Just then she notices the marks on my arm and cheek from being tackled. Her eyes widen. “Are you okay?” She gasps.
“I am now,” I say sincerely, before explaining everything that happened with Mark Bailey. I tell her about my run, him jumping me out of nowhere. His confession that he didn’t know I got. The police taking him away in handcuffs.
“I knew it was him!” She exclaims when I’m done. “I’m so glad he was caught.”
“Me too,” I say, kissing her forehead. The gesture feels natural, like muscle memory. “Are you hungry? Tell me what I can do for you.”
“I’m okay right now. The girls set me up.” Her eyes are still on me, searching my face. “I’m sorry for my family.”
“It’s okay.” I force a grin, trying to make light of it all. “It’s not your whole family, anyway. Just half of them.”
Her lips pull thin. “I told my mom and Jemma off after you left.”
“Really?” I can’t hide how pleased that makes me. Even after I was an ass and broke up with Devin, she still stood up for me.
“Yeah, and then I forgave them.” She sighs. “They’re just looking out for me, you know? Like your parents, but in a different way.”
“Hmm.” My parents and I haven’t talked since our last big conversation, where they explained why they’re so hard on me, and I’m fine with that. The ball is in their court, and it feels good to have the situation out of my hands.
“I told them they can’t treat you that way.” Her brow furrows. “Ever.”
“I’m going to work on not getting so triggered by it.”
“It’s not going to happen anymore,” she insists.
I kiss her forehead. “We’ll see,” I chuckle. “Anyway, I’m not worried about our families anymore. They’re going to do what they’re going to do. What’s important is this. Us.”
“Yeah,” she coos happily, snuggling against my chest.
Burying my face in her hair, I inhale deeply. The feel, the smell, it transcends time and space. She’s been the biggest constant in my life, even in the years when we didn’t speak but I thought about her every day. I guess it only makes sense that we made our way back to each other eventually.
“Oliver?” she says against my chest.
I draw back to look at her. “I promise to do the best I can. I’m committed to this relationship.”
My heart melting, I kiss her hand. “I am, too. I also promise to do the best I can.”
That’s the most we can do, and for the first time in my life, I realize that it’s enough.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Devin
A delicious smell tickles my nose, and I blink my eyes open. Morning light streams through the bedroom window, where frost still kisses the windowpanes. There’s a slight bite to the air, but it’s only touching my cheeks. Underneath the blankets, I’m warm and cozy.
Sitting up slowly, I arch my back and identify the smell that woke me. Pancakes.
Oliver’s making pancakes. One of my favorites.
I smile slowly, my happiness doubled by the realization that I’m feeling better. After two days of the flare, I’m coming back to life. Thank goodness it was a short one, although that was probably no coincidence. Having Oliver stay here to take care of me has lessened my stress significantly. The fog that’s been wrapping around my thoughts is finally lifting. My muscles don’t ache the way they did yesterday. Even the exhaustion that usually clings to my bones like wet sand feels lighter this morning.
His heavy footsteps approach the bedroom, and he stops inthe doorway, his hand behind his back. “Hey. Want some breakfast?”
“Depends on what it is,” I tease, though of course I already know what he’s making.
“Chocolate chip banana pancakes.” He brings his arm to his front to reveal that he’s carrying a plate heaped with several pancakes, butter and syrup dripping down their sides, and a fork and knife resting next to them. Steam rises from the golden stack, and my stomach growls in response.
“Yes, please.” I start to get out of bed, but he gestures for me to stay where I am and brings the plate to me.
