"You don't lose yourself with the right person.You find yourself."
The ice pack slips from his hand as he reaches up to cup my uninjured cheek.His touch is gentle, reverent, everything Ethan's wasn't.
"Let me take care of you," he says quietly."Not because you can't take care of yourself, but because I want to.Because taking care of the people I love is what makes me feel human."
"The people you love?"
"The person I love."
The confession hangs between us, simple and profound and absolutely terrifying.He loves me.Not the idea of me, not what I could become with the right improvements, but me exactly as I am.
I look at him.He’s my safety.The ache that fills my stomach.
“I…” I swallow.“I love you.”
It still hurts to say it.But it’s true.And right now, truth is the only thing that feels real.
"Then let me love you back.Let me show you what it's supposed to feel like."
Instead of answering, I lean forward and kiss him.Gentle, careful of my split lip, but full of everything I can't find words for.
When we break apart, he rests his forehead against mine.
"Let me stay tonight," he says."You and the kids.I don't want you alone after what happened."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Yes.I'm tired of being afraid, tired of fighting what I want.If you'll have me, complications and all, then yes."
His smile is brilliant, transformative."Angel, I'll take you any way I can get you."
Later, after the kids are home and fed and settled in front of a movie, I find myself curled up against Hades on the couch.My cheek is still throbbing, my lip is still swollen, but I feel more at peace than I have in months.
"Thank you," I murmur against his chest.
"For what?"
"For seeing me.For not trying to change me.For making me feel like I'm worth fighting for."
"You are worth fighting for.Worth everything."
I drift off to sleep in his arms, feeling safer than I have since this whole nightmare started.Tomorrow there will be decisions to make, conversations to have, a future to figure out.
But tonight, I'm exactly where I belong.
In the arms of the man who loves me enough to let me be myself.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
hades
Wakingup with Evangeline in my arms feels like a gift I don't deserve.She's curled against my chest, her breathing soft and steady, the bruise on her cheek a stark reminder of why I'm going to make Ethan Morrison disappear.
The kids are still asleep.Thankfully, they didn't notice their aunt's discomfort last night.They saw the bruises forming, but Evangeline was able to divert the conversation and asked the kids about their play date with Wren.
"You're staring," Evangeline murmurs without opening her eyes.
