“Girls what—” I stumble over my words as Edel tells me go inside.
I blink at her, brows furrowed but she ushers me in. Anaïs and Nora have silly grins on their faces.
Nerves rattle around as I slide my key into the lock and find it open. Pushing through the door, the sound ofLuckyby Dermot Kennedycroons through the speakers as I walk into my living room and see Royce standing there.
Over a hundred roses fill the small space, and between each of the vases, a new snow globe is sat. I blink, around the room,soft glows from the candles catching my attention. Finally, I let my eyes land on him.
Messy ink black hair. Gorgeous blue eyes that have a shimmer to them. White oversized tee and his jeans.
“Royce…” I whisper.
He shakes his head and holds his hand out for me. I slip mine into his palm as he pulls me towards him, his glassy blues settling on mine.
“Sorry will never be enough,” he rasps over the quiet music. “I should never have treated you that way, lucky. Should never have pushed you away from me. I was stupid, I messed up.” He falls to his knees in front of me, his head tilting back, large hands circling my waist as he holds onto me tightly.
“I would give up all of this, the money, the races, the dream I once had…” He chokes. “I would give it all up, because you, baby, you’re it. You’re all I want, all I need… you’re my new dream, Athena.”
Tears spring into my eyes, and I feel the wetness trail down my cheek.
“I wish I could go back and do things differently, starting with the first time I saw you.”
My breath shudders on my intake.
“I would tell you that you were the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. I would have told you I loved you when you came onto my radio, would have said it out loud for the world to hear.” He pauses for a moment. “I’ve made mistakes, Athena, all through my life, but you… you were not one of them.”
My bottom lip trembles.
“I love you, Athena Stanley. I fell for you the moment you stood in my room clinging to your notepad.”
I blink around my living room once more, taking this in. A snort of a giggle leaves me when I see the girls faces pressed up against the window.
“Tell me to leave and I’ll go. I’ll never bother you again, I know I don’t deserve you…”
I turn my face to catch his teary gaze. The thought of that makes my stomach twist and my chest ache.
“You’re my home, kid. I never felt like I had a place in this world until you.” He stares intensely at me, his ice blues clouded with unshed tears as he waits for me to speak, waits for me to react. “Tell me what I have to do, baby. Tell me what you want.” His voice trembles and I nibble on my bottom lip.
“I want you to kiss me, Royce Lexington.”
He rushes to his feet, his hands cupping my face as he slowly turns my lips to his. “If that’s what you want,” he says, his words a ghost of a whisper.
“That’s what I want.” I swallow as he kisses me, claiming me once more.
“I love you, Athena. It scares me at how much I do.”
I nod, pressing my fingers into his tee before clutching it. “It scares me too.” My eyes settle on his. “But not because of you loving me…” I trail off. “Because I have never felt a love like this before. I’m all in, Royce. I am all in.”
He smiles against my lips as his tongue strokes across mine and I melt into him.
“I love you,” I breathe, and I can feel his heart dancing beneath my fingertips.
“Not as much as I love you.”
“This is for real this time?” I lower my face, waiting with bated breath. The grip of his fingers on my chin sends a familiar ripple of pleasure through me as he lifts my eyes to his.
“There is nothing fake about the way I love you.”
“So, this is it, we’re all in.” I squeeze the words out past the lump in my throat.
