Page 71 of Into the Shadows

“But I didn’t. And if you’d have stuck around, you’d have known that.” She gives me a look that says she’s not happy with my runaway act.

“I couldn’t stay, Sparkles. I couldn’t look your father in the eye when it was my fault I hurt his daughter.”

“Did you know you’d get triggered by the fireworks?”

I frown. “No. Jackson tested my reactions to a few different loud booms. I didn’t have a problem.”

“What was your thought when you covered my body with yours?”

“You mean when I tackled you? Let’s be honest here.”

“What were you thinking?” she presses.

“That I had to protect you.”

Lottie raises her eyebrows.

“That’s beside the point.”

“Not to me. You thought a bomb went off, and your first thought was to cover my body with yours so I wouldn’t get hurt.”

“Yet you were injured anyway,” I say petulantly.

“I was. I also cut my finger when you distracted me while we were cooking dinner the other night. You gonna take the blame for that, too?”

“Maybe.”

Lottie chuckles. “I love every single piece of your cracked soul, Teddy. I don’t care if we have to lie in your dirty closet for two hours. If it’s going to make you feel better, I’ll do it. If we have to go to couples therapy for the next twenty years to keep this relationship from fraying to pieces, I’ll go. I’ll do whatever it takes to stand by your side for the rest of my life. But you have to let me do that. You can’t run every time something goes sideways.”

“I’ve never had unconditional love, Lottie. I don’t know what to do with it. I love you more than any words could everdescribe, but I don’t know how to show you that. It doesn’t come naturally to me.”

“I disagree.”

“Of course you do,” I scoff.

Lottie grins at me. “Every single thing you’ve done since you decided I was yours has shown me exactly how you feel. I’ve never doubted it for a second. I don’t need flowery words or to be love-bombed. I need someone to show up for me every single day. I want a partner to turn to when I need help or support. And maybe a little surprise now and then to show me you were thinking about me. If the man I love gives me that, I’ll return it tenfold. It’s that simple.”

As Lottie’s words sink in, our future begins to slot into place. Our relationship isn’t one-sided. It’s reciprocal. By giving her the support and care she needs, she’ll give it back to me when I need it. We’ll share the load when it becomes too heavy for either of us.

Reaching over, I scoop Lottie into my arms, making her squeak. Loki startles off Lottie’s lap and races out of the closet. It’s better this way. Now, I can kiss Lottie without worrying about smashing the little guy.

I never imagined this would be the direction my life would take. I always figured I’d live a pretty solitary life with a menial job that paid the bills, and that’s about it.

With the weight of Lottie on my lap pinning me to the floor, I’m finally grounded back into reality. I’ll need to do something about my flashbacks. I can’t keep ignoring them and expecting them to go away.

But for right now, my girl brought me back from the brink of disaster. I plan to show her exactly how grateful I am.

Chapter 40

Lottie

Teddy prompts me to stand from his lap. His lips find mine the second he’s standing next to me. With his hands on my hips, he pushes me out of his closet. Our mouths twist and dance together as we move. Every swipe of his tongue says how thankful he is, while mine responds with how much I love him.

I’ve never felt heartbreak like I did when I found him lying on the floor of his closet. He looked like half the man I always viewed him as, and I fell more in love with him in that moment. The vulnerability in his eyes nearly broke me. I have no idea what made me think of Caroline’s nightmares, but I knew he’d understand the point I was making.

I’m made of stronger stuff than he’s allowed himself to believe. I hope he knows I can handle whatever his trauma wants to throw at me.

I drop to my knees before Teddy has a chance to throw me on the bed the way he likes to do. My fingers make quick work of his pants, yanking them and his underwear down to his ankles.

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