Don’t do it.
Tate: I fucking miss you, though.
Tate: I thought I could do this, Blair.
Tate: I fucking can’t.
I closed my eyes in shame, vowing not to type another word.
Blair: I know it’s late, but can I come there tonight so I can be there when he wakes up in the morning?
My heart beat faster. If she wanted to comehere, it meant shewasn’twith him.
Tate:Of course.
I paced for the next two hours as I waited for Blair’s arrival. The moment I saw the lights outside, I went to the door and opened it before she’d even exited the vehicle.
“Sorry if I made you wait up,” she said, walking past me into the house.
“I wasn’t tired anyway.” I ran my hand through my hair. “How was it?” I tried to ask calmly, even though I was champing at the bit.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “It was okay, I guess. We went to dinner. That was it. He seemed very interested in me. But…” She hesitated.
“But what?” I asked as my pulse raced.
“I just wasn’t…there.” Blair took a couple of steps toward me. “I washere. My mind was here.”
She’d given up her life for my child. I owed this woman the fucking truth.
“Well, it’s interesting you say that because from the moment Nicholas went to bed, I couldn’t get you off my mind. I’ve been going nuts.” I inched closer. “I acted like it didn’t bother me that you went out with this guy tonight, but it fucked me up, Blair.” I shook my head. “I wanted to be strong. But… You look so goddamn beautiful. And I just—”
“I got dressed up for you, not him.” She looked down a moment. “But you barely looked at me.”
“I wastryingnot to,” I murmured. “It reminded me of the time you dressed up at the resort and nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“It’s the same dress…”
“I know,” I whispered.
“It was all for you, Tate. All I wanted was to come back here and be with you tonight. I’m sorry… I can’t just shut it off. I don’t want anyone else. I haven’t since we were together.” Her chest heaved. “I can’t help it.”
The last fuck I had to give evaporated upon hearing those words.
“You’ve been so busy these past few years, trying to build a beautiful life for that boy. You’ve done an incredible job. He’s absolutely perfect.” I ran the back of my fingers along her cheek. “But no one’s been taking care ofyou.” I inched even closer. “Tell me again. What do you need right now, baby?”
“I needyou. I’ve always needed you. Even after I thought you were gone forever, I kept looking for you. I couldn’t handle being with anyone else.”
My heart leaped, and I erased the space between us. “I’ve been fucking pretending this whole time, Blair.”
“Show me what’s real then,” she begged.
I dug my fingers into her hair. “Thisis real.” I took her mouth in mine and never looked back.
Chapter 32
BLAIR
The moment Tate’s lips touched mine, his taste was my oxygen. I hadn’t realized just how much I’d needed this until it was happening.
