Page 156 of A Temporary Forever

Celeste stares at the now polished and repaired watch, her eyes blinking. She lifts her gaze to me. “I thought I lost it…”

“I wanted to surprise you. I didn’t anticipate the shitty circumstances. I figured it’s important, though.” I take her wrist and clasp the tiny antique watch in place.

“But how?” She sniffles.

“Well, you didn’t wear any of the watches I bought you, but you kept wearing this one, even though it wasn’t working anymore.” I shrug.

She sobs again, wiping her tears while smiling. “It’s my mom’s. I couldn’t afford to repair it. You must have thought I’m crazy wearing it, but I felt stupid admitting it’s value to you.”

I pull her to me. “Who else do you want to be vulnerable with, black swan?” We stand there, frozen in an embrace, the stress evaporating slowly. “You couldn’t leave.”

I don’t even know why I utter the last sentence, other than a desperate need for validation. For some assurance.

“I realized you deserve better than me running away. I realized I’d be leaving pieces of me behind. Vital, irreplaceable pieces of me, that belong to my husband.”

Chapter 42

Caleb

“Ready?” Celeste weaves her fingers through mine.

Looking up at the tall building, I shake my head. “Not really, but I don’t want to postpone this one more minute.”

After the longest night and day yesterday, we slept like the dead, ignoring the rest of the world. I spoke with Mia twice, and I talked to Greta as well.

Dominic made sure the hospital report on Reese got lost somewhere at the police station. Nobody will bother her.

Mia confirmed Reese was awake and doing better, given the circumstances.

She’ll be visiting her mom after school, so we came a bit earlier to have the opportunity to talk.

Holding hands, we take the elevator in silence. Frankly, I can’t not touch Celeste every chance I get.

Funny how life so often gives us the exact opposite of what we’re asking. And it’s the best thing ever. She’s the best thing ever.

In front of Reese’s room, Celeste slips her hand from mine.

I frown. “What’s up?”

“I don’t think I should intrude. Mia is your daughter, and I don’t want to make Reese uncomfortable.”

“Mia is your stepdaughter, and this meeting probably will be all kinds of uncomfortable with or without you. I’d prefer you were there.”

A smile brightens her face, and it hits me in the chest. I don’t understand all the physical reactions I have in her company.

It used to be my cock reacting. Nowadays, my entire body reverberates at the sight of her.

“Okay. Let’s do this.” Celeste squares her shoulders.

I kiss her forehead. Another thing I can’t seem to get enough of. These simple displays of affection. This time, though, I might have done it to give myself courage, to feel her support.

Not feeling ready at all, I push the door open. Reese lies in the bed, her eyes focused on the largewindow. I paid for a private room for her, which Greta accepted only after a heated discussion.

“Reese,” I whisper. My throat is dry, and my voice is raspy, like I’ve just swallowed razors.

She turns her head and meets my eyes. Her skin is translucent, the deep circles under her sunken eyes giving it the only hint of color. Dark and unforgiving.

She sighs and lifts a corner of her lips slightly, but it drops back immediately like the tiny gesture exhausted her.

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