Page 46 of Meet Me in the Vines
I lift his chin to meet my gaze and point to his chest. I mouth the wordsyou…saved, then point to my heart,me.
He leans over and wraps his arms gently behind my head, holding me and peppering gentle kisses all over my face and lips. My hands wrap around the back of his head, and I kiss him deeply, with so much longing and forgiveness. I taste the salt on his lips from his tears. The pain he must feel to have watched me in that state.
He pulls back, settling into the chair. His finger lightly traces the side of my head where Kellan hit me.
A faint knock thumps on the door. Briggs’ burly frame slides in as he nods at Donovan and smiles softly in my direction.
“Hey, Ms. Winthrop. Good to see you awake,” he utters, gravel voiced, standing beside my bed as he pats my shoulder. I reach out for him to take my hand, and he gently places it in his large palm. I squeeze my fingers with his, showing as much gratitude as I can.
“What’s the update, Briggs?” Donovan asks, lightly tracing the pads of his fingers along my arm. His touch is keeping mecalm. Grounded. A reminder that I’ve made it through the worst night of my life.
“It took some convincing, but the doctor agreed to release her tomorrow morning,” he says, a weary sigh slips past his lips. “But Kellan is only being held for the night.” Briggs and Donovan share a look of concern before they both turn back to me. Just for the night?He tried to fucking kill me.My breaths become short and ragged, stinging my chest as random spurts of pain shoot through me.
“Fuck,” Donovan mutters. “Briggs, do you mind giving us a minute?” he asks, standing from his chair.
“Sure thing, Mr. King. I’ll be right outside,” Briggs replies, shaking Donovan’s hand and grazing my elbow as he quietly leaves the room.
Donovan comes back and settles beside me, grasping my hands in his. “Listen to me, Mouse,” he murmurs. I nod and urge him to go on. “With Kellan getting released tomorrow, I can’t let you stay here a minute longer. I’ll book us two tickets home for tomorrow morning—just say you’ll have me,” he whispers. If only my vocal cords weren’t swollen, I’d tell him I’m ready to leave with him anywhere. The only way I know how is to show him. He opens his mouth to say something, and I muster all of my strength to kiss him.
I’ll follow you anywhere. As long as I’m with you. Take me away.
He returns my kiss, gently cupping my cheek. I ache for more, but he pulls away, resting his forehead on mine. The overwhelming scent of musk and teak overpowers the sterile hospital air. I draw in another breath of his scent, grounding myself in the reality that he’s here with me. He lifts his gaze to mine, taking a deep breath.
“Audrey, I want you to come home with me, but I have to tell you what happened that night,” he murmurs. I press myfinger to his lips, quietly shaking my head. I swallow a lump in my throat, feeling the burning sensation as my vocal cords uncomfortably rub together.
I need to tell him I know. I know everything. I work up enough strength to exhale just below a whisper, holding his face close so he can hear me.
“I know what happened,” I breathe out. He places a soft kiss on the column of my throat. With every kiss, it holds the magic to heal me. The pain escapes with every touch. I let out a weak smile and stare into his eyes.
“You know? But how? Noah never knew…” His brow furrows while his eyes flicker between our hands.
“Jess.” I hold my throat while searching for his gaze. “Jess,” I whisper softly.
“Jess? She told you? But h—” I nod and kiss him lightly on the lips, holding him close while I nuzzle my nose in the crook of his neck. His hand wraps around my nape, kissing my hair. He moves my head back to face him again.
“I just need you to hear it from me, okay?” he begs softly. I mouthokayas he tucks a strand of my hair away from my face. This explanation is one that I’ve yearned to know the answer to for ten years. Hearing it from Jess is one thing, but hearing it from Donovan meanseverything.I realize now that it wasn’t just my loss that summer, it was his. Ours. No matter what words leave his lips in this moment, I choose forgiveness. I choose us.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t fight harder for us. I meant everything I said that night. Everything I felt, everything we did? It was all real for me,” he murmurs, holding my hand against his cheek. His eyes shimmer and a slight grin appears on his gorgeous face. “You are the realest thing that has ever happened to me, Mouse. You changed my life that night. I never should have let you go,” he whispers.
There are no more dull aches or stabbing pains shooting through me at this very moment. Donovan’s words heal me from the inside out. Kellan’s vicious mark is defeated by Donovan’s overwhelming love.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I vow to protect you, to keep you safe. Please. Can you forgive me? Come home with me?” he asks with teary eyes.
“Yes and yes,” I whisper hoarsely. Our lips meld into one another. Made for each other. Ten years of wondering, answered with a simple kiss.
Chapter Fifteen
DONOVAN
I prop myself up on my side, resting on my elbow as I stroke the delicate outline of her face while she sleeps. The early morning sun peeks through my window and lights up her locks with tinges of red and blonde. Her hair is lighter now since the last time she was home. The dye is fading with every wash, revealing more of the girl I fell in love with at eighteen.
We took an early flight out of New York after an exhausting night in the hospital. My blood boils thinking back to the moment I saw her body lifeless under Kellan’s hold—her face blue, the color in her eyes drained.
I don’t think about what would happen if I wasn’t there. I won’t let myself get in that headspace. The point is, Iwasthere. Thank god Briggs let me up. And thank god we found her in time.
It’s been two weeks since coming home to Oakwood Valley. I brought Audrey back to my cabin, nestled in a quiet corner of my family’s vineyard, to spare Noah from seeing her in that battered state. He was thankful, as long as she was okay. He knew she was safe with me, and I held him while he cried into my shoulder.
I took time off work to take care of Audrey.
