Page 142 of Mistaken Intention

“For now, yes.” The music stops and then immediately starts again, and she sighs. “You’ve got it on repeat.”

“Evidently. It must have been important.” She smiles and leans in to me, her arms coming around my waist, a very different person to the one who looked so doubtful and anxious, just a few minutes ago. “Are you okay?” I ask.

She nods, looking up again. “I didn’t mean to make you scared.”

“It’s okay. I told you, we don’t have to talk now.”

“I understand that, but I just wanna say… I—I never wanted to hurt you, or make you scared, Drew.”

“I know. I said some things earlier which I shouldn’t have done. Blaming you for what happened was childish. It wasn’t your fault.”

“You were so angry.” Her eyes darken, like she’s re-living those awful moments outside the house in Newport.

“I was.”

“Even at the hospital, you said you were still angry.”

“I know. But I’m not angry anymore. Like I said, I need you too much to stay mad at you for very long.”

“You need me?” She gazes into my eyes, like she can’t quite believe me.

“Yes. I think this piece of music proves that.”

“It does?”

“Of course it does. I might not remember it now, but I clearly played it non-stop when I was here, presumably because it reminded me of you,” I say, moving closer, and this time her body molds to mine. “I’ve needed you all my life, Josie.”

“Which one? The one before the accident, or the one after?”

“Both.”

I crush my lips to hers and as she sighs in to me, I know I’m as close to finding myself as I ever need to be.

Chapter Fourteen

Josie

“This won’t take a minute. I didn’t unpack my bag, so I just need to run in and get it.”

I unfasten my seat belt and reach around to open the car door, but Drew grabs me, pulling me back and across the rear seat, into his arms.

“We’re coming inside with you,” he says.

“Why? I just said, there’s no need.” To be honest, now I know we’re going back to Newport – or going ‘home’ as Drew insists on calling it – I just want to get there… to lie in his arms and feel safe again. The fact that we’ve had to call in at my apartment is an inconvenience, but a necessary one, as all my things are here.

“Yes, there is.” He’s adamant, his jaw firm, his eyes fixed on mine.

“I can carry a bag all by myself, you know?”

“I know… but there’ll be more than one.”

“No, there won’t.”

“Yes, there will.” He twists in his seat, pulling me up onto his lap. “You’re not coming to stay this time, Josie.”

“I’m not? But I thought…”

“You’re moving in.” I open my mouth, but he shakes his head and I close it again. “Don’t bother arguing. You know thisis what you want, just as much as I do. We belong together. I think that much is obvious.”

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