Page 94 of Without You, Scotch and Sammy 2

My eyes begin to itch. It’s like I’m finally reuniting with my friend from so long ago. “Do you believe me?”

“I believe everything you’ve ever said.”

“What about the abortion thing?”

He nods softly. “I believe you. I’m sorry I ever doubted you. I shouldn’t have. I knew you better than that, and I knew you loved him. I feel like I’ve literally wasted half my life hating someone for all the wrong reasons.”

I nod softly and turn away to discretely wipe my eyes. “Thanks for saying that.”

Marc remains shy, but he smiles softly. “Can we hug it out? It’s been too damn long, Soda. And all the guys got to hug you already, but not me.”

“It’s because you were being a jerk.”

He laughs, but he pulls me into his chest. “I know. It’s a gift.” He drops a long, sweet kiss on the crown of my head, and we both sigh.

“I always thought of you as my brother, Marc.”

His voice cracks. “I know. I’m sorry.” He steps back after a long, tender hug, then he looks back to Meg and Lily and his lips turn up into a goofy smile. “So that makes this beauty my niece, right? Would you mind introducing us?”

I swallow down my nerves, but I nod. Meg steps up to us slowly, and taking Lily from her arms, I press her to Marc’s chest. “Uncle Marc, this is Lily. Lily, this is your grumpy Uncle Marc. He’s a jerk, but he’ll be loyal to you for the rest of your life.”

Marc watches me with a soft smile, then looks at the bench and asks, “Can I sit?”

I nod, and moving so slowly you’d think he’s holding a live grenade, he sits down and his nose comes down to touch hers. “You’re a pretty baby, huh?”

I sit down next to him as Meg wanders silently down the wide hall, and I sit and listen for several minutes as Marc catches Lily up on who he is, and how he’ll never let her hurt. It takes about three minutes for me to fall in love with Marc all over again.

He looks up at me as Lil smiles and coos. “I don’t wanna tarnish this with depressing shit, but I want you to know I sure missed you, Soda. I wish things worked out different.”

I shrug and lean against him. “Life sucks sometimes. Are you dating anyone, Marc? Who’s your special lady?”

“Ha! Actually, I came here today to ask you to marry me.”

I choke on my spit as laughter rolls through my belly. “Wow. Talk about change of mind.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, well, I felt bad about… everything. I wanted to make up for it.”

“Aww. A pity proposal. Exactly what every girl wants.”

He laughs. “The sentiment is there, anyway. I’d marry you if you wanna. We’d never sleep in the same bed, because I’m scared Scotch might actually hack me up as soon as I closed my eyes. But I could build you a house; something pretty and grand. Anything you wanted. Let me know when you’re ready to move back home and I’ll start.”

I lift my brow. “Back home?”

“Don’t pretend like this is your home. We all know where it is.”

I scoff. “I’m not going back, and as my future husband, I’m going to demand you move here.”

He smirks. “I don’t think my brother would like that, so I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Sorry. But I bet he has a spare bed.”

I groan. “You said you weren’t gonna make this depressing. You’re funking up this whole place.”

He lets out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry.”

“I just don’t wanna live in the past anymore. It hurts.”

He nods. “I get it. I won’t bring him up again.”

“Thank you--”

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