“Probably.” He met my gaze, a sweet and vulnerable smile coming to life. “But when you think about it, is anyone ever in the right place for one? We’ve all got shit we’re trying to deal with and sort out. If we waited until it was all fixed, then we’d all just be single for the rest of our lives.”
The hope swelling in my chest almost brought me to tears. My therapist had said as much, but Peyton was on the same page too? Did that mean… “So, you do want to?”
“Yes,” he whispered, the smile finally breaking through for real. “Just, you know, be patient with me. I still need to find a therapist and figure out?—”
“Peyton.” I laughed and brought his hand up to kiss it. “I would be a hell of a hypocrite if I wasn’t patient with you getting therapy and sorting things out. And even if I hadn’t had to go through all this shit myself, I’d still be patient because I want you to be happy. And I want you to be with me.”
Disbelief sketched across his face, which sent the same reaction through me. Did he honestly think I’d shove him away for needing help when he’d had to drag my ass in to get therapy? Not in this lifetime.
Then he relaxed, and he slid closer to me. “Any objections to seeing someone together?”
“Like a counselor?”
He nodded.
“No objections at all.” I released his hand and reached for his face. “I’m game for anything that helps us both be happy and helps us be together.”
He slid a little closer, and my God, that smile really was the best thing in the world.
No. Scratch that.
Thiskisswas the best thing in the world.
Being wrapped up in his strong, familiar arms, his scruff grazing my chin as his lips moved with mine, was like coming home after being gone for way, way too long.
Then he broke the kiss and buried his face in my neck, and he just held me, and that—thatwas coming home. I closed my eyes and held him close, just reveling in not being miles apart anymore. I’d expected to have to fight with him or beg him to understand where I was coming from or… something.
But no. I’d told him everything Shannon had suggested I tell him. He’d listened to me. He’d also shown some cards I hadn’t expected. Suddenly it all made sense.
And still it seemed like a hard-fought miracle, holding him while the remnants of his kiss tingled on my lips.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Peyton loosened his embrace. I had a split second to be afraid he was letting go, but when our eyes met, his smile soothed all that panic.
He cupped my face in both hands, and as he leaned in he whispered, “I love you, too.”
God, my whole world felt perfect in that moment.
I knew it wasn’t. I knew there were broken pieces, some of which would never completely mend, but this? A tender kiss after he’d said those words? Thiswasperfect.
I pressed my forehead to his and sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have shoved you away.”
Peyton gathered me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “No. I should’ve known there was something else going on here. With me, not you. And… I don’t know. Explained it better?” He exhaled and stroked my hair. “I guess we can be a mess together, you know?”
I laughed, which felt amazing. “Yeah, we can.”
“We can.” He nodded. “And having a counselor together—I like that idea a lot. Maybe it’ll make it easier for us to navigate everything, you know? We each have our own therapists, but then someone who can talk us through the rest.”
A knot I hadn’t even noticed before unwound in my chest, and renewed affection for him fluttered in my stomach. “You really want to do that?”
“Yes.” He caressed my cheek and looked right in my eyes. “I love you, Avery. Whatever it takes to be what you need and what makes you happy—I’ll do the work. No question.”
It was suddenly hard to swallow and even harder to talk. I covered his hand on my face, and I teared up a little as I said, “And you thought it was possible for me tonotreally be in love with you?”
He laughed quietly as some color rose in his cheeks. “Ididsay I fucked up.”
“No, you didn’t.” I cut off his protests with a soft kiss. “We just have a lot to work through. Each of us, and together. And I’m willing to do the work, too.”
