Page 47 of Truths

“Maybe.”

“I also want to tell you that I'm sorry I couldn't be what you needed when we were together. I tried, but I guess I wasn't doing a very good job. You deserved better.”

Dani's words play in his mind.She wants to make you so happy that she locks away parts of herself that she doesn't think you'll like.“I didn't mean it, Kara. I only said that to hurt you, but it's not true, and it wasn't fair.”

“I deserved it,” she says, a sob escaping. “I know you can't forgive me, but can you at least not hate me? Knowing you hate me has been the hardest part about all of this.”

Standing up, Chance places his hands on her shoulders. “Dani said a couple of things to me tonight. That's why I'm here.”

“W-what did she say?”

“She said you lock away parts of yourself you don't think I'll like to make me happy. Is that true?”

The way her chin quivers as she avoids looking at him tells Chance everything he needs to know. “I don't know if-”

“Kara, did you think I would walk away if you told me something I didn't like?”

“Losing you was always my biggest fear. I held things back, but it's not so black and white.”

“She also said you risked losing me to save her.”

An angry chuckle comes out of her mouth. “But I didn't save her. Lex did.”

“You did save her, Kara. We would've had no idea who was inside if you weren't there. I made sure Dani knew you saved her. Her words really hit home tonight.”

“Just... please don't hate me, Chance. I can figure out how to deal with the rest of the shit that happened, but I don't know if I can live knowing you hate me. If you can't tell me you don't hate me and mean it, can you lie to me? I don't care if it's a lie, I just... it's killing me.”

His hands cup her face and force her to look at him as she sobs. “I don't hate you. I never did, and I never will. Kara, I could have prevented everything that went wrong between us, but I didn't want to believe it. I'm the failure, Kara. I failed you, and I failed Dani.”

“No, you're not a failure!”

He swallows past the lump in his throat. “I am. I have to accept that to move on and be better. Can you ever forgive me?”

“There's nothing to forgive.”

The way this woman loves him unconditionally makes it hurt so much worse. He screwed up, and she doesn't hold it against him. He's the reason she had to do what she did, but she's more concerned that he hates her rather than blaming him for causing it all.

“There is. Don't let me off the hook this time. I don't deserve that much grace. I have a lot to make up for.”

“Not with me,” she says and looks into his eyes. “We all make mistakes. We all do things we think are best in the moment that aren't in the long run. If I could go back, I'd change so many things.”

“I'm so sorry, Kara. So fucking sorry. I want to start over. Can you come back home, please?”

Her arms wrap around his neck as he buries his face in hers. His tears fall into the robe, and she sobs against him, her hands running through his short hair. “I want to come home, Chance.”

“I miss you. I miss you and I love, and I fucking need you.”

Her lips find his, and he needs her. He needs her now, and his hands untie her robe, opening it to bare skin.

“I'm yours,” she mutters against his lips. “Only yours.”

Guiding her to the bed, he lays her down, and he peppers her chest with kisses until he reaches her nipples, sucking on each until she moans and arches her back. “Only mine.”

“Only yours,” she moans.

“Promise me something,” Chance says.

“Anything.”

---