Page 24 of Dare to Need

“Okay, babe.” I nodded as I blinked against the tears that were burning the back of my eyes. Remembering all the ways he made me feel better without adding to the pressure I was already under, an idea sparked within me.

“I know you probably have a lot to do this morning,” I glanced toward his laptop, “but I think it would be a good idea to take a walk outside. Maybe show me around Central Park. Get some fresh air, get your mind off all of this. Just for a little while. What do you say?”

A pang of relief shot through my chest as the slightest tug of his lips pulled upward. It was almost imperceptible and it vanished as quickly as it came. But it was something. A sign that the man I loved was still in there somewhere and there was hope that he would find a way out of this hole.

“Okay.” He placed the paper cup on the table. “Yeah, I think that could be good.”

My heart thudded hard against my chest as I clung to this thread of hope, tight enough for the both of us.

Tossing the uneaten bagels in the trash, I grabbed my crossover and waited by the door while Garth got dressed.

Donning my favorite pair of his dark wash jeans and a white v-neck, my breath hitched as he stopped right in front of me. Garth stepped into my space and all the breath in my lungs left me as the man I loved took my face in his hands. Tilting my head back, he planted the first kiss on my lips since he got the news about his father. So sweet and gentle, it nearly brought me to my knees. I didn’t realize until that moment how badly I’d needed his touch.

A whimper left me as he pulled back, rubbing his thumbs along my lower cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re here, Eva. I couldn’t do this without you.”

There was just a hint of brightness back in his hazel eyes and I relished in it. “I’ll always be here for you. I hope you know that.”

Pulling me into his arms, he planted another kiss on the top of my head. “I do,” he whispered against my hair.

The air was thick with moisture as we strolled through the winding paths of Central Park. My skin was slick with perspiration from the sun that was beating down on us. But I didn’t care because I had my man by my side and for the first time in days, he had a slight smile on his face as we stopped at a bench and took in the sight before us.

Lush green grass sprouted up in the large field where gatherings of people were sprinkled throughout. Some were lounging out on beach towels, bright bathing suits covering their tan bodies. While others were snacking on fruits and eating sandwiches from their picnic baskets. Far across the field, there was a group of men and women alike playing an intense game of frisbee.

It reminded me of how much I’d missed running in just the past few days. I made a valiant effort to run almost every day. Now that I thought about it, my body ached to release some of the tension I was holding in. Maybe I’d try to get a run in the next time Garth visited his father without me.

For now, I was happy to be outside. The harsh sun reminding me of home.

“So this will be my first dirty-water hotdog in my entire life. I hope it lives up to its hype.” I raised the hotdog Garth bought me from one of the stands. “Cheers!” I said as I rammed the end of my hotdog into his.

He managed a smile for me that warmed my heart. I’d hoped that by eating one of the things he bragged so much about from his time in New York that it would get him to finally eat something as well because the bagel had turned out to be an epic fail.

As I took a bite, he did the same and it made me relax a little more. We were finally getting somewhere.

“Mmm. Thisisgood,” I said between bites.

“I tried to tell you that.” Garth chuckled and the sound was a little haggard as though it had been years since he’d laughed. “I’m glad you like it.”

We ate the rest of our hotdogs in peaceful silence. A much-needed breeze ruffled the strands of my hair before I tied them back in a ponytail at the base of my neck.

“I can’t believe this is going to be my home in just a few short months.”

A muscle ticked in Garth’s jaw as he clamped his jaw shut.

“What is it?” I asked.

Garth blew out a breath. “I just wish I could have shown you the city under better circumstances. This isn’t how I wanted to introduce you to New York.”

“Babe,”—I shifted on the bench, angling my body toward his—“I know that neither one of us want your dad to be sick, so you don’t need to carry that extra weight on your shoulders. I’m just happy to be with you during this time. I…I couldn’t imagine going through what you must be feeling right now. I want to help in any way I can. So maybe I can start off by letting you know thatIam fine. New York will be the same city when we move here in August and you can show me all the glory of it when your dad is better. Okay?”

I could feel the hesitation from him. That he didn’t quite believe what I was saying, that somehow the world was out to get him and his father’s illness was just the tip of the iceberg.

But something must have changed within him because he pulled me under his arm and kissed my temple. Part of me wondered if he was putting on a show for me, not wanting me to see the pieces of him that I knew were hurting. But I hoped—even more—that his gesture was of truth and he really was trying to work through everything he was feeling.

I guessed only time would tell. So I wrapped my arms around him, nestling against his chest, soaking up the moment.

“Tell me more about your internship.”

If he was looking for a distraction, that was definitely something I could give him.

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