Page 41 of Endless Love

“Let me finish. But I’m thankful you found her. She loves you for you, and I believe she’s a beautiful person not only on the outside but on the inside too. She told me about the two of you and how no woman could replace me, not even herself. Instead, she settled to be the one person you needed, a confidante and friend. Still, if she took the risk . . .”

His face twists. I hit a soft spot. I don’t want to betray her trust, and I hope I didn’t, but I have to end this twisted jealousy I have for her.

“I don’t know what to say, but Chloe and I . . . Fuck, okay. I’ll tell you to end this.” I freeze, even my breath halts, and he adds, “Forgive me.”

“Damien.”

“No, you need to know. I hit on her when I came back from the States after seeing you and thought you moved on for good. She almost went with it, but I whispered your name when I closed my eyes to kiss her. After your birthday, it happened again, this time it was her, but I couldn’t after hearing the truth about your illness. Inside, I was torn apart, not knowing where you were or if you’d come back. I wanted no woman, not even her, no one except you. The first time I numbed myself, the second I needed to work through it.”

His confession rattles me. I battle to keep the tears at bay. He tips my chin up and urges me to look at him.

“No woman could ever replace you, and you always have had all of my heart. What I feel for you, no one could have had even half of.” As if he’s not done with confessing, he adds, “Even if I married, perhaps even had kids. Whenever I would have found out the truth, I would have rushed to you and fucking begged for you to take me back.”

Silence falls over us as his confessions tend to do that. I’m glad it never came to be because I would have taken him back and not cared, not cared at all—selfish woman in love.

The discussion might have had some tension in it, but we diffused it. We have lost years between us, but we gained two friends for life. They are important to us. It’s them who stood at our sides when we were anything but pleasant companions.

We leave the restaurant, and on our way back to the car, both our phones ring. I pick up and answer, “Soph.”

“We’re bored, lovebirds. Let’s go out.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“You agree?” Her incredulity surprises me.

“I never was a wallflower.”

“Yes, it was more said with my brother in mind. If he could put you in a gilded cage and keep you only for himself, he’d do it in a heartbeat.”

I laugh because she’s right.

“Let me check. He’s on the phone. One second.”

Chloe’s name falls from his lips, but her name lost its heavy weight on my heart. Maybe because of his confession or I’m confident enough in our love, but there’s no need to be afraid anymore. He chose me as I chose him, and it’s all that matters. Trust, as a wiser mediator, won. I tap him on the shoulder.

“Baby.”

“Chloe, just a second.” The fact he casts her aside the second I call him adds to my confidence.

“What is it, love?”

“Sophia is bored. We thought it would be fun if we just went out two nights in a row.” His eyebrows draw together, and his eyes narrow at me.

“You need your sleep. I don’t know.” I halt in the middle of the street and seek his eyes.

“Let me clarify something. I’m simply being nice by informing you, and it’s only two nights. I kind of need this, and it would be great to spend more time with them. Everything is changing so fast. I just . . .”

I have him the moment his face softens, and he nods in approval.

“Please invite Chloe too. Have her meet us in two hours at our place.” I hold the phone up to speak to Sophia again and say, “Meet at our place in two hours and call Filip too.”

After we hang up, I text Sarah and she replies she’ll meet us at the club. I mentally put my outfit together before he ends his call. I link my arm through his and tip my chin up. His lips curve into a bright smile, his eyes shine with love.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For inviting Chloe. I might just have fallen even more for you. You’re amazing.”

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