For years she’d carried the gnawing suspicion that Tucker had left because she’d dared to fight back, dared to have a voice. And she wasn’t willing to silence herself again.
But Jayce didn’t flinch. He pushed back, yes, but he never let go. He stood his ground without abandoning her. Proof that he wasn’t just with her, he was in her corner.
He was showing her that her biggest fear could be overcome, even at the worst of times.
And rather than walk away from her tears, he came toward her, he held her tight and let her sob.
When she had nothing else left to give, she lifted her head. “I’m sorry. That was all uncalled for.”
“Don’t be sorry. Life isn’t pretty, as you said. It’s not perfect and it’s sure the hell not going to be easy. You had to say what you did and I had to say what I did. What we do next is more important. Not just for us, but for Archer.”
“For Archer,” she said, nodding her head.
“But us too,” he said. “Come on, let’s sit, let’s talk this out. Let’s agree we aren’t going to bed until we are both comfortable with the results.”
She nodded again. “Yes.”
He kissed her on the forehead and pulled her next to him on the couch. “I love you, Farrah. That’s not changing over one fight. I hope you know that.”
“I do now.”
Which might be the biggest win of her life.
39
LIT SOMETHING INSIDE HIM
“This is going to be awesome!” Archer shouted from the back seat of Jayce’s car almost three weeks later. Not the first time the words were said, but the octane was rising each time.
“My ears might bleed now,” Farrah said. “How many more times are you going to say that before we get to Charlotte?”
“How much longer is it?” Archer asked.
“Less than an hour.”
“Two more times,” Archer said, giggling. “Because I’m excited.”
Jayce turned to look at Farrah. “I was too at that age. Come on. Did you ever go to any sports camps?”
“I did,” she said, grinning. “When I was older than Archer though. And yes, it’s exciting.”
“My parents are happy I’m gone for the week,” Liam said next to Archer. “I don’t think my mom is going to miss me.”
“I’m sure they will miss you,” Farrah said, her eyes sparkling some. “It’s only a week and you’ll be home next Saturday.”
“Liam’s parents are picking us up, right?” Archer asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“Are you and Jayce going home after you drop me off?”
“No,” he said. “We are staying the night here and then going back in the morning.”
Not that the two hours home was a big deal, but it’d be nice for the two of them to have some fun away from home.
He’d gotten them a hotel and he’d take her out tonight for a nice dinner, show her around the place he’d made home for over a decade.
Their fight weeks ago was a thing of the past. It had to be.
