Okay, well, I wasn’t expecting that.
“Adults freeze too.Adults have panic attacks.Adults have anxiety.But you know the difference between adults and kids?Kids feel okay asking for help.If they can’t reach a cup on the top shelf, they ask for help.If they can’t find their missing shoe, they ask for help.Because humans are not meant to be solitary creatures.We are social creatures.We live in family groups for a reason.We’re wolves, not cougars.When did society decide that adults needed to do everything on their own, otherwise, they’re cowards?Hmm?You are a part of this island, and when something bad happened to you, people stepped up.If a child got kidnapped, nobody would expect the parents to be organizing the search party.They would expect the parents to be barely holding it together.That’s the time for everyone else to step up.Which we did.But nobody on this island thinks you’re a coward.”Her brow lifted.“Except maybe for me, because you cut me out.Because you didn’t fight for us.But not because you froze when something terrible happened.”
I swallowed.
“I told you I loved you.And you said it back.Then you just … abandoned me.And at first, I thought you just needed time to process.So I gave you space.But then one day, two days, three days went by, and I realized it was more than that.And I need closure.If this is over, I need to hear it from your lips.I need you to tell me to my face that you don’t want this anymore.That you don’t wantme.”
Her bottom lip wobbled, and she sucked in a stuttered breath through her nose while glancing skyward as tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m a big girl, Tom.I can handle being dumped.But I refuse to be ghosted.”She met my gaze again, her jaw set and her nostrils flaring.
Blinking a few times, I took in her strength and how much it was wearing on her to hold herself together.
I don’t remember taking the few steps toward her, but a moment later, she was in my arms.“I’m sorry,bella,” I said into her hair as she gripped me tight, her fingers bunching in the fabric of my shirt behind me.“I fucked up.I … I thought you were ashamed of me for behaving the way I did.For saying what I said to you.I thought your not coming over with Sam was your way of telling me you never wanted to see me again.”I pressed kisses to the side of her head, inhaling the delicious scent of her shampoo.“I’m sorry,amore.So sorry.Forgive me.Forgive thisidiota.I never meant to hurt you.And I never will.”
“I love you,” she muffled into my shoulder as her body trembled against mine.“Of course I want to see you again.And you’re not an idiot.You just … made a mistake.”Her sigh of relief as I held her in my arms pulled one out of me as well, and we seemed to melt into each other.
I pressed a kiss to her temple and held her tighter.“You are too good for me,bella.”
“Stop saying that shit.No, I’m not.We’re human, and we screw up.Own it and do better.”
Holding her by the shoulders, but away from me so I could look into her teary eyes, emotion hung heavy in my chest, making it tough to take a full breath.“I fucked up.I am sorry.You are not to blame.And I want to do better.If you’ll let me.If you’ll give me a second chance.I’ll try to fix my anxiety.I don’t want it to be a burden between us.”
Her throat moved on a swallow as fresh tears trickled down her cheeks.“I’m not asking you to change, Tom.And you can’tfixanxiety.Surely you know that.And I never implied that it was a burden.All I need you to understand is that you don’t have to do this alone anymore.Not the property, not the animals, not your anxiety, not your life.Allow people—allowme—to help.Accept that we care and stop pushing us away.”
Tucking a wayward strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, I cupped her jaw.“I love you, Danica.”
“Good.Because I love you, and my kid loves you, and I think if we can get through this, we could have a pretty wonderful life together.”
That made me smile.“I don’t think I’ve groveled enough yet.”
“Oh, I totally agree.I still need an apology for the fact thatIhad to come to you.You should have come tomydoorstep with a boombox over your head and crawled on your hands and knees to beg for my forgiveness.”
My smile grew, and her eyes twinkled.
“I can still do that.I’ll do anything for you.”
“A promise like that is a good start on the groveling to-do list.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded.
“What else?”
Her left shoulder lifted, but her eyes flicked toward the door, then she scraped her top teeth over her bottom lip.“You’re a … creative man.I’m sure you can think of a few things.”
I had her over my shoulder and squeaking in surprise in less than a second.I bounded up the porch steps and into the house, grabbing a banana off the counter and tossing one half of it on the floor at Portia and the other half into her princess bed.Then, before my pig could follow us, I booked it to the bedroom and closed the door.
I collapsed on top of Danica on the bed, covering her and kissing her.
God, I’d missed her kisses.
I’d missed her softness and the sexy little noises she made as I raked my teeth over her jaw.
She lifted my shirt at the hem, and I rose enough so she could remove it.
Slowly, like we had all the time in the world, we unwrapped each other, until she was naked beneath me.I kissed down her body, swirling my tongue around each nipple, her navel, and between her thighs, loving the way she gasped and buried her fingers in my hair.
