I sniff quietly, not daring to say anything. Not yet.
“Jesus, baby, it’s been nearly a week without your voice. Without seeing you. Touching you. I miss you.” There’s a pause, and I imagine him running his hand through his hair the way he does when he’s falling apart. “Okay,” he says softly. “So we’re doing the silent thing again. That’s fine. I can live with it as long as you’re there… as long as you pick up. That will be enough for now.”
I curl into the pillow, listening to every word like it’s the only thing holding me together.
“I’ve been miserable without you. I talked to Anna, and she told me how you felt. That you think I neglected you. That I made you feel like you didn’t matter.”
He chokes on the next breath. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I was just… I got so caught up in Caleb, I didn’t realize what I was losing.”
My throat tightens, but I still can’t speak.
“I know I deserve your anger. I know I fucked up. But when you said you wanted me to be with my ‘family,’ that didn’t make sense to me becauseyouaremy family. You. Me. Princess. That’s all I need.” He lets out a shaky breath.
“As for Caleb, yeah… I love the kid. But if you told me to choose, if it meant getting you back, I’d give him this damn kidney and never see him again.”
My heart clenches.
“I hate coming home to an empty house. Your rings are still on the staircase. I haven’t touched them. They belong on your finger, Dee. On your hand. Nowhere else. That’s where you belong. With me.”
He pauses again, his voice lower now. “I know you still love me. You can say otherwise, but I know. You kept your phone on all week. You wanted to hear me. Even if you won’t admit it.”
I smile through the tears.
“A love like ours doesn’t just fade out, Dee. Not after everything we’ve survived.”
Then his voice changes—soft and teasing. “If I need to start quoting rom-coms, I will.”
I blink in confusion. “What?”
He takes that as permission to continue, “‘You complete me.’” His voice is solemn.
“‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry.’
“‘You had me at hello.’
“‘We’ll always have Paris.’
“‘Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.’
“‘May the force be with you?’” he finishes, confused, and I let out a quiet laugh.
“Oh God, Dee, are you laughing?” His voice brightens. “Fuck! That sound… I’ve missed that sound. Come home, baby.Please. I miss you so much, and I don’t know how much longer I can take sleeping ino-ourbed without you.” His voice cracks on the word ‘our.’“I love you.”
I suck in a breath. “I love you, too.”
He exhales hard. “Come home.Please.”
I hesitate, then give him what he wants—part of what he wants. “I’ll come tomorrow. But I’m bringing Joseph. I’ll hear the results with you, and then I’ll pack more of my things and come back here. I still need space, Colt.”
A pause. Then, “Okay. I’ll take what I can get. If a few hours with you is all I get, then I’ll make them count.”
“I just… I really think you belong with Macy and Caleb.”
“No,” he says firmly. “I belong withyou. But I’m not going to push right now. I’m just glad I get to see your face.”
“What time do you want me there?”
“The doctor’s coming around midday. Anytime before then is perfect, and bring Joseph, of course. And tell him I’m sorry.”
