Page 26 of Momcom Vacation

She scrambles to the back of the boat and assesses the motor. “I’m not sure we can. The hull is on the sandbar, and it’s so shallow over here.”

“What if I hop out and push it?”

Hands on her hips, she huffs at me. “While I know you’re very strong”—she says those two words with a little more sarcasm than I’d like—“you’re not moving a fifty-foot sailboat.

Look.” She shuffles closer, pointing. “We didn’t hit rock. The boat is fine. Once the tide comes in, we can get out of here.”

“Should we call the Coast Guard?”

“And tell Beckett we accidentally beached his million-dollar sailboat while fucking out our sexual frustration?”

I bark out a laugh. She’s got me there. “High tide it is. Want some more prosecco?”

We’ve gotat least another two hours to kill, and while I’d love to bend her over the helm, my refractory period isn’t what it used to be.

Though she perked up earlier, she’s back to looking sad and lost as she sits in a chair with a towel draped over her shoulders and scans the horizon.

My gut twists painfully. I need to fix this, to make things better.

Time to man the fuck up.

“Princess.” I sit on the floor in front of her and cup her face. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on in that brilliant mind of yours.”

“I’m sorry,” she blurts out. “I think I broke us.”

Holding my breath, I gather her hands and bring them to my chest. “You haven’t broken anything.”

For a moment, her eyes dart back and forth between mine, then she bursts into tears.

Oh, god. Now I’ve made it worse.

“I’m so bad at this. Letting someone into my life. Making room for you and our relationship. Tell me the truth: have I shut you out too much? Am I too old? Are you not attracted to me?”

Not attracted to her? That’s the most ridiculous thing she’s ever said, and Delia regularly threatens bodily harm, so that’s saying something. A laugh rumbles out of me, followed by another, and soon I’m laughing so hard it turns into a coughing fit. Fuck, I’m getting old.

“Princess.” I cough out the word, then clear my throat. “I just fucked you so hard we ripped the steel anchor from of the ocean floor. I’m more than attracted to you. I’m obsessed with you.”

Eyes misty, she frowns in confusion. “Really?”

I kiss one hand, then the other, and give them another squeeze. “Yes. I’m sorry if I ever made you doubt that. Fuck.I adore you, mind, body, and soul, Delia. You are my favorite person.”

Though the tears still roll down her cheeks, a small smile pulls at the corner of her lips.

“I’m so relieved.” She sniffles. “I want to do better.” The sniffles turn into a sob. “You deserve better. But I don’t know how to be in a relationship. How to let myself depend on you.”

My heart cracks in two. That’s my Delia. Always holding herself to impossible standards.

“There is nothing I won’t give you. Let’s try this. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on in that brilliant and complicated brain of yours. For now, that’s a good place to start. I will be here, every day, by your side, helping you kick life’s ass. But please, please, talk to me. Let me in.”

Nodding, she angles in and kisses me.

“I’m scared,” she admits, putting her arms around my neck. “I love you so much it terrifies me. Before I met you, I was in control. There was no emotional risk.”

Each honest word stitches my heart back together. My fierce little warrior princess is opening up. “I love you too.”

“I’m not wired for this.” She hiccups. “To live with the fear of losing you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” I clutch her to my chest and stroke her hair. “It’s okay to be scared. I’m terrified. But we’re in this together. You and the twins are my family, and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

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