The tears fell faster, dropping onto her jeans.
“He didn’t get there in time to save you.”
“But he did. She would’ve killed me,” I said, clutching my throat.
“He thinks he failed you. He assumes that’s why you won’t talk to him.” She sighed, rubbing my back. “Sometimes our head gets in the way of our heart. He’s reached out to you. Now, it’s time for you to talk to him. Let him know that you don’t blame him.”
I cried harder. I’d put him through more heartache. I needed him as much as he needed me.
I wiped the tears away, sitting up. “You’re right, Mrs. DeLuca. I need to see him. He needs to know I love him and I don’t blame him for anything.”
“Let’s get you ready. I’ll take you there. We’ll surprise him.”
“Um, he doesn’t seem like the type to enjoy surprises,” I mumbled, wiping my face.
“There’s no time like the present. Imagine how happy you’ll make him if you show up at his door. Up you go,” she said, pushing me off the couch.
I stood, glancing down at her. “Are you sure about this? Because—”
She nodded, climbing to her feet. “If there’s one thing I know, it’s my son. He’s in love with you, sweet girl,” she said, holding my shoulders. “I want to make him happy.”
“I want him happy too,” I said as she turned me around, using my shoulders to push me toward the hallway.
“Then go get ready. We have a boy to see.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Paradise Found
Morgan
“Open the goddamn door!” Ma yelled, pounding on my door and waking me from my dream.
“Fuck,” I groaned as I stared at the ceiling, running my hands down my face.
She’d shown up about the same time shit had gone south with Race. I’d spent the last twenty-one days trying to avoid her as much as possible. She made it harder and harder, showing up at my house unexpectedly or “popping in” to the office to say hello.
I never thought I’d say this, but I longed for my army days, when shit was simpler.
When my heart wasn’t in the hands of a woman and my ma was thousands of miles away.
Everything was complicated now.
Everything.
I yearned for the simpler days.
“I’m coming!” I yelled as I climbed to my feet and cracked my neck.
“You better open this damn door!” she yelled again, continuing her pounding.
“Coming, Ma!” I screamed back as I thought about escaping out the back door.
I flung the door open just as her hand was about the land another blow, but instead, it hit me in the chest.
“Sorry, baby,” she muttered as she glanced up at me. “Jesus, you look like shit.”
“Thanks, Ma. You always know the right words to say.”
