Page 69 of Closing the Distance

Like I’m the most precious gift he’s ever been given.

In our hospital room, I hold my daughter—Lana Rose Russell—in my arms, unable to look away from her sweet face. Her almond-shaped eyes match Ty’s, and her nose is a smaller version of mine.

It’s so bizarre to see my features mirrored on someone else’s face. I trace a finger over her soft cheek, mesmerized as she breathes in and out slowly, her eyes closed in sleep, her tiny little fingers curled into fists and nuzzled near her face.

She’s perfect.

I know no one is perfect, but she is. I didn’t know it was possible to feel this much love so instantaneously. I feel so full it’s like I could burst. Tears fill my eyes and spill over every so often, but for the first time they aren’t from sadness or heartache. They’re from pure gratitude, pure joy that this shining little light is in my arms.

“My little Peanut,” I whisper softly. “Mommy loves you so much.”

I glance over to where Ty fell asleep on the couch that converts to a small bed they had in the room and find him awake, watching me. He’s on his back with one arm under his head while the other rests on his stomach, his head turned in our direction, and something fierce and protective, yet soft in his gaze.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” I say softly, also not wanting to wake up Lana.

He shakes his head, his voice rough and low when he speaks. “You didn’t.”

“How long have you been up?”

The corner of his mouth tilts up. “A while.”

Something heavy and charged passes between us. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met,” he says with such sincerity, it adds another crack to my armor.

I break our stare to look down at our daughter. “I’m sure that’s not true. I’ve met your mom.”

“She’s got nothing on you.” He doesn’t even miss a beat.

My gaze shoots to his, my mouth slightly parted. His mom is incredible, loving, devoted. She’s everything I always wished for growing up. She’s how I remember my mom being—what few memories I have of her.

I’m not even close to her level, and yet looking in his eyes, there’s such devotion and honesty there. He believes those words with everything inside him.

“Ty…”

He sits up, putting his elbows on his knees, but his gaze still determinedly locked on mine. “I know I fucked things up. I know I didn’t protect you when I should’ve, but I’ll do better, Lexi. Please don’t shut me out. I’m in this 150%.” He stands and walks over to me, and my breaths grow shallow, but I can’t look away even if I wanted to.

“You are the only woman for me. The love of my life. The mother of my child and any future children I’ll have. You’re it. If you cut me out, I’ll never love anyone the way I love you.”

He sits on the edge of the bed, facing me, and cups my cheeks in his hands, his brown eyes pleading with me. “I will never stop fighting for you. Never stop protecting you. Never stop cherishing you for the precious gift you are. I didn’t even know I was living in the dark until you brought your light into my life. I can’t lose you. So please tell me what I can do to fix this. Because I’m dying, Lexi. I’m dying every day that you shut me out.”

Tears well up in my eyes and cascade down. “I’m not enough for you.”

He grips my face, but not so hard it hurts. “You’re more thanenough for me. If anyone’s not good enough in this relationship, it’s me. I didn’t protect you when I should’ve.”

I shake my head. “Ty?—”

“You’re lovable,” he says, cutting off whatever words I was going to say. “You’re the most important person in my world and the love of my life. You’re so lovable, I never stood a chance of notloving you.”

“But what if?—”

He cuts me off again with his forehead against mine. “No ifs, Lex. Take the leap with me. Hold my hand and never let me go. Choose me. Choose to love me, to fight with me, to try with me, to have a life with me. That’s what love is. It’s choosing your person every day. Through good and bad. I choose you. Now. Tomorrow. Always. Choose me.”

I stare at this man, baring his heart and soul for me, and every ounce of my armor falls, disintegrating in thin air as tears—this time of relief—pour out of me. I nod my head. “I choose you,” I choke out over my emotion.

He doesn’t let me get another word out. His lips are on mine in a desperate kiss, both of us needing this connection after so long without it.

When we finally pull away for air, I look down at our still-sleeping daughter and then back up into his eyes, and for the first time in weeks I feel whole.

FORTY

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