Page 50 of Wanting Happily Ever After

Of course she was in love with Brody. It had taken her a little bit to see it, of course, but once she had…well, that was the whole problem. She was desperately in love with him. So much so, she’d been in physical pain since she’d kicked him out of her house a week earlier. She ached for his lips on hers. For his hands on her body. For his arms wrapped around her, holding her tight. Hell, just for his physical presence close to hers.

As much as her heart was racing since he’d taken her hands in his, there was also a calmness that had settled over her just being close to him again. It was a strange push and pull between her heart and her brain.

Hundreds of things raced through Sarah’s brain. And if she let herself, she’d come up with a dozen reasons about why she shouldn’t let Brody in. Hell, she’d already been doing a pretty good job of that. But she didn’t need to feel guilty anymore. Not for Josh. Not for Brody. And not for wanting more.

She was allowed to want more. She was allowed tofeelmore.

She knew that now.

But still, something held her back.

Only this time, it wasn’t guilt. It was fear.

Sarah knew if she opened her mouth, she’d tell Brody exactly how she felt about him, too. But then everything would change. There’d be stakes. There’d be something to lose again.

Could she risk it?

Losing Josh had been the hardest thing she’d ever done.

But did it kill you?

No.

She’d survived the loss of her husband.

Sarah took a deep breath and let her lungs fill with the fresh scent of ozone on the air as the wind picked up and the storm that had been threatening grew closer.

She could survive anything that life threw at her. She knew that now.

But the only thing she couldn’t survive was losing out on the chance at something because she was scared.

There would be no coming back from that.

And she was done being afraid. She was done with putting her life on hold because of a terrible accident. One that wasn’t her fault. No matter how she’d beat herself up for it over the years, she knew that now. Hell, she’d known it for a long time, but she’d finally allowed herself to admit it.

Josh’s death wasn’t her fault. Wanting more wasn’t wrong. And Brodywasmore. And he was right here.

Being upset with him wasn’t keeping anyone safe. It was keeping them apart.

She exhaled slowly, emptying her lungs and focusing her thoughts.

Brody stood before her. Patient and waiting.

“You know it’s not just you, right?”

Sarah blinked at his question, and Brody smiled slowly before explaining.

“It’s not just you who I love,” he said. “I need you to know how much I care about Rory, too.”

Sarah’s heart clenched a little.

“I love her like my own daughter, Sarah. And that feeling only grows stronger every day. Last week,” he continued, “when you thought I’d taken my eyes off her in the lake…” He dropped his head and shook it a little before looking up into her eyes.

Sarah could feel the pain in his voice as he spoke.

“It killed me that you could, even for a second, think I’d ever put her in harm’s way. I love that girl, Sarah. I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. Always. I need you to know that. I need you to understand how much I lovebothof you.”

She did know.Damnit. Did she ever.

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