Page 122 of Healed Hearts

Roman presses in closer, moving his leg until it’s resting against mine. “None of that. We all have our stuff. Yours doesn’t make you less,” he says softly.

Beck stands. “Wren, you wanna cuddle up with me and watch a movie?”

She looks at him with bright eyes, then nods.

He gets the TV set up, turning on Frozen. I hate this damn movie, but when the familiar soundtrack starts, I feel even more relaxed. And within minutes, Beck is scooping Wren up, settling her in his lap. He sits on the floor in front of me and, to my absolute shock, leans back until he’s resting against my leg.

Holden’s sprawled across me, Roman is leaning into my side, and Beck is resting against my leg with Wren giggling and singing in his lap. For the first time all day, I feel like things might be okay.

Fingers brush my cheeks, my eyelids, and the hair lying across my forehead. “Julian?” A smile tilts my lips. Holden. My Holden. I pry my eyes open. “Hi.”

I grin. “Hi.”

He giggles. Fuck, I love that sound. “I’m so happy to see that smile on your face.” I’m so happy to have a smile on my face, so that’s fair. “How are you feeling? You fell asleep watching Frozen. You’ve slept basically all day. Ro and Beck just left, and I got Wren to bed. Beck said I should let you sleep, that it would be good for you, but it’s almost ten, and now I’m worried because you haven’t eaten all day. Besides, what does he know? He’s not even a real doctor. Anyway, I’m worried, so please, please let me feed you.”

I wrap my arms around him and pull him toward me, crushing him in my embrace. He huffs, but snuggles deeper, and I swear to God, he feels so good in my arms I could sob. I’ve had about enough of that, though, so I won’t.

My stomach growls loudly, and Holden pulls back quickly, an adorable glare on his face. “Let him sleep. Don’t wake him up.Fucking not a doctor asshole. Wants to let you starve to death.”

I watch him with a new lightness. He stayed for me. He didn’t run. I grab his face with both hands, rougher than I normally would, and pull him into a lingering kiss. He melts against me, his hands coming up to grip my shirt. I smile against his lips. It’s been a while since he’s done that. When I let him pull back, he clears his throat. “Do you feel better?”

“I think so, yes. I guess time will tell.” I pat my stomach. “You do know not eating for a day isn’t going to make me starve, right?”

“Yes, I know. But I was still worried, okay? So please let me feed you. I made tacos for dinner. Did you know your child puts food away like a grown man? She ate more than me.”

He’s rambling. It’s adorable. “Were you too quiet today, darlin’? All your words gotta come out at once?”

His cheeks flush. “No. I just… I missed you. It’s been hard watching you struggle.”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s been pretty hard struggling.”

His face falls. “Fuck, I’m sorry. That was—” I cut him off with my lips. Although, maybe I shouldn’t. Have I even brushed my teeth? To be fair, I’ve already kissed him once. At any rate, Holden doesn’t seem to mind. He crawls into my lap and moans into my mouth, kissing me with an urgency I’ve never felt from him before. I cup his face with one hand and grip his waist with the other, pulling him in closer to me. He groans, but it turns into a laugh when my stomach growls again. He really forgot about feeding me quickly.

He pulls back with a sheepish smile. “Let me make you some dinner.”

I shake my head. “I can make it myself, but how about you come keep me company and tell me about what you all did today while I slept the day away?”

With a nod, he climbs off my lap. I stand up after him, getting a little dizzy. Yeah, I really need to eat. We head into the kitchen together. Holden reaches into the cabinet to pull down a plate. “Have you not eaten?” I ask.

“No, I have.”

Little shit. I just told him I’d make my own food. I grab him around the waist, smiling at the surprised squeal he lets out, and set him on the countertop next to the stove. “There.” I pluck the plate from his hands. “You just sit there and look pretty for me, darlin’.”

He shoots me an affronted look, but then he’s giggling. “What am I? A damn lawn ornament?”

“Nope. You are the gorgeous love of my life. I barely remember seeing that face of yours, so I’m gonna need some time to look my fill, if that’s alright with you.”

The smile slides right off his face. “Not sure that I’m ready to joke about it, Jules.” He clears his throat, then worried emerald pools meet mine. “Are you sure you remember having sex?”

“Yes.” It’s one moment that I remember with clarity. How full I felt, how complete, how safe and loved. God, I needed that connection so badly.

His shoulders slump. “Thank God.”

“Were you worried I forgot about how amazing sex is with you, darlin’?” I tease.

He shakes his head. “No. I was worried that I took advantage of you.”

Oh my. I drop the plate to the stove top and wrap my arms around him. “No, Holden. You didn’t take advantage of me at all. I asked for it. I vividly remember asking for it.”

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