Page 64 of Agony of Our Regret

I held up a finger. “They were worried. Letting them see for themselves that the baby and I are healthy was the best way to dispel that.”

Luca cocked a brow. “So, the space thing is working out well.”

I rolled my eyes.

“And that bothers you?”

In theory, yes. They should have listened and respected my request.

But in reality, I missed them like crazy and didn’t want to waste more time apart when they were finally here.

Luca’s lips slowly lifted into a wicked smile. “You want to punish them.”

“What?” I crossed my arms and stepped back. “No, I don’t.”

Gavin let out a bark of a laugh. “Holy crap, man. You’re right.”

“Nah uh,” I eloquently protested.

“Yes huh!” Gavin pointed at me. “It might not have been intentional, at least not initially, but deep down, you want to make them suffer. Drag it out so they feel a fraction of what you did when they stayed away.”

“That’s not true,” I protested. “They’ve apologized. I forgave them.”

“You think you have,” Luca joined in with a smile. “They’re back, and at least Noah and Sky have told you they’re staying. But you won’t let them into your life until they’ve sweat it out. You’re making them work for it.”

“I don’t mean to,” I admitted, as I walked to the armchair and sat.

“Neither of us is saying they don’t deserve it.” Gavin ate the last bite of his pastry. “But you totally are.”

“It’s okay, love,” Luca agreed. “They should have to prove themselves after everything they put you through. It would be unhealthy for you to let them back in without making sure of their intentions. They say they’re here for good, but actions speak louder and all that. Let Noah take you out. Let him work for you again.”

Ididlike the sound of that. I was keeping Vince at a distance until he put in the work on himself. So why shouldn’t Noah and Sky have to do the same to varying degrees?

“Yeah, make them woo you. Make them atone for their wrongdoings. Make them make you fall in love again.”

Huh. Gavin had a great point, except for one thing. “I never stopped loving them.”

“Hush.” He smirked. “They don’t need to know that. Plus, it's one thing to love someone, especially after everything we’ve all been through together. It’s another thing to beinlove with them, especially after everything we’ve all been through together.”

Luca reached over and patted his shoulder. “That was powerful.”

Gavin grinned at him. “Thank you.”

I shook my head. Those two were too much sometimes.

But he was right.

They should make me fall in love with them all over again. Not that it would be hard.

Seeing them after all this time was basically enough.

“So, did you tell him yes?” Gavin asked, and I remembered why I came out here in the first place.

“I wanted to make sure you guys didn’t have something planned first.”

They shared a look.

“Should we have?” Luca stretched each word.

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