Page 49 of Summer Shivers
TYLER
It takesat least two hours longer than I anticipate for Genevieve to give her statement, get the charges dropped, and get her fucking ankle bracelet removed. We also have her looked at by a doctor, luckily her nose isn’t broken, but it’ll be pretty sore for a while and her eyes will still blacken a bit.
“Why don’t you go take a shower, and I’ll open you a bottle of wine and put together a snack,” I tell her.
“I would like that,” she says.
I open the wine, light the fireplace, dim the bulb lighting, put on some light blues music, and attempt to arrange a platter of whatever shit she has in the fridge. Not gonna lie, not my forte. Ends up looking like what it is: a pile of leftovers all slung together.
I set everything up in the living room. Going for romance. Hoping I succeed. She deserves it. Plan to fuck her brains out tonight. I’m going crazy after almost losing her. Again. But, need her to feel wooed, too.
“Wow, what’s all this?” she asks, coming into the room in a short silk robe.
“Called taking your mind off the shit that was today,” I say.
“I like it.”
I hand her a glass of wine, then move to stand behind her rubbing her shoulders and the back of her neck gently. Trying to work out some of the stress kinks.
“Oh, that feels good,” she moans, melting back against me.
We continue like that for a moment, then she sets her wine down and turns around to face me. Looking like she wants to say something. “They were nineteen. How do you decide at such a young age that you’re going to kill someone and then do it?”
“Happens. Even at younger ages. World can be a fucked up place.” I grab my whiskey and take a large gulp, relishing the burn as it slides down my throat.
“It feels different somehow when you know the killer.”
I nod in agreement.
“Can we talk?” she asks.
“Thought we were,” I tease.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was pregnant.”
“I know you are.”
“Can you forgive me?”
“Already have.”
“Really?” She looks surprised by that.
I set my whiskey down by her wine glass and take her hands in mine. Raising each one to my mouth and kissing it before continuing. “Yeah. I mean, I’m still hurt by it, but I understand why you did it. It was a shitty time for us. I get that you couldn’t reach me. And I don’t blame you for panicking and turning to Harrison.”
“Thank you.”
“Do blame him for coercing you to marry him. I don’t blame him for loving you. Who wouldn’t love you?” I cup her cheek in my palm, she leans into it. “Never stopped loving you, babe.”
Her face softens. “Do you think we have a chance?” she asks.
“I do.”
“I never stopped loving you either,” she whispers.
“Knew that when I found out you thought of me when you fucked him.”
She blushes. “And other times.”
