Page 86 of Almost True
He ran a hand through his hair in a way that made me want to do the same but also clearly betrayed the nervous energy running through him. Aidan had a calm vibe that rarely seemed edgy, and yet I could feel all kinds of things radiating from him.
“I do. And what you think this is, it is. I’m leaving my company. I’m changing my life. I talked so much about wanting freedom and a fresh start, and I’d convinced myself I just needed a little break after all the madness and I’d be ready to go back. But being back…”being without you…“wasn’t right.”
He nodded. “I’m glad you figured that out. I’m sorry you have such a big transition ahead—it’s a huge change. But I’m so happy for you that you figured out what you want.”
Ugh, this man. My heart absolutely glowed with love, and I couldn’t wait any longer to spell it out for him. I closed the distance between us and took his hands in mine. “I did figure it out. I don’t want to be in New York.”
He nodded. “Good.”
My heart pounded relentlessly. “I want to be here, in Silverton.”
His response this time came out a little gruffer. “That’s… very good news.”
“And I… I love you. And I want to be with you.”
His smile dawned slowly, his face transforming from handsome to something practically celestial. “Thank God.”
Then his lips were on mine and we were crushed together, all the time apart obliterated by the ravenous kiss. His hands were in my hair, at my back, mine were on his neck, under his shirt. It was as though our bodies needed to make up for lost time as much as our hearts had, and yet I had more to say. I pulled back after a few minutes, afraid we’d get lost in the reconnection and miss some of the things I had to say.
With one more kiss to his lips, we stood with my arms around his neck and his hands at my waist. “I’m so sorry I disappeared on you.”
He exhaled softly. “That’s not my favorite thing that’s ever happened.”
I laughed. “Yeah. Mine either. I—” I shook my head, disappointed in myself even though I’d made peace with it. “I was so convinced that if I shut off everything about Silverton—especially you and Luca—then I’d do what I needed to do. I’ve spent so long in work mode, and I felt so far out of it. But it wasn’t just that I’d taken a break and was struggling to get back into it. I changed this year. Like,reallychanged, and I couldn’t get myself back.”
His brow furrowed and I registered I hadn’t explained the silence, so I continued. “I’d talked myself into the idea that I’d be ready to go back by the end of the summer. When I left and it felt like I’d ripped out my heart and handed it to you, I decided that cutting out communication between us was the answer. That if I had enough distance, my head would clear and I’d be able to do my job again.”
“But that didn’t happen?”
Emotion crept up my throat at his tender, concerned expression. “No. Because you still had my heart. And maybe in the past I’ve been able to handle that—only my mind in the game. But after everything that’s happened—my brother’s wedding and meeting you and the stalker and falling for you… I didn’t want to. I’d found what I’d spent years looking for, and suddenly I’m okay just leaving it behind? Never mind I couldn’t manage to cut off communication with Luca because… I just couldn’t. It didn’t make sense. ”
I rolled my eyes at the idiocy, but he pulled me closer and pressed a kiss to my temple before speaking.
“I need to apologize, too. I was so convinced you had to go and I had to stay and that was the way it should all go, I didn’t even ask you.”
“Ask me what?”
“To stay. To be with me. To try long distance.Anything.”
An ache filled me, and the only way to alleviate it was to press a kiss to his jaw, then his cheek, then his mouth. When I pulled back, his expression matched my feelings exactly.
“I don’t know when I convinced myself that I had to give you up, but I did. And I’m sorry.”
I chuckled. “You thought it was the right thing to do, didn’t you?”
He squinted. “Maybe.”
I tucked away a smile. “I wondered. I mean, I’d always planned to leave, and it snuck up on us, but part of me had hoped maybe you’d say something. And yet another part of me was relieved I didn’t have to say no. But I’m guessing you knew that, somehow, and decided to make the decision for me and not say a word.”
“Are you laughing at me for trying to save us both the agony of you shooting me down?”
I couldn’t contain my grin or the love multiplying by the second for this man. “No. I’m just enjoying the fact that you are who you are, and I love you.”
He sobered and bent to touch his forehead to mine. “I love you, too, Madeline Reynolds. And I’m so glad you’re home.”
CHAPTERFORTY-EIGHT
Four Months Later
