Page 51 of Creed
“Nothing for you to be sorry about, babe. He’s the asshole. Not you.”
“Still hate you had to deal with him… Did he help with the situation or just make it worse?”
“That’s yet to be determined.”
“That sounds a little daunting.”
“Not as daunting as the fact that you haven’t told me what’s what.” His eyes locked on mine as he added, “If you’re not in this and you’re gonna leave and wreck me all over again, just tell me now. I got through it once. I can again, but don’t fuck with me. Give it to me straight.”
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“Oh, I’m in. I wouldn’t still be here if I wasn’t, but we need to tread lightly with all this and not rush into things.”
I let out a low laugh, but not in a funny ha-ha kind of way. It was a laugh out of frustration, because there wasn’t a damn thing funny about us treading lightly. I could tell by that doubting look in her eyes that she was about to put her guard back up just when she’d finally started to let it down. I was done backtracking.
I raked a hand over my jaw as I told her, “Dev, we’ve wasted too much time as it is.”
She inhaled a quick breath, but I didn’t give her a chance to argue.
“I get it. I know your kids come first. I know you’ve got your life and your plans and a hell of a lot to lose if this goes sideways.”
I paused, giving her a moment to let my words sink in.
I wanted her to know that I understood her concern.
“But I’m not gonna sit here pretending we don’t both feel this, like we haven’t been carrying this shit around for years.”
She opened her mouth, but I shook my head again, cutting her off.
“You want to take it slow, fine. We can do that. But don’t call it treading lightly, Dev. Don’t act like we’re two strangers trying to figure out if this is worth it. We already know it is.” I slipped my arm around her waist, inching her closer. “You know it. I know it. We’re not kids anymore, and we’re not gonna get back all the time we’ve already lost.”
I reached over, brushing my thumb along her jaw, letting it linger just long enough to see her eyes soften as I told her, “I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to finally get it right.”
Her lips parted, and for a second, I thought she would argue, but she didn’t. She just looked at me like she was seeing me for the first time, and I swore to God, I’d wait however long it took to see that look again.
“Okay. Full steam ahead, but you’ll have to give me some discretion with the kids. I want to tell them my way and when I get ready.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Without saying another word, I stood and held out my hand to her, letting her know the conversation was over. She hesitated for a breath, but then she slid her hand into mine. I pulled her to her feet and slipped my arm around her waist, drawing her in close. The second I felt her body against mine, warm and soft and right, it was like the world finally stopped spinning for a damn minute.
I breathed her in, taking in the scent of vanilla and something that was just her, and it hit me how long I’d gone without this. Withouther. I didn’t give myself time to think before I took my free hand and looped it behind her neck, pulling her to me as I covered her mouth with mine. I kissed her long and hard, letting everything I’d been carrying pour into that moment.
The feel of her lips against mine was like coming home. I could feel her relaxing into me, letting go, and for the first time in a long damn time, I let myself believe that maybe we hadn’t lost this—that maybe, just maybe, what we’d once had was still there.
Her arms came up around my neck, pulling me closer, and I let my hands trail down the curve of her spine, feeling her shiver under my touch. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Not the years we’d lost. Not the shit waiting for us outside that door.
It was just us, right here, right now.
When I finally pulled back, I kept my forehead pressed to hers, catching my breath. My hand was still resting at the small of her back like I couldn’t bear to let her go. I looked into her eyes and saw that storm I’d loved for as long as I could remember and whispered, “Stay with me tonight.”
She didn’t respond. She just stood there looking at me like she was trying to convince herself that it wasn’t a good idea. I could see the fight in her eyes. The fear tangled with hope. I didn’t push, but I didn’t back down. I just waited silently for her to process whatever she needed to process.
Finally, she let out a breath and nodded. “Okay.”
That one word hit harder than any yes I’d ever heard.
