Page 138 of Resurfaced Passion
“You think he wants revenge for the paedo son?”
“Motherfucker deserved to get dead if you ask me.” Tag piped up. “You did the right thing, Reap.”
He had. He wouldn’t ever feel guilt over getting rid of that guy. Only not doing it sooner.
Despair sat on his shoulder even as Preacher laid a giant paw on him. “So, you gonna win your wife back?”
“She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“When has that ever stopped a dickhead in love?” Was it weird a former self-confessed manwhore was giving Reaper marriage advice when Reaper had more married years under his belt than most of the boys here? Nah, it felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders to have them all know the full story.
He didn’t intend to sit on his ass and do nothing but getting drunk sounded like the best idea in that second. Until he could figure out a way to get Paige to talk to him again.
“Listen, I’m all down and shit for winning back love. I watched Disney that one time with Harper, I’m a fucking romantic.” Tag said over the voices of others who were tossing out sex tips. “But do we need to take care of the dad before anything else? He seems like a loose end that needs fixing”
“I’d be happy to.” Lawless said, appearing out of nowhere and Reaper swerved his head to be met with twin blue eyes. Shrewd and dark, murderously joyful.
“No.” He said firmly, “if it comes to it, I’ll do it.”
Lawless rolled a shoulder and strode off.
Reaper was grateful for the guys support, but it wasn’t them he needed.
Only his Paige.
He was laid face down in a bed out back hours later when his phone buzzed against his stomach. The flood of oxygen was dizzying when he saw Paige’s name.
Ladybug:I’m really your wife?
Reaper:Yeah, you are, baby.
Ladybug:Did we get married in a church?
Reaper:We had a ceremony in Atlantic city then a blessing on the beach. Followed by a seafood dinner and dancing.
Ladybug:Were we happy?
Reaper:Stupidly, crazily, perfectly happy.
He answered with shaking thumbs. His Adam’s apple bobbing looking down at the phone screen.
Ladybug:I can take it then that you loved me…the me who I was back then?
His eyes blazed. His heart hurting that she had to ask.
Reaper:Love. Paige. I fucking love you. Then, now and always. There’s never been a second when that love was past tense. I’ve always, always loved you.
Because he hated texting and couldn’t stand the distance, he hit call and hoped to God she picked up. He exhaled when he heard her voice.
“Out of everything, please tell me that you believe I love you, Paige? I can take you being pissed off at me, but you gotta know that.”
“I.” she paused, and that small hesitation killed him. “I do. I’m just trying to get my head around everything.”
“Let me come and get you and I’ll show you how much.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Reaper. I can’t think when I’m around you.”
Swinging his legs off the bed, he let his head hang over his body, hand in his hair, the pain at his temples throbbing steadily.
