Page 59 of Lie to Me

My mind swirls as panic like I’ve never felt before flits through me.

Am I just a backup? The rebound? Is it technically a rebound when I had him first?

He must see me spiraling because he steps in front of me and takes hold of my shoulders.

“Look closer, baby,” he whispers, and I do. I take him in, noting how he’s now completely naked. He must have finished undressing while I was stuck in my head. My eyes roam up his body until I get to his chest and I finally see the words written on his heart. My breath stutters, making me choke on air.

Little warrior.

My nickname.

My nickname, written on his heart. Accompanied by a dahlia with a dagger through it, just like the necklace he bought me.

“Why?” I hear myself whispering.

He chuckles. “You’ve always owned me, Sloane. I may have called you mine just now in the bedroom, but I’m yours just as much. I always have been, and I always will be.” He taps the tattoo. “This was just one way of keeping you close to me. A way to remind myself that I did what I had to do for you. For your safety and your wellbeing. It feels like everything I’ve ever done has been for you. You’re my purpose, Sloane. No amount of time or distance has ever, or will ever, change that.”

He’s so sincere, so damn genuine that it makes my head spin. I knew going into this that he wanted me in his life again, but seeing the poof of that? Hearing the words he’s telling me? It makes it all feel very fucking real.

And I’m honestly not sure I’m ready for that.

Of course, Marco can read the hesitation written all over my face, because he gives me a grim smile as he starts to wash my body.

“Enough talk for tonight. There are no expectations here, Sloane. I don’t think that just because we’ve shared what we have tonight that we’re suddenly back together. I know that ifwe ever do get to that point, that it’ll take a lot of work on both our parts. Tonight, we can just enjoy each other and worry about everything else tomorrow, okay?”

Tomorrow.

I can do that.

“Tomorrow,” I whisper my agreement, and he smiles so fucking sweetly at me that it makes my stomach flip.

Marco cleans us both before turning the shower off. He wraps a towel around me and gives me a nod before wrapping a towel around his own waist and leaving the bathroom, leaving me to wonder what the hell happens next. He said one night, so does that mean he wants me to stay? Or are we done for the night? Does he want me to leave?

Like he can read my thoughts, he calls out, “Hurry your ass up, Sloane. I’m not done with you yet.”

I take a deep breath and chance a look in the mirror. A stranger stares back at me, or maybe an old friend? I look like a mixture of the old and the new me. I haven’t had that lightness in my eyes in years, but I’m not naïve enough to think I can get the old me back.

I don’t think I’d want that, anyways.

To be truly happy would mean letting go of the past.

To let go of the past would be to make peace with the death of my baby.

That’s not something I’ll ever be able to do.

I manage to shake myself out of my stupor and put on a smile before heading back out into the bedroom.

“You good?” Marco asks from where he lays on the bed in only a pair of briefs, his hands resting behind his head. I nod and smile at him, which seems to put him at ease before he pats the bed next to him.

“We’ll deal with everything else tomorrow.”

I guess that means I’m staying the night.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Marco

Present

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