“I will, I promise.” He looks her in her eyes as he says it, and I feel like it’s a good step for him.
Once we finally make it back to the car, Willow breaks down in tears. It’s going to be a long journey for not only Lennox but the family as well, but today and getting him home was a good start.
Chapter 40
Willow
It’s been three weeks since our new normal began. Three weeks since we got Lennox home. Three weeks since my book blew up on social media. And three weeks since James and I decided together to work with therapists to help us both process everything that happened with Tennison.
It’s been hard on so many levels. My therapy days usually consist of being anxious as hell before the appointment and then crying for most of the day after. James tends to keep to himself more until he feels ready to talk about it. It’s been another level of intimacy between the two of us that I never expected. But we’re working through it all together.
Today is a fun day, one I look forward to with every book’s release. It’s dedication day. I started doing a special day where I wrote my dedication and acknowledgments on my second book, and it’s the last thing to do before it goes out in the world. It signifies a dream I’ve had since I was little, and I use this day to soak in that feeling. It’s easy to get lost in the business of it all, so for this one day, I let myself be fucking ecstatic at all I’ve accomplished. I let the imposter syndrome melt away and feel confident that it’ll be my best book yet.
Today feels like a different kind of special, though. It’s my first romance book, after all.
I write out a couple of different versions and erase them all. Do that a few more times before I stare at my computer for longer than I care to admit.
After what feels like days, a spark finally clicks in my head.
I type it out just as I hear the front door to my house open.
“Well, hello there, beautiful,” James says as he walks over to me, bending down to give me a kiss before turning his attention to my computer.
“How was your morning?” I ask.
When he doesn’t answer, I turn to look at him and find him staring at my dedication. I feel my cheeks heat, my hands coming up to cover them.
“This is the dedication for the new book?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I whisper. I look at it again and try to see it through his eyes.
To love:
Something I’ve only ever known in the form of family. Something I never thought would come my way. And something that has changed my life completely.
To James:
I didn’t know it was possible to love someone this much. You’ve influenced this book and my life more than you’ll ever know. Now you’re stuck with me, so tell me you love the book and kiss me.
“I love it,” he says then leans down and kisses me again.
“Best dedication yet,” I say when he finally pulls back.
“Are you officially done?”
“’Done’ done. This gets released in a week, and then it’s completelyout of my hands.”
“God, I can’t even imagine writing a whole-ass book and then letting people read it.” He shakes his head as he heads to the bedroom.
I quickly get up and follow him because if the routine of the last few weeks has taught me anything, it’s time for my man to strip and take a shower.
“It never quite feels real until this point,” I murmur as he turns the shower on.
We’ve become quite domesticated in the last three weeks. In fact, it’s something I desperately want to talk to him about, but I want to wait until the time is right.
“Hey.” He draws my attention back to his face. I’m certainly not apologizing for watching him undress. “You are a phenomenal woman, and I’m proud of you and I love you.”
He never shies away from telling me he loves me. Never lets me forget to be proud of all of my achievements, even the small ones.
