“You can.” I argued, leaning in. “You do.”
He shook his head again, gently. “Luna girl... he knew you when you were still building yourself. When your foundation was still wet cement. You two grew up in chaos together. I’ll never understand what that kind of bond feels like. That’s okay. I don’t have to be him.”
I blinked, my eyes burning. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying it’s made me realize something. About why it never worked with Will.”
I pulled back slightly, eyes narrowing. “Don’t.”
“Luna—”
“No,” I said, grabbing his shoulders to turn him toward me. “Don’t you dare compare yourself to him.”
“I’m not,” he said softly. “I’m saying it didn’t work with Will because he didn’t know how to carry all of you. You just need people willing to hold the weight of your past and help build your future.”
I let go of his shoulders slowly, the fight easing out of my body. “You and Jer are those people?”
“Yeah. We are.” He looked at me like it was the easiest answer in the world.
“Let’s find him, then,” Dirks said. “After the holidays. Whatever it gives us, closure or answers, we’ll face it.”
I nodded, heart pounding.
“Good,” he murmured. “Can I kiss you now?”
A laugh bubbled out. “Of course you can.”
He leaned in, grazing my cheek with one hand and settling the other on my hip as his lips met mine. His nose brushed mine as he pulled back.
“Are you mad?”
“No. I’m proud of you. I’ll wait for you to unwind it all... and thank you for trusting me with it.”
“Want to see what I have out back? It’s my favorite part of the guesthouse.”
He nodded, and I grinned, slipping my fingers into his and tugging him toward the back door. It wasn’t far, nothing in this cozy little place was, but the moment I pushed it open, the crisp winter air wrapped around us.
Out on the small wooden deck, nestled at the edge of the tree line, sat a sunken hot tub. The trees framed it like a secret hideaway, the soft glow from the string lights overhead making it feel like something out of a movie.
“There’s a separate pool and hot tub for the main house, but this one’s mine. I love how private it is. It helps my muscles after a long day at work.”
He let out a low whistle, clearly impressed, and I watched him take in the little pocket of peace I’d carved out for myself.
“This is nice, Lune.”
“I liked my little apartment in London, but... ” I glanced back at the steam rising into the night. “I agree. I like this a lot better.” I turned toward him fully, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips. “Wanna skinny-dip?”
His eyes lit up. “Always.”
I leaned in and kissed him softly, asking for forgiveness one more time with the press of my lips. He nodded, swallowing hard, then stepped back and tugged his shirt over his head, quickly stripping out of his pants without a second thought.
“Last one in”—he grinned, cocking a brow—“owes the other person oral.”
I gasped, laughing, and bolted toward the edge of the deck, already halfway out of my clothes. “You’re on.”
22
luna
