Page 8 of Ronny

I’m glad that they took the leap to be together. Maci took care of me and protected me as much as she could in the cult, so I already saw her as a maternal figure, and she stepped into the role easily when she got together with my dad.

“You didn’t have to do this, Ronny,” I tell him, feeling kind of guilty that he spent that much money on me all at once.

He gives me a look. “Darlin’, take the damn vehicle.” He closes my fingers around the keys, and I sigh, giving in.

That doesn’t stop the tears because it’s so sweet that he thought of me. “One last thing.” He reaches into his pocket and hands me a black Amex credit card. “You will buy whatever you want, you don’t need to work when you have enough shit with school to deal with.”

I start to argue with him because this is insane. Did he hit his head? This is not a normal thing you do—you give someone, like, a mug or something. Not a car.

Maci is just cracking up on the porch, my guess is it’s because of the look on my face, but it seems as if everyone is in on the secret but me.

That day since Ronny basically claimed me as his on the very first day of school, my father has been on his side, though he should be on his daughter’s. Right? But that is not the case at all.

I do secretly love the fact that they get along so well, it makes my heart happy to see my two favorite men in my life be friends.

“Let’s go take it on a short spin since you have extra time now.” He smirks and I run to Maci to hand her my beautiful flowers, and she carries them inside of us, waving at me.

My hands are unsteady, what if I make a fool of myself while driving? Because I’m nervous.

He opens the driver’s side door for me and I climb inside, beaming at the sight of the beautiful interior. I run my hands along the steering wheel in disbelief that this is actually mine.

I look at Ronny, who is still standing there watching me admire it. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”

I just don’t feel like I deserve it, because what have I done to contribute to whatever this is? I can’t have sex—well, I can but I’m just now getting comfortable with my body again.

My first time was against my will. Most people lose their virginities to their high school sweethearts or someone they care about.

But I didn’t get that option.

I understand why he is giving me such slack and giving me a choice, because the things that happened to me were out of my control.

He is giving me time to learn to let go of the need to control everything, to trust him to have control.

I really don’t deserve this man.

“What’s the matter?” he asks me, putting his hand on my knee and pulling me from my depressing thoughts.

I swallow hard. What if he realizes that I’m not worth all of this trouble? His eyes are so beautiful, the blue and green swirls mesmerizing. “I just don’t think I’m worth all of this trouble.”

His eyes widen in shock, and he cups my face between his hands. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

I shrug, my throat thick. “You do such amazing things for me, what have I done for you?”

He needs someone who can be as grand as he is, to do these special things for. He rests his forehead against mine. “You gave me you, that is worth a hundred times more than this thing.”

My lip trembles at his sweet words. “You wreck me to my core.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that you are worth the wait. To have one day with you whole and happy is worth the wait a hundred times over.”

I smile, happy at hearing this. “I’m healing.” I lift my hand, running it across his cheek, to the back of his neck. “You are giving me the time to be whole for you.”

He kisses my cheek, not my lips the way I want, but I will take what I can from him. “You are beautiful as you are.”

I giggle, my cheeks burning, and he chuckles with me. “One day, we will have it all.” He lifts my left hand, kissing my ring finger. “I will make you my ole lady, my wife, and the mother of our horde of kids.”

My body feels like it’s floating with the image he painted me. “That’s all I want. Spending my life with you is more than I can hope for.”

He closes his eyes, sighing. “It will happen.”

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