Page 27 of Until We Weren't

“Oh, really,” Faith said with a smile. “What about that Green Thumb place? I’ve heard they’re not so bad.”

“So all this time, you think I destroyed your project to win a job.” Destiny shook her head. “Incredible,” she muttered.

“It says something that neither one of us has had a relationship in all this time. I broke our hearts, Destiny,” Faith said. “I can put them back together again.”

“My heart is broken all over again,” Destiny said, sounding exhausted. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

“Now you know what happened and why I did what I did,” Faith said. “Please give me the chance to show you how much I still love you.”

Destiny narrowed her gaze and stared at Faith. “How can you still love me? Every time I’ve seen you since that fucked up day you’ve been an asshole to me.”

“At first I was angry and hurt,” Faith said. “Then I was so sad and lonely, all I knew to do was work.”

“Yeah, I know how that feels,” Destiny said. “Can I see your phone again?”

Destiny played the video again. She tried to see it from Faith’s perspective. For so long Faith had built a wall around her heart and Destiny had slowly chipped it away until Faith let her in. She remembered one of the first times Faith told her she loved her. Destiny knew that was hard for her and she wasn’t sure she believed her.

Faith smiled. “I love you, Destiny.”

She smiled and wanted to believe it was true.

“I’m the one with trust issues,” Faith continued. “But not with you. I love you and I’ll keep saying it until you believe me.”

“I believe you, babe,” Destiny said.

“I think I need to do more than say it,” Faith said, leaning in until her lips almost touched Destiny’s. “I want you to feel it.”

Faith scarcely nibbled Destiny’s bottom lip, sending a rush of electricity through her body.

Destiny shivered, remembering the heat of that kiss. She handed the phone back to Faith. “I understand why you thought that was me. I know you don’t like confrontation, but this was our life. You walked away from us so easily.”

“Is that how it looked to you?” Faith asked with shock in her voice. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done!”

Destiny leaned back against the wall and sighed. “I’m so tired.”

“Lean on me, Des,” Faith said, sitting back next to her.

“Mmm,” Destiny murmured. “You have no idea how much I’d like to, but…”

“I’ll earn your trust again,” Faith said softly.

What a crazy twist to the day, Destiny thought. For months, actually years, she had tried to be the person Faith could count on and trust. Look at them now. She had to admit Faith sounded more determined than she’d ever heard her.

They had shared a connection from the beginning that Destiny couldn’t explain. She’d never felt it with anyone else. Destiny knew she had to go slow with Faith, but she felt her heart opening as they fell in love.

Tonight, she heard Faith’s words, but she also felt the strength and conviction behind them. She’d never heard Faith sound quite so strong and brave. That’s what was different tonight. Faith was brave. Where did that come from and why did it take so long?

Destiny felt her head nod as the exhaustion of it all crept up on her. She was trying to think through it all, but her last thought before giving in to sleep was of Faith. I still love you, too, but…

Destiny woke to the sound of a dog growling. She opened her eyes and realized her head was on Faith’s shoulder.

Just then Faith moved and yawned. “It’s getting light outside,” she said.

Destiny rose to her feet and looked out the window. The dogs were still there, but she didn’t see any sign of the workers.

“Let’s hope they start work early around here,” Destiny said.

“We fell asleep.”

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