Page 111 of Stay with Me

He’s right. He’s everything I want, the completion to the dreams I’ve been suppressing for over four years. I turn slowly with tears in my eyes.

I have to blink to focus on him. He’s standing there. Rain pouring down and soaking him to the bone. He’s still so gorgeous. Hair plastered to his forehead, covering his eyes. His T-shirt and jeans cling to his skin, but in my mind, he’s still perfect.

The pull toward him is so strong. I have to ask myself if fear is enough to keep me from him. It’s not imagined fear anymore. It has become very real, and this time our child was caught in the middle.

I don’t know if I can meet him halfway on this. Every time I close my eyes, I see those men shooting at us. If not for Reap and Grim, I don’t know if I would be here.

“What do you want from me?” I choke out.

“I want you to tell the truth. I want you to put us out of our misery.” He takes a pause and pounds at his chest. “I’m what you want. The damn universe gave me to you on a platter. The one thing I loved is gone, and I’m on the fucking verge of losing the only thing I love more.”

His words confuse me, but I don’t take the time to analyze them. I’m moments away from falling apart. I wrap an arm around my middle.

“You don’t love me,” I say hoping the lie glues me together.

I know it’s a lie. I’ve read the truth in his eyes. It’s in his voice now.

“Bullshit and you know it.”

I sag my shoulders and drop my head. I’m not going into that restaurant. I’m not walking away from my man. I know it even before I start to slowly walk to him.

I stop before him and lift the umbrella over his head even though he’s soaked through at this point. He reaches for my waist and tugs me forward.

“I love you, Reminisce. I’ve always been in love with you. You were the first thing I thought of when I woke in that hospital bed. I needed to get to you.

“Knowing you were out there living a life without me didn’t feel right. I love you, baby. I can’t lose you.”

“You were on a blind date.” I pout.

He gives a small chuckle. “While texting my brother to find out if you were still single. Jamel asked me to do him the favor. It was a last minute thing. It’s always been you, Rem.”

He lifts a hand to rub his thumb across my bottom lip. I reach for his hand and pull it down to my belly. I release a heavy breath.

“Knight … I … We …”

“Just say you love me, Rem. We can fix everything else. Just say the words.”

“I’m pregnant, and I’m so in love with the father of this child, it’s going to kill me if I can’t get over my fears to be with him.”

There, I said it.

* * *

Knight

I stand still as a statue. That’s not the way I imagined her saying it. I think I’m in a dream for a moment.

I kneel to one knee and place my face in her belly. I cling to her back as reality rocks me. I came so close to losing them both. She was pregnant when her life was in danger.

“Fuck,” I roar.

It all makes sense. This time she has a reason to want to run. Had I known then … my throat is raw with emotion.

She combs her hand through my hair. “Come on, you’re soaked, and I’m starting to get wet.”

My bike forgotten, I lead her around the car and open the passenger side for her to get in. Once the woman I love and our baby are secure inside the car, I get in and drive toward my place.

Reaching for her hand, I link our fingers together and bring them to my lips. She’s pregnant. Suddenly, my decision to walk away from the force isn’t as heavy. It’s like a boy becoming a man and putting up his toys. It was time.

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