Page 138 of Ever With Me

Heshouldwalk away.

It would be better for them both if he left.

. . . wouldn’t it?

Maddie was a dream. A dream he hadn’t let himself think about for a very long time. Someone to love and be loved by.

A dream that would never be realized if he let her go even though he was already half in love with her.

Her smile did painful things to his emotions. Her intelligence and wit challenged him. Her ferocity...her loyalty.

She wasn’t afraid to look him in the eye and tell him the truth—but she knew when to be gentle, too.

A sniffle intruded into his thoughts and he was a goner.

Turning toward her, he found her still facing him. He slid his arm under her, then curled her into his chest. Her tears wet his skin.

He palmed her shoulder, stroking her hair with the other hand. “It’s all right. I’m not leaving, Maddie.”

“I just . . .” Her words dissolved into tears, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “I can’t get her voice out of my head.”

Shit.

He hadn’t paid enough attention to her, either.

You complete and total prick, Brooks.

She needed him. He’d failed to protect her earlier and now he’d failed to offer her safety, too. He kept messing up and she still wanted him, despite that.

“We’re safe here, Maddie. I’m here. Both of us are safe.”

Her hand slid up to his neck and she clung to him, her tears growing stronger.

He knew what she needed to hear. And it terrified him.

“I’m not leaving,” he whispered at last. “I won’t leave you. I promise.”

If only I can work out how to keep that promise, when it doesn’t feel at all achievable.

Fuck.

36

MADDIE

The bedbeside Maddie was cold when she woke up.

Is he gone?

Sitting up with a gasp, Maddie tossed her sheets to the side. Her feet hit the soft rug under the bed, and she’d didn’t bother putting on socks or slippers as she headed out of the room, her heart pounding.

Brooks was in the living room, though, laptop open in front of him, phone at his ear.

Thank God.

Her footsteps faltered as he looked up, then held up one finger toward her, his gaze falling to the side.

He’s still here. He didn’t leave.

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