Page 140 of That's Too Pucking Bad

“Fuck, I miss you,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “Every day, every fucking second, I miss you.”

Her face softens, just a little. “You hurt me, Zane.”

“I know,” I say, my voice rough. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you let me.”

She shakes her head, but there’s a tiny smile tugging at her lips.

“You love me,” I say, stepping even closer.

She doesn’t deny it.

Instead, she looks up at me, her eyes shining. “Yeah… and?”

I reach for her, tentative, like she might bolt. When she doesn’t, I pull her into my arms, holding her tight.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper into her hair. “For everything.”

Her arms wrap around me, and for the first time in weeks, I feel whole.

I pull away just enough to look at her, still holding her close. My heart’s racing, but it’s different now. It feels right. For the first time in a long time, I’m not just going through the motions.

“You don’t have to keep saying sorry,” Remy whispers, her fingers tracing the edge of my shirt like she’s reassuring herself I’m really here.

“I do,” I say, my voice low. “I hurt you, Remy. I can’t just walk away from that.”

She tilts her head, studying me. “And what now? You think we can just pick up where we left off?”

I chuckle, but it’s more of a nervous exhale than anything else. “I don’t know. But I damn well want to try.”

She bites her lip, glancing down for a second. “It’s not going to be easy, Zane.”

“I know,” I reply, my hand brushing the back of her neck, pulling her just a little closer.

Her eyes flicker up to mine. “And you’re sure? This isn’t just because you saw me and felt guilty?”

“No.” My words come out firm. “I’m not doing this out of guilt. It’s you, Remy. It’s always been you.”

She sighs, looking conflicted, but her shoulders relax, and that’s enough. She finally gives me the smallest of smiles, one that hits me like a fucking punch to the gut.

“God, you’re impossible,” she mutters, but there’s no anger behind it.

“I know,” I reply, grinning like an idiot. “But you love me, so it’s your problem now.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s warmth in her gaze. “You are so full of yourself,” she teases softly.

Before I can stop myself, I lean in, pressing my lips to hers. This time it’s different— there’s no hesitation, no second-guessing. It’s just us, here, in this moment. Her hands curlinto my hair, and I pull her closer, deepening the kiss, letting everything else fade away.

When we finally break apart, she’s breathless, her cheeks flushed.

“I’m not fucking up anything else from here on out,” I say, my voice thick. “I’m not going anywhere if that’s what you want.”

Her eyes search mine, soft but intense. “Then stay,” she whispers.

I smile, nodding.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m not just saying words. I mean it. This time, I’m hers for good.

Epilogue

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