Maybe I went just a little overboard.
I wish I could buy some courage on the way too because now, I’m standing in front of her door with arms overflowing with apology gifts, yet I can’t seem to knock.
I’m sure Nevaeh knows I’m here, but how the door hasn’t been thrown open by my excited mate makes me want to jump off a cliff. I know I’m responsible for my own misery, but her dismissal doesn’t hurt any less.
Taking a deep breath that I almost choke on due to the dozens of scents around me, I prepare to face my consequences. With a mental promise that I won’t leave without earning my apology, I wrestle with the bags coming up to my shoulders before knocking.
The door doesn’t open, and the possibility of me dropping her precious fries and ruining them starts to make me panic. That will be her final straw. Nobody messes with Nevaeh’s junk food and lives.
When the door slowly creaks open, I sigh in relief. The little crack is barely enough for August to peek his little head through and look at the maniac repeatedly knocking— with my head since my hands are full.
The moment he sees me, those big blue eyes widen in surprise. I wait for the excitement to come, but instead, watch him force his face to show indifference and attempt to shut the door on my face.Ouch.
Thanking Fates for my quick reflexes, I wedge my foot between the door right before August can lock me out without giving me a chance to apologize. The little guy ispissed.My kiddo huffs when I refuse to leave. His show of folding his arms over his chest tells me he is trying to look intimidating so I won’t dare cross the threshold.
Boy, I really messed up.
Fumbling with the bags, I drop to my knees but make sure I’m far enough from the door so he knows I won’t come in until he allows me—wholeheartedly.
“I get it. You’re angry and disappointed and you have every right to be.” I wince when his glare doesn’t let up. “I hurt you, and I hurt Nevaeh. I promised to protect you from the world, but I failed kiddo—”
I stop when he sniffs the air before pointing to the bag with nuggets. Quickly handing over the bag, I stomp the urge to scream in joy when August gives up on giving me the stink eye.
“I couldn’t protect you bothandfight the bad guys at the same time, so I had to send you away. I’m so sorry, monkey. But now the bad guys are gone and we can go back, I’m here to take you home.”
August takes his time picking apart my words for any traces of lying, all while shoving his face with nuggets.Oh, how I missed watching him devour food like we don’t feed the hungry little beast.
I scan him over several times, and only when I don’t see any physical signs of hurt do I relax. I’m grateful Nevaeh took such good care of him, but as much as I’m proud of her, I feel guilty for leaving her to care for herself and our kid all on her own.
“Home, Papa?” he asks curiously, and I don’t miss how his eyes light up at the idea. He called me Papa; that means progress, right?Right?!
“Yes. I just have to apologize to Mama and make it all better before we can go.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, his shoulders slump.
Oh boy… don’t tell me even he thinks it’s impossible.
“Hey, have some faith in me, buddy.” I separate the bags with his things before passing them over. August eagerly grabs at them, barely paying me attention over his favorite snacks. “Now go play while I beg for forgiveness. And learn from my mistake, son, never hurt the women you love.”
When he tilts his head for a kiss, I don’t hesitate before smacking a big one on his forehead. My heart melts at his familiar giggle as I watch him skip inside the house.
He leaves his guard post at the door, so I push it open and start looking for my mate. The click of the door behindme sounds miles away when my sore eyes finally settle on her shuffling figure in the kitchen.
Seeing her after two torturous weeks, I expected my heart to mend at the sight, instead, what I see breaks it further. Nevaeh looks dead on her feet. Her cheeks are flushed and sunken, making her cheekbones sharper.
She looks thinner, reminding me of the night I found her in those woods. Alone, injured, and barely holding on to life. It kills me how I’m the one responsible for hurting her this time.
The hair falling down her back is still wet from the shower, dangling in a knotted mess. I know how much Nevaeh hates brushing through her wavy mess and always waits for me to do it for her. I will braid her hair and tackle those waves every day of my life if she agrees to give my stupid self another chance.
Just one more chance, baby.
My legs involuntarily seek her out but halt when her eyes snap at me. Taking in my untidy and unkempt appearance, her brows furrow when she sees firsthand how our separation hasruinedme.
Blinking twice like she’s erasing the image from her head, Nevaeh turns her back to me. “I’ll pack his bag. You can take him back in half an hour.”
My heart cracks open at her words. Of course, she didn’t want to come back after I broke her heart.
“I’m here for both of you,” I whisper, afraid of saying the wrong thing. My words get stuck in my throat when I’m close enough to see the deep purple shadows under her eyes.
Her sluggish movements and rigid body remind me of how she was before she felt safe enough to relax around me. Her distant body language makes me loathe myself for hurting her to the point where she is willing to let August go for his safety but won’t even think about coming back with me.
