“I know,” I exhaled.“But you need this.”I met his gaze.“We both do.We need closure.”
“And I’ll do everything to give it to you, Ariana.”
He kissed me again, one last lingering press of his mouth against mine.
“I’ll see you later,” he murmured.
“Can’t wait.”
I watched him walk away, admiring his broad physique, purposeful stride, the way the sun hit him.Then I turned and walked into the house.
And was instantly met with my mother’s teasing grin.
“Did you have a nice night?”she asked from her place on the couch.Cato was curled beside her, as if they’d known each other their entire lives.
He was that way with me when I first met him.
Guess he’d moved on to someone new.
Traitor.
“It was…fine.”
Mom and Cato exchanged a look so perfectly synchronized I couldn't even pretend I hadn’t noticed.
“I have a feeling that man is capable of much more than ‘fine’.”
My cheeks heated, and I tried to hide my smile, but failed miserably.I dropped beside Cato on the opposite side of the couch.
“It was amazing,” I gushed, my grin breaking free.“Hewas amazing.Isamazing.”
“I’m guessing you finally worked through your differences,” she teased.
“That’s one way of putting it.”
Talking to her like this should have felt strange.What woman wants to talk about sex with her mother?But I’d lost so many years with her, and I wasn’t wasting another second.I’d always yearned to have a mother with whom I could have a close relationship.
Now I did.
“Tell me all about it.”She shifted on the couch, devoting her full attention to me.
So I told her all about my getaway with Henry.
Well…noteverything.I left out the blindfold, the gag, the way surrendering to him had felt like reclaiming something Victor had stolen.Those details weren’t necessary.
What mattered was that Henry had given me control when I’d had none for so long.And I’d given him my trust.
By the time I finished, my mother was watching me with a softness I hadn’t seen in years.
“You’re glowing,” she said.
“I’m happy,” I remarked, unable to hide my disbelief.“I mean, I know he’s older, and I probably shouldn’t want anything to do with him because of how we met?—”
“Stop letting your head get in the way, Ari.”She reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear like she used to when I was little.“Too many people spend their whole lives fixated on all the reasons something is a bad idea.And in the process, they talk themselves out of what could be the best thing to happen to them.Remember the color you saw when you thought about Henry?”
“Green,” I exhaled.
“The color of hope.Of rebirth.You may not want to admit it, and granted my memory is still a bit foggy.But in just the past few weeks, I’ve seen a change in you.He tended to you like you tended to your garden when you were a child.He learned what you needed and gave that to you.If you ask me,that’swhat’s important.Nothing else.Not age.Not circumstance.Just that he understands your needs and can meet them.”
