Page 91 of Operation Annulment
“Why won’t you let yourself be happy?” she sobs. “What’s wrong with someone wanting to take care of you?”
“Because when you love someone, they leave,” I blurt, the words like poison on my tongue. I’m not thinking of Nate but of my parents. It seems everyone I love leaves me eventually. And even though they reappeared years later, it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
“I’m not Black Widow, and Nate’s not Bucky. We’re two messed-up individuals who will never make it work. He left the first time because he trusted his ex-wife’s word over mine. And maybe it makes me a coward, but I know I won’t survive losing him a second time.”
Dakota takes my hands in hers. “You’ve both been used by people, Kate. Nate’s ex-wife was a psycho-crazy person, and he still tried to stay loyal to the vows he made—even when she used him and left his heart broken. You—you’ve had to take care of everybody since we were kids, and I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for the ways I used you?—”
“Don’t,” I warn, the tears now flowing freely down my face. “Don’t apologize—not to me.”
“You want to know why I love comics so much? It’s because of all the broken heroes—the ones who redeem themselves in the end. Bucky and Natasha are at the top of the list because, despite all the bad they lived through, they continued to fight for the good.”
I blink to clear my vision. “That—That’s a lot to process?—”
“He still loves you,” she interjects. “Despite everything you two have gone through, he loves you. That’s why he is, and will always be, your Bucky.”
I glance around as if the gym might magically alleviate my confusion. “How could you possibly know that?”
Dakota steps back with a triumphant smile. “Who do you think I’ve been talking to this whole time?”
“But you left your own wedding… no one knew where you were. You came here? For him?”
“I left a note,” she insists before her eyes suddenly widen in horror. “Biscuits and gravy, I didn’t leave a note! Zane must think I?—”
“Pulled a runaway bride,” I helpfully finish for her. She gathers up her skirt and hurries toward the exit. “Wait—where’s Nate?”
“Locker room,” she mutters distractedly. “Said he needed to shower.”
After urging her to get to the event center, I rush toward the locker room, my heart beating double time. I don’t know where to begin and wish I’d written something down. Dakota’s speech was eloquent and moving. I have nothing.
A man with gray hair steps out of the sauna, and I bypass him, searching for the showers.
He tightens his grip on the towel slung around his waist. “Miss, you’re in the?—”
“Men’s locker room. I know. I’m trying to find my husband.”
Nate is right where Dakota promised he would be. He shuts off the water and steps out of the shower to grab a towel.
Speech time. I’m going to say something great—just as soon as I finish shamelessly ogling his naked body.
“You know this is the men’s locker room, yeah?” he asks when he catches my stare.
I shrug. “Turns out I don’t even need alcohol to make poor decisions anymore.”
He wraps the towel around his waist and raises a brow. “Did you come all the way down here to tell me that?”
I sigh and try again. “Is it true?”
“Is what true, Katy?” Instead of coming closer, he turns away.
A strand of hair slips from my updo, and I nervously tuck it behind my ear before asking, “Do you still love me?”
He gives me his profile, his jaw tight with tension. “Does it matter at this point?”
“Answer the damn question,” I demand, refusing to give in to the sob in my throat.
“Yes!” he bellows. “You fucking happy now? You run so deep in my veins that there’s not a chance in hell I could ever get rid of you!”
I close the gap between us, wrapping my arms around his warm body. “Then don’t. Don’t get rid of me. Stay.”
