Page 117 of The Image of You

“Clearer today. My brain is so full of memories, I’m trying to them sort out.” She worried her bottom lip. “It’s like…”

“Like what?” I prompted.

Her wondrous eyes lifted to mine. “It’s like my mind found what it was looking for and it doesn’t have to work so hard anymore. Does that make sense?”

I was feeling my own anxiety subside, so it made perfect sense.

She continued. “I missed you—every single day, even when I didn’t understand what I was feeling.”

I brushed her cheek, agreeing. “I missed you too. I felt empty without you, Ally.”

“You must have hated me,” she whispered, pressing a tender kiss to my jaw.

“No. I never hated you. I could never hate you. I was hurt and I didn’t understand. But I never stopped loving you. And I’m not letting you go.”

She gripped my hand. “I don’t want you to.”

I brought her tight to my chest, her head over my heart. “You’re home, and we’ll figure this out. Today is for us to reconnect and talk.”

She looked up. “Together?”

I knew we had a difficult discussion ahead of us. I had to hear about her accident, find out from her about our time apart—about her parents’ manipulation. Hear what had transpired between her and Bradley, even though I cringed at what she might say. She needed to know I would really listen, though—and, if needed, forgive.

Except she wasn’t the one who needed forgiving.

The people around her, her so-called family, they were the ones responsible. I held them accountable, not her.

And I needed her to forgive me for not being the man I promised her I’d be. I should never have left her.

I brushed a kiss to her forehead.

“Together.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

ALLY

Ever since the accident, my days had started the same way. It was as if my body was set on repeat. I would jar awake, every nerve twitching, my body tense and my chest aching.

I never knew what it was aching for.

This morning, awareness came softly, slowly. I woke up, warm and content, relaxed and peaceful. There was no feeling of loss, no tension and no ache.

There was just…

Adam.

Surrounding me with his strong body. Holding me in his arms and keeping me safe. Making me feel as though I was loved.

And home.

His quiet assurances of no matter what, only made me feel safer. His sincere golden-brown eyes were filled with so much emotion when he spoke. He would love me, regardless of what I told him.

I wanted to ease his mind—the way he had eased my soul.

When I had first woken up, he was asleep. I stared at him, seeing the subtle changes to his appearance. His wild hair was a little longer. Shot with more silver. His scruff was thicker, and more silver was laced through the wiry strands. His face was thinner, and there were a few more lines around his eyes. And until now, there had been a haunted look in his eyes. I had wondered where it came from, and now I knew. He had been suffering the same way I had—missing the person he loved.

Only he knew who I was. Until a few hours ago, I couldn’t remember who it was my heart and soul longed for.