Page 92 of Theirs

“What room and what hotel,” Vincent snapped.

“I’m in my car,” I said, starting it to get the heat going. “I grabbed his crown jewels and told him if he tried that shit again I would tell you his family company is going under.”

“You tell him!” Easton yelled. “But we can go kick his ass for good measure.”

“I can keep a lookout!” Noemi’s voice came through.

“All jokes aside, are you ok?” Vincent’s tone was serious.

“I’m shaken up, but I am fine,” I said, feeling my body shake a little.

“I didn’t realize you were taking clients,” he said cautiously.

I don’t know where it came from but a sob escaped and I cried. It was like the dam broke and I couldn’t hold back my emotions anymore.

“Where are you?” Vincent asked softly. “Or come over and we can talk.”

I couldn’t stop the tears. I didn’t know what I was crying about, just that all of these emotions had been bottled up for too long and it was a release I didn’t know I had needed.

“I fucked up,” I said in between sobs.

“Come over we can talk about it and see what we need to do,” he said calmly.

“How did you do it?” I asked, because I knew Vincent wasn’t looking for love when he found Easton and Noemi.

He took a deep breath. “I fucked up too. I thought it was better if we ended it early. I could continue just living my life with contracts and Subs. I didn’t realize how complacent I had become, how consumed with work I had been and how for once I felt good coming home to someone. Until them, I didn’t realize how alone I had felt.”

It only made me cry harder.

“Are we… we… the same… person,” I said in between sobs.

“I think we set up this person we wanted to be, and it's not always who we are supposed to be,” he said. “Living life alone might keep our hearts safe, but what's the point if loneliness consumes you.”

“I don't want to be alone anymore,” I hiccupped. “But I don’t know how to be the woman they want me to be.”

“Did they say that? Did they ask you to be someone you're not?”

“No, but it's only?—”

“Genevieve,” he scolded. “You know better than anyone that you can’t assume anything. Don’t make the same mistake I did and not communicate. We know better and we know how important it is.”

“I already made that mistake,” I cried. “I pushed them away.”

“Are they worth fighting for?” he asked. “Think about it because the sooner you realize it, the sooner you can get your ass over to them and figure shit out.”

Did I want this? Images of us together in ten years popped up, laughing, cooking dinner and eating by the fire. These last few weeks have felt less lonely, have felt like I was wanted and I don’t ever think that I have ever felt this with someone other than Cheryl.

“I want them,” I whispered. “I miss them so much.”

“Then call them right now and go talk to them,” he said. “I bet they have been waiting for you and it’s probably a good thing you're good on your knees.”

That got a laugh out of me.

“Thank you,” I said. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to call you and cry. It was honestly just to make sure Copper lost his membership.”

“Call me or us for anything,” he said. “We are always here for you.”

“Love has made you soft, Vincent,” I said, loving this new side to him.

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