence but it felt like years.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard.
“I’m in,” she whispers. “I’m all in.”
I feel such overwhelming relief that I have to close my eyes a moment just to collect myself.
