But outside the door to her hospital room, leaning against the wall—looking like some fucking savior—Dean was waiting for me. “Liv.” He voice was rough, raw—making my name sound like an answered prayer.
“Dean,” I choked, trying not to cry, trying desperately to remember how to breathe when I looked at him. I had to look away before I started to sob and fall to my knees at his feet.
Then, his hands were cupped around my cheeks, my back pressed against the wall, and his lips were against mine. I leaned my head back in response, his warmth surrounded me, comfortable and safe, and I kissed him knowing it would be the very last time.
He pulled back until his eyes locked on mine, his fingers twisted softly in my hair, holding my head gently in place. “I didn’t expect God’s grace,” he said, as his eyes watered. “I didn’t expect to find any goodness in this world, in this life that I chose—the job I chose. Then,” he said, leaning his head closer to me, touching his forehead to mine. “Then one day—at the very worst time in my life—when I was alone and grieving, literal alarm bells rang out, waking me up from the prison I put myself in. And there you were.”
He kissed my forehead reverently—my cheeks, and the tip of my nose too. “There you were. Filthy, bloody, and all innocent-eyed. The single most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life. And I’ve been a fool to think I could let you walk away.”
I tried to speak, but all that came out was a feeble attempt at a gasp.
“It’s going to be hard. But I promise you, I will always make it worth it. Us together, we’re worth it. I want you to stay—here—with me.” His voice trembled, and it was the most agonizingly beautiful sound I’d ever heard. “I want you, Liv. Not just to hook up, I want you in my life. I want to try us. Because I know we’d be fucking perfect together.”
I grasped at his hands that where still wrapped in my hair, and I choked out a raspy sob.
And then, I carefully gave him what was left of my heart.
