Page 115 of Come Back for Me
“You can’t, what?”
“Wait. I’ve seen monsters, and I’ve lived in nightmares. You aren’t either. While what happened is tragic, it isn’t your fault, and it is unfair of me to ever put that on you. Your father was driving that car, not you or your brothers.” As I say it the sun starts to rise higher above through the clouds. “I can’t imagine what I would have done if my parents were threatening me. I was angry, and more so when I thought all we had was a lie.”
“None of it was a lie.”
“I know that now.”
“When you walked out that door, I thought I would fucking lose it. I wanted to get on my knees and beg you to see what we have.”
I shake my head, bringing my fingers up to his cheek. “I don’t want you to beg. I forgive you, Connor. I forgive all of you, and I think my parents would too.” The sun warms my face and I look up with a smile.
“I hated that I had to hurt you.”
“And that’s why I think it’s so easy to forgive. Because you, Connor Arrowood, are a good man.” I hold his face in my hands. “You are a wonderful father. You’re sweet . . .” I kiss his lips. “You’re generous . . .” I repeat it again. “You’re the only person who has ever made me feel safe.”
His hands glide up my back, holding me tight against his body. He kisses me deeper—but not in a lustful way. In a way that allows me to feel it in my soul. His lips drift away from mine, and then I rest my head on his shoulder, allowing the warmth of the sun and the strength of his embrace to heal me just a little.
“I don’t deserve you.”
I release a deep breath and nestle in closer. “I deserve you. Take me home.”
“I’ll take you anywhere, as long as I’m beside you.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ellie
“It’s just my brothers,” Connor tells me for the one hundred millionth time today.
“It’s not just anything. It’s the day I meet your brothers and they meet their niece and it’s her birthday and . . .”
“And it is all going to be fine. It’s a family barbeque where you are going to meet them and everyone can put their fears to rest.”
Easy for him to say. He isn’t the one who’s about to meet the three most important people in his life.
I’m freaking the hell out.
At least Hadley is over at her friend’s house for a few hours so we could set up and I can, hopefully, get the initial introductions out of the way. Not that it would change anything if she were here, but I feel like the five of us need a little time first.
“What fears do they have?”
“That you really haven’t forgiven them.”
I sigh. “Clearly, I have. I mean, I planned the party and invited them.”
“I know this, you know this, but they’re idiots who also want to alleviate their guilt a bit.”
I guess I get that, but it isn’t making my anxiety any better.
“Well, there are things to be done, and I need to do them.”
I can’t stand here, or I’ll freak out. I head into the living room, straightening up a little more and moving the balloons—again. There really is no place to put them that doesn’t seem strange. I go to the window, fluff the curtains a bit before trying to make them sit perfectly on the floor. I hear him chuckle behind me.
“It’s not funny,” I say with a tinge of hostility in my voice.
He walks up, wrapping his arms around me from behind and swaying gently. “It kind of is.”
“You being charming isn’t going to work.”
