Page 78 of Restorations

“Hey.”

It’s all he offers, but I don’t care. My heart is thundering in my chest, and I want so badly to go to him, but I'm silent.

“I can’t say anything bad about Colt.”

I nod my head slowly but stay put and let him talk.

“He was everything I wanted to be. I never thought I could be good like him.”

I want to scream that heisgood. He’s so damn good. But I stay silent.

“I loved him. And I miss him. And it felt like when everyone else was falling in love and moving on, they forgot about him.” He shakes his head from side to side. I'm dying to comfort him, but something tells me he needs to get this out. He needs to say this. So I let him.

“He was human. He was flawed. But he was my brother.”

I smile and walk to him, standing before him. Still not touching him. “He was.”

He looks up at me, so lost and broken but also so damn beautiful. “He’s gone, but I'm not. I owe it to him to live my life and be as happy as I can. I’ll never stop trying to make him proud.”

I sweep my hand over his cheek. “I didn’t know him well, but I know he would be proud. I wish you could see the good in yourself, but it’s okay if you don’t.” I cup his face in my hands. “Because I see it. I’ve always seen it.”

“You love me.”

I nod my head with no hesitation. “I do.”

Please say it.

I try to tell myself that if he still can’t say it, it’s okay. But I know deep down, I crave those words.

“You shouldn’t.”

I sigh and shake my head as I peer into his eyes. “It doesn’t matter because I do.”

He grins now, his hands laying over mine and then holding onto my wrists. “I love you too.”

My heart feels like it might burst as I try to keep from crying. “I know.”

He laughs at that and pulls me to his lap. “So, what now, since you’re so fucking smart?”

I kiss his lips softly, speaking between kisses. “We just be in love. We support each other and just lean into it.”

“Sounds good.”

“And fuck.”

My tongue flicks at the “ck” sound, and he wags his eyebrows at me playfully, biting my neck. “That I know how to do.”

“Oh, I know.” He flings my body under his, and I look up at him before adding with a purr I know drives him crazy, “Mr. Sterling.”

“Fuck, Viv.” His large body hovers above mine as he looks down with me, admiration in his eyes with no guilt. “I fucking love you.”

“I love you too.” I drag my fingers over his sides. “Now fuck me because I’ve missed you.”

He kisses me so intensely and full of love.

And even though I know there are hardships to come and we will most certainly fight and hurt each other.

It will all be okay.

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