Page 59 of Thanks for Coming Along

Her grip on his ankle tightened, then released, as if she was trying to hold on but couldn't. "As a kid, I didn’t know which was worse—when he ignored me completely or when he screamed at me."

She paused, swallowing hard, her words laced with bitterness. "At one point, I thought getting yelled at was better. At least he noticed me when he was yelling. But it got so bad that I just started doing anything I could to stay out of his way. It was like being a prisoner in my own home.”

Eden took a slow, shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was like this twisted thing, having everything—money, the nice apartment, all of that—but nothing else. My dad was obsessed with appearances. He’s a CEO of a big hedge fund. My mom came over from Albania and was a successful print model. They’d throw these fancy parties at the apartment, and my dad would show her off like she was some kind of trophy. I was expected to play along too, always smiling, acting perfect. But if I messed up, even once? Once the people left, he’d scream at me again."

Her voice broke at the end, and Ronan could feel the weight of her pain in every word. It was like it was cutting right through him.

"I didn’t even realize my family wasn’t normal until I started grade school," Eden said, her voice quiet. "When I met Ingrid in 7th grade, we became fast friends and I would stay at her place for days. Her house became my safe space. Her parents pretty much adopted me when I was fourteen. Her dad was the one who got me my first guitar. He had this old one from his teenage years that he gave it to me. I spent hours after school teaching myself how to play. It became my escape, my way of dealing with everything. I started writing music, channeling everything I was feeling into it. That’s how I learned to understand my emotions."

Eden’s voice wavered as she spoke. "When I turned fifteen, my mom passed away. By the time they figured out she was sick, it was already stage four breast cancer, and she was gone within a few months. That’s when everything really went downhill. My dad... he just got angrier, and it started getting dangerous."

Her voice broke slightly, a sharp ache lingering in every word. Ronan could see the pain in her eyes, and it tugged at his heart.

As he listened, Ronan couldn't help but be in awe of her strength. The way she spoke with such raw honesty about everything, yet still carried herself with a quiet resilience—it was a strength he couldn’t even fully comprehend. Despite everything she had been through, Eden had found a way to keep moving forward, to keep searching for light in the darkest of places. It was incredible, really.

"Ingrid's dad stepped in when things got really bad," Eden said, her voice a little quieter now. "He basically threatened to expose my dad's behavior if he didn’t let me leave. And, of course, my dad couldn’t risk his reputation, so he let me go." Eden paused for a moment, taking a shaky breath. "I moved in with Ingrid and her family when I was sixteen, and by the next year, I was emancipated. I legally changed my last name. Percy is actually my middle name, but I couldn’t keep my dad’s last name anymore. It held too many bad memories. I haven’t heard from him since."

A slight shiver passed through her, whether from the cold or the nerves, it was hard to tell.

"The two people who were supposed to love me... just didn’t. And my dad still doesn’t," Eden continued, her voice tight with emotion. "He never even tried to reach out. I just can't help but wonder if it’s me. Maybe there's something wrong with me."

She fidgeted with the hem of her sweatshirt, twisting it in her hands. "There's this voice in the back of my head, always telling me, ‘Maybe you’re just not enough.’ First my parents, then Liam... I’ve lost so many friends. It feels like it’s not normal."

Her voice wavered as she spoke, and by the end, it was barely above a whisper. Tears slipped down her cheeks, unspoken pain and years of bottled-up emotions escaping all at once.

His breath caught in his throat, and he felt a burning behind his eyes. Carefully, he leaned his camera against the roof shingles, propping it against the gutter. He closed the distance between them, his body inching closer to hers, and pulled her in his arms. She nestled her head into his chest while he gently rubbed her back.

"I am so sorry about what you have been through. There are so many people that love you in this world," he whispered. His hand moved tenderly to the back of her head, his fingers brushing through her hair gently. A lump formed in his throat, and his own eyes welled up with tears he fought to contain. He was trying to hold himself together for Eden's sake.

"Ingrid loves you, Quentin loves you. Your fans love you. I've seen it firsthand," he added, recalling the night he had set up his camera for her concert. "Even behind the scenes, I overheard people in the crowd gushing about you. Every one of your songs is a piece of your soul bared to your audience. Your music and presence are more than entertainment; it's a lifeline for some. You've touched so many lives with your music." Ronan knew it was true. He had seen it in the way her lyrics resonated with people. And as he spoke those words, he couldn't help but acknowledge that she had touched his life too, in ways he was only beginning to understand.

"I..."I love you.The words almost slipped from his lips like a sigh, but Ronan caught himself just in time. He couldn't say it, not yet. He took a sharp, quiet inhale through his nose, willing himself to hold back. Eden's arms wrapped around his torso, and he felt her warm tears soak into his shirt. He needed her to understand, to see the depth of his feelings, even if he couldn't voice them just yet.

"Look at me," he whispered, his voice soft and tender. Her gaze lifted to meet him, and he saw a kaleidoscope of emotions in those eyes. Her eyes were rimmed red, and her cheeks flushed with emotion.

"You are not unlovable, Eden," Ronan said with unwavering conviction, his voice filled with sincerity. His hands trembled slightly as he reached up to gently cup her tear-streaked face, his touch gentle yet firm.

"You are the most beautiful person I have ever met, inside and out. There's a light within you that shines through, that illuminates every person you meet." His thumbs brushed away her tears. "I'll dedicate every single moment, every heartbeat, to prove it to you. I don't care how long it takes."

Eden pulled back slightly, her eyes still filled with tears. Ronan's heart ached at the sight of the vulnerability in her gaze, at the squint of doubt that seemed to be slowly giving way to something else.

"You're incredible, you know that?" Ronan whispered, his voice full of admiration. He leaned in a little closer, his breath mingling with hers in the cool night air. "You've been through so much, but you still find a way to keep your heart open." He gently wiped away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks. "Most people would shut everyone out after everything you've been through, but not you. Even after all the people who were supposed to protect you, hurt you."

Ronan's gaze remained fixed on Eden as he spoke, his eyes reflecting the depth of his emotions. He watched as a soft sniffle escaped her, her eyes glistening with tears.

"The thing is, I don't let people in," Eden confessed, her voice soft yet resolute. Her gaze remained fixed on Ronan. "Ronan, you're the only person I've allowed into my life like this."

Her hands found their way to his thigh, her touch gentle, and Ronan felt a rush of warmth flood his chest. "I haven't told anyone about my parents," Eden continued her voice barely above a whisper. "The only people who know are Ingrid and her family."

As their eyes met in the dim moonlight, Ronan felt this rush of gratitude wash over him. He realized the depth of trust Eden had placed in him, entrusting him with her most guarded secrets.

"I'm honestly honored, really," Ronan said, his voice warm. "These past few weeks have been amazing. I feel like I could spend every second with you and still want more." His tone shifted, lightening a bit with a playful edge. "I could kiss my boss for landing me this project."

Eden slowly moved her right hand from his thigh to the back of his neck. Her touch was feather-light, barely grazing his skin. Ronan's breath caught in his throat as he felt the soft caress of her fingers, and his gaze instinctively dropped to her, catching the subtle flicker of her eyes to his lips.

"Maybe just kiss me instead," Eden whispered, her breath warm against his lips. She brought his head down with a soft tug, closing the distance between them. As their lips softly met, the universe itself seemed to hold its breath, and the rest of the world dissolved into a distant hum.

Ronan's heart thundered within his chest, its rhythm echoing in his ears as he melted into the kiss. His fingers instinctively became wrapped in the silken threads of her hair, grounding him in the moment.

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