Chapter Forty-Six
Fallon
I don’t know what time it is. Although I haven’t slept, I feel like I have lain in this bed with my eyes shut for a lifetime. My eyes are stinging as I try to open them. My head is pounding as though I’ve been out on a three-day bender. The sun from the open curtains at the patio doors is blinding. I don’t know why I’m bothering to move. It’s not like I need to be anywhere today.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea,” Maya says softly from outside the room.
Though her whisper is more of a high-pitched shout, people in the cabin next door could have probably heard. I can hear a man, probably Tommy, mumble something back to her just as there is a knock at my door.
I flop over to my other side, my back facing whoever it is, and cover my head with a pillow. I am in no mood to people please today. I just wantto rot away in peace. Even though I didn’t reply, the creaking sound of the door opening then closing lets me know they didn’t care either way.
I close my eyes, happy to ignore the intruder. That is, until I feel the bed dip behind me. There is a rattle of what sounds like keys, then a thud on the floor, before a warm body presses up against me and wraps an arm around my middle.
I would know that body anywhere.
Luke's scent surrounds me, and I can’t help but melt into him, even though my mind is screaming to not give in to temptation.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, the sound coming out muffled against the pillow. His chest vibrates behind me as he chuckles.
“What are you doing hiding from me?” He chuckles.
Pushing the pillow off my head, I turn in his arms to look at him.
“Did you forget what happened last night?”
“Nope,” he says, his brow lifted nonchalantly.
I scowl, waiting for him to expand on what the hell is happening right now.
“I wanted to give you space. Well, I didn’t, but I knew it was what you wanted. Then I thought, the longer I wait, the longer you have to build that wall of yours back up around your heart.” His face looks so defeated, sadness creeping in. “Yesterday was fucking awful. I… I can't lose you, Fallon. I knew if I didn’t find you today, I would lose you and be right back to square one.”
The pesky tears that won't leave me alone are back, but I don’t blink them away. I can't take my eyes away from his. He looks broken, and it’s all my fault.
“I love you, Fal. So fucking much. But, there is only so much I can fight when I’m the only one fighting. I need you to fight for me, too.”
A sob builds up in my throat, and unable to control it, it bursts free. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to move my hand to hide my face, but he doesn’t let me.
“No, no more hiding,” he says softly. “Tell me, Fallon, do you love me?”
“I… I’m bad news, Luke. I bring nothing but trouble wherever I go,” I stutter.
“That isn’t what I asked. Do. You. Love. Me?” He asks, pronouncing each word slowly and surely.
“Yes,” I cry. “I love you so much that I don’t know how to handle it. I’m so scared, Luke. So scared of what could go wrong. Scared of hurting you and your family. Scared of losing you. I can’t. I don’t know how I would live a life without you in it.”
He pulls me in closer, both arms holding me tight as my head rests beneath his neck.
“Don’t you see? You will never have to. You are it for me, baby. I want you, and only you, for the rest of forever.”
Tilting my head back, I look at him, my eyes bouncing between his.
“Really?” I ask, my voice quiet.
“For as long as you’ll have me,” he smiles.
A beat passes, tension and love drawing us closer, then I'm pushing him down onto his back and climbing on top of him. Threading my fingers through his hair, I lean in close.
“I’m so sorry for last night.”
