Page 177 of The Puck Stops Here

‘That I love you, Astrid.’

Her lashes flickered over eyes that shone with his confession, but he wasn’t done…

‘I loved you before Massachusetts and I love you still.’

She gave a teary laugh. ‘That sounds like a lyric…’

‘I guess it does.’

‘For a cold hard truth, that isn’t cold at all…’

‘No, but it is equally chilling and terrifying and exhilarating and surprising.’

‘I know.’

‘Because’ – hope flared to life, warm within his chest – ‘you feel it too?’

She nodded. ‘You were my worst nightmare, my kryptonite.’

He raised a brow. ‘Kryptonite?’

‘A bad boy with a heart of gold. To fall in love with you knowing it could have no future… but a friend once told me that love has a will of its own and she was right.’

‘Sissi?’

‘Yes. And she would know.’

Because her friend still suffered now, ten years down the line. He didn’t doubt it. Before Astrid he might have. But now… he couldn’t imagine a day passing without thinking of the woman opposite him. Thinking of her, wanting her, loving her.

‘Yeah, she would know.’ He held her gaze, every fibre of his being firing with the urge to reach for her, but… ‘I saw my mother this morning, I wanted to show her the article.’

‘Oh…’ She looked almost fearful as she crossed her arms over her front. ‘What did she say?’

‘She said what I said.’

‘What’s that?’

‘That it’s beautiful.’

Her eyes glistened all the more, her mouth pursing to the side. ‘Yousaid it wasbeautiful?’

‘In a more manly way, of course.’

She smiled softly. ‘Of course.’

‘My brother loves it too. I think my father will even appreciate the truth in it.’

‘He has his demons, Blake. They’re not excuses but they do exist.’

‘And we all make mistakes. It’s how we choose to move on from them that matters. You helped me to see that.’

‘But it was all you…Youbroke the cycle, father to son.’

‘Fuck, I hope so.’

‘I know so,’ she whispered, and he took a breath that shuddered right through him, hope blazing stronger than ever as he took a tentative step forward.

‘My mother said love can go one of two ways, it can destroy you, or it can make you stronger. I want the latter, Astrid, and I want it with you. For the rest of my life, I want to be at peace with you.’

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