Page 91 of Close to My Heart

Sutton looked down, and I felt her pain. I couldn’t believe she’d decided to apologize publicly. It made sense for her platform, but it took guts.

“I went on numerous dates, vetting prospective husbands, and I didn’t like any of them. But then my best friend, Wes, proposed that I marry him, and it was an easy decision.”

Sutton looked away from the camera. “You should know how Wes and I met. We became friends when he introduced himself to me under the slide one day at recess. You see, I wasn’t great at making friends back then. And he was my first one. Over the years, we grew closer. I even went with him to his prom. But I never told him how I really felt about him.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Sutton raised her gaze and looked directly at the camera. “You see, I’ve been in love with Wes Calloway since he asked to be my friend under that slide. It might have been a kid’s love, but it built over the years.” Sutton shook her head. “Then we got married, and things became real quickly. Nothing about our marriage was fake. We were in a relationship whether we wanted to admit it or not. And my deepest regret is not telling him how I felt when we were together. I’m not sure he’ll listen to this now. But I had to tell everyone the truth. I’ve always loved Wes. I want a future with him if he’ll have me. And now because Wes doesn’t do social media, I can’t be assured he’ll see this, so I have to find him and tell him myself.” Her eyes filled with tears.

Sutton went on for a few more seconds about not wanting to betray her followers, but that she understood if they unfollowed her.

But I couldn’t get past what she’d said— Sutton loved me? And she always had.

Jameson clicked Stop on the video so that Sutton’s face still filled the screen. “What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t even know what to think.” Sutton just said everything I wanted to hear, but she’d done it online. She hadn’t told me herself.

“Your wife just declared her love to you in the most public way possible,” Jameson said.

Was it selfish to want her to say it again but this time in person?

The slider to the basement opened, and Sutton walked out. “I hoped I’d find you here. Did you see—” Sutton paused when she saw herself on the big screen.

I ground my teeth. “Jameson just played it.”

She crossed the room and stood in front of me. “Everything I said in that video was the truth. I love you, Wes. I wanted our marriage to be real, and I think it was. We were just too stubborn to admit to ourselves or anyone else.”

I was barely conscious of my brothers grabbing the platter of burgers and taking it inside. I hoped they’d make themselves scarce. “You love me?”

“I do. But there’s just one problem.”

She moved closer but didn’t touch me. “I don’t know how you feel.”

“If you have to ask—” I bit out.

“I need to hear the words, Wes.”

That had always been our problem. Neither one of us was willing to say our feelings out loud. We were afraid of the consequences, but Sutton had already told me and the rest of the world.

I cupped her cheek. “I love you, Sutton. I have since the day I met you under that slide.”

Her eyes shined with unshed tears.

I stepped forward so that we were touching. “I love you too. And you’re right; our marriage was real in every way that counts.”

Her hands wrapped around my neck as my lips lowered to hers. It was like coming home again. I never wanted to be without Sutton. She was everything to me.

She pulled back slightly. “Can you show me how much you love me?”

I grabbed her hand and towed her inside where the kitchen was empty. “If anyone’s here, get out. I’m showing my wife how much I love her.”

I heard the front door slam, and Sutton giggled.

With a growl, I lifted her so that her legs wrapped around my hip. It wasn’t bridal-style this time, but it was fitting. I couldn’t get enough of this woman. I carried her up the stairs and to my bedroom where I carefully lowered her to the comforter.

Sutton was in our bed, spread out for me to devour.

I pulled my shirt over my head. “Let’s not spend another night apart.”

---