Page 50 of Gathered Sparkle

Even if I have nothing to offer, I still want her.

I stillneedher.

And God help me, I think I always will.

I let my foot slide forward until our toes meet with a small, hesitant touch—a sliver of a connection. It’s ridiculous how much it takes to make this move, to reach for her in this way. But when I do, when I brush my toe against hers, it grounds me and tells me this is real, that I’m not trapped in some cruel dream, still lying alone in the dark.

Her chest shudders, and she presses a trembling hand over her mouth. I move my toe slightly against hers. It feels meaningless in the face of everything she’s feeling, everything weare.But it’s all I can give right now. The only movement I’m capable of, even if I want to pull her into my arms, hold her, and promise that I’ll never let go again.

But somehow, it’s enough. I can see it in her eyes, the way they soften, the way hope flickers to life. Me trying… it’s enough.

“I want to be what you need. I’ll try to be what you need. But I don’t know how, and I can’t guarantee—”

“I don’t need answers,” she interrupts me with a sad smile. “I don’t have them either. I only needyou.Whoever that is today.”

Her words seep into me, and something in my chest loosens. I feel like I can breathe again for the first time in eight years. My vision blurs, but I don’t fight it. I let it come while air rushes into my lungs.

I still don’t know if I can be everything she deserves. But right now, I can bethis. A man trying to mend what’s broken, one breath, one step, one small gesture at a time.

Because I have her back.

I have what I wished for for years.

And I won’t fuck this up again.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Novalee

Raised voices echo from downstairs.

Ah, shit.

The sound reminds me that the world hasn’t paused to give me time to catch up. It doesn’t care that I’m still trying to piece myself together. At least Ace looks a little less broken now, which makes me breathe somewhat easier.

Ace is alive.

He’s here.

My heart trips over itself, unable to decide if it wants to break or swell.

Later.I’ll think about all of this later. Right now, the voices downstairs are too loud, and my head is pounding.

“They wanted to talk things out.” I swallow, the fear of losing him already curling around my ribs. “Will you… would you come downstairs too? Please? I don’t want to leave you already again.”

His eyes are still guarded, but he nods. “Sure.”

Relief seeps through me as I push the lingering tears on my cheek away with the sleeves of Sylus’s hoodie. I tuck my hands inside the cuffs, needing the fabric to hold onto while I stand.The room tilts, and I have to steady myself against the wall for a moment.

As I follow Ace down the stairs, my steps feel weighted, slow, almost like my brain is cataloging the moment as something of importance and slowing it down for careful filing.

I’m mindful not to touch him, keeping a step or two behind him. His shoulders are curled inward like he’s bracing for impact, and why wouldn’t he be? He was in prison because of me, because of our dumb dare. He got hurt, over and over again, because of me.

All because of me.

He should hate me. He has every reason to.

Tears threaten to spill again, but I breathe through it, pushing the pain down and locking it away. Now isn’t the time to fall apart.

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