Oh, God. How am I supposed to say no to that? He’s turning me inside out. But we only just decided to take a chance on each other, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for his family to know.
“What made you decide to go?” I ask.
He swallows, and tucks me beneath his chin so I can no longer see his face. “If I’m going to be a father, I need to prove something to myself, and I’d really appreciate your support.”
His heart beats steadily beneath my ear, and I wrap my arms around his waist and lose myself in the feel of him. This man may be larger and stronger than anyone else I know, but he needs me. Not to mention I’m the reason he’s thinking of becoming a father in the first place. I nod. He’s been there for me dozens of times, and I’d never turn down the option to do the same for him.
“I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.” Something soft brushes the top of my head. His lips? “You’re special, Ash. Couldn’t do it without you.”
A piece of my soul clicks into place, and I smile, recognizing it. I’ve been slowly putting myself back together for years, and I never know when two apparently disparate parts will suddenly fit. It means I’m doing the right thing.
I draw back and look him in the eye. “What are we going to tell them about us?”
He hesitates, searching my expression for something, but I’m not sure what. “Do you want to keep it secret?”
A quick intake of breath. Do I? It would be easier that way, but easier doesn’t always mean better.
“We should be honest,” I say. “Tell her that we’re giving ourselves a second chance but taking it slow and seeing where things go.”
“Perfect.” He pulls me close again, and draws in a long inhale. “You make me want to be a better person.”
“You’re already a good person.”
I feel a movement as he shakes his head. “A good person wouldn’t have left you to deal with so much on your own.”
“You can’t put that on yourself. I fell apart, and it wasn’t your job to put me back together. You were hurting too, just showing it in a different way.” I kiss the shirt above his pectoral. “We were both at fault, or neither of us were. The blame doesn’t lie with one person.”
He huffs. “Try telling that to my heart. All I wanted to do was keep you safe, and I failed.”
Tears fill my eyes. This beautiful, wounded man. He’d never have admitted this kind of thing to me before. He’d have shored it up inside and built a moat around it. “Nothing either of us did could have stopped what happened. But that’s in the past. We can forge a new future.”
“I hope so.” His voice is gruff. “Come on, let’s sit down with some coffee. I could use a break.”
“Sure thing.” I let him take my hand and lead me to the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, we’re seated on the sofa in the living room when my phone buzzes with a message. I extract it from my pocket and check the screen. It’s Harley.
Harley:Did you and Seth get back together? He was glowing earlier.
Laughing, I show Seth.
He scowls. “I do not glow.”
“Of course not.” I bite my lip to keep from giggling again. “You’re okay if I’m honest with her?”
“May as well be.” His arm, which has been resting on the top of the sofa behind me, sinks down to curve around my shoulders. “She’s like a dog with a bone once she gets an idea in her head.” He hesitates. “I told her about what we’re doing. I hope that’s okay.”
I slide him a sidelong glance. “Of course. She’s family. But I’d rather we don’t tell too many people in case it doesn’t work out.”
He nods in acknowledgment while I type a reply.
Ashlin:We’re taking things day by day, but yeah, we’re giving it a shot. Just don’t make a big deal of it.
Harley:Have you slept together?
Harley:Ew, wait, no details please.
