‘It ripped him apart too,’ he said. ‘He just didn’t understand what he could do about that. He was in denial.’
She nodded slowly. ‘Until he saw her again, ten long years later.’
‘And he realised he was just as much in love as ever. More so, for having lived through so long without her.’ Now Aiden stepped forward. ‘He realised that there is no greater sight on earth than her face, on the pillow beside his, first thing in the morning. No greater feeling than being able to reach out and just take her hand. No greater sound than her laugh.’
‘And she realised that being afraid of something isn’t a good enough reason to avoid it. I was so scared of letting you back into my heart Aiden that I fought it, tooth and nail, the whole time we were on the island. Which was stupid. Because you were there, just like you always have been. Just like you always will be.’
His jaw shifted as he ground his teeth.
‘I don’t want to live the next ten years of my life in Ashbury Falls, missing you, wanting you, knowing that this time, I’m miserable because I walked away from what you were offering. I don’t want to spend another day of my life missing you. I love you,’ she said, half-holding her breath as she waited for his response. She felt like the bravest woman on earth. She felt like a freaking superhero. She felt – terrified and amazing, all at once.
‘What?’
She flattened her smile. ‘We love each other – and I get that now. I love you and you love me.’
‘We do?’ He, on the other hand, looked shocked, and incredulous. ‘I mean, I know how I feel, but I’ve spent the last week pretty damned sure that you don’t – and would never – love me again. So, I just… need a second to understand…’
‘What’s to understand?’ she asked. ‘It’s the most straightforward thing in the world, really.’
‘Sienna.’ He shook his head. ‘Are you – is this part of your whole revenge thing?’
She blanched. That he could think that made her bitterly regret ever agreeing to the whole damned scheme, even when it had been responsible for mending four broken hearts.
‘Because I get it, you know, and I’m here to be pranked if you need to get it out of your system, but is there any chance you could choose something less barbed than pretending you feel something for me you don’t?’
She actually laughed, then. She couldn’t believe it.
‘I probably deserve it, I just don’t think… I don’t think I can take it.’
She stopped laughing. Her heart splintered. This big, macho, man mountain of a guy was admitting his vulnerability to her. She was his weakness. She was his everything. It was something she’d never take for granted. She lifted her hands and cupped his face, her fingers splayed wide, her body finally now pressed against his. Her chest rose and fell with the force of each breath.
‘You don’t deserve it. Aiden, you hurt me back then, but I forgive you. I know why you did what you did. You acted out of love for your family, you even acted out of love for me – out of a mistaken belief that you could hurt me. You thought that a clean break would save me from pining for you. You thought I’d move on with my life, and that I’d be happy. You thought you’d be the only one who was suffering. I understand all of that, and we both need to let it go now.’
He shook his head slowly, a look on his face that was gruff and frustrated. ‘It’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much?—’
She talked over the top of him. ‘I love you. It’s not a prank, it’s not a joke, it’s not a thing but the damned truth. I have loved you since the first day we walked home together, and I will love you every day for the rest of my life. I don’t know what that means. Or how this all works. But I realised I couldn’t spend another night without you at least understanding that everything you say you feel for me, I feel for you, too.’
‘You love me,’ he said, and finally, he smiled, like he actually, really believed her.
‘Just kidding,’ she said, poking out her tongue, but when his smile slipped and was replaced by a look of ice-cold shock, she shook her head. ‘That was so mean of me. No, I’m serious. I love you. God, you are really touchy about this.’
‘Do you blame me? I’ve lost you once before because of my own stupidity and now you’re dangling this carrot in front of me, and I am just so shit-scared I’m going to say or do the wrong thing and you’ll disappear.’
‘I’m not going anywhere,’ she promised. ‘At least, not tonight. Ashbury is my home, and this is your home. I know we’re going to have to work out a lot of the details later. All we need to know, for now, is that we want to work that stuff out. Together. That we want to try this again.’
He dropped his forehead and inhaled deeply. ‘More than you know.’
‘I find that impossible to believe.’
‘But you’re staying for now? For tonight?’
She nodded, her heart lifting.
‘Maybe two nights?’
She laughed. ‘I have a job, you know…’
He groaned. ‘Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it.’ He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight to his chest. ‘Do you have any idea how happy you’ve made me?’
