Page 74 of Heart of Stone
"I can. I am." His voice roughens. "I love you, Andi. I love our kids. And I'm going to spend every day proving it."
"Even when the club needs you?"
"We'll figure it out." He presses his forehead to mine. "I've already talked to Stone about stepping back from some duties. Delegating more to the prospects and other brothers."
That surprises me. "You'd do that?"
"For my family? Yeah." His smile is soft. "Turns out being sergeant-at-arms isn't worth much if I don't have anyone to come home to."
"I'm scared," I admit.
"Of what?"
"To believe you. To let myself need you." My voice cracks. "But I'm so tired of being alone. I missed you."
The admission costs me something, scraping raw against my pride. I've spent so long being strong, being enough by myself that to be with someone else feels like cracking my chest open and laying my heart bare.
"God, I missed you too." His arms tighten around me. "Every morning I'd wake up reaching for you."
"It's scary," I whisper into his shirt. "How much I want this to work. How much I need you."
He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes. "Say it again."
"I need you." The words come easier this time. "And that terrifies me because everyone I've ever needed has left. They all walked away. And I can't—" My voice breaks. "I can't watch you walk away again. Not when the kids love you. Not when I?—"
"When you what?" His thumb traces my cheek, catching tears I hadn't realized were falling.
"I love you." The words tumble out, unstoppable now. "I love how you make pancakes shaped like dinosaurs. How you know which of the twins is which even when they try to trick you. How Adam lights up when he hears your bike. How you make me feel safe enough to be scared sometimes."
"Andi—"
"No, let me finish." I press my hand to his chest, feeling his heart thunder under my palm. "I love you. And it scares the hell out of me because for the first time in my life, I want to let someone help carry the load. I want to believe in someone else's strength besides my own."
His forehead presses to mine, his breath warm against my lips. "Then believe in me. Believe in us. I'll spend every day proving we're worth the risk."
"Promise?"
"With everything I am." He kisses me then, soft and sweet and full of promise. "You and these kids? You're everything."
I wipe at my wet cheeks. "You're taking three kids with this deal."
His tone leaves no room for argument. "If you'll have me, then I swear I'll spend the rest of my life being worthy of your trust, and theirs."
I study his face, seeing the truth there. The love. The determination.
"When you mess up, I’ll be mad," I say softly.
"Justifiably so."
"I’ll make you do laundry. And change all of Adam’s diapers."
His lips quirk. "You'll have every right to be."
"But you'll come home?"
"Always." He pulls me closer. "No matter what, I'll always come home to you."
I let myself lean into him, let myself believe. "Okay."
