Page 124 of The Invitation
“Because I love you.”
My breath hitches as the tears that I fought to contain spill down my face. “Are you serious?”
“I’m totally serious. I’ve loved you for a long time, I think.” He smirks. “Not when you were arguing with me about the existence of pickles. Or about how many steps are in Jeremiah’s house.”
I laugh, elated at hearing those three words from him.
“I didn’t tell your mom that I love you,” he says. “I wanted to tell you first, although I think she got the picture.”
His hands find mine and he strokes my palms with his thumbs.
This is the feeling I never knew if I’d ever experience. I didn’t know if this kind of thing was out there for me. But it was—it is—and it was right in front of me the entire time.
“I love you,” I say, smiling from ear to ear.
His brow pinches together as if he didn’t hear me clearly.
“I love you,” I whisper again.
“You do?” He laughs, almost as if he’s in disbelief. “You love me? Really?”
I laugh, too—also out of disbelief.How can this crazy man not see how lovable and amazing he is?“Yes, I love you. Of course, I love you, Ripley.”
“Thank God.” He pulls me in for another hug. “Now, what do we do about your mom?”
I take a deep breath and step away from Ripley, but my fingers instinctively grasp for his.
“We should video this for the show,” I joke. “It has the potential to get super high ratings.”
“Not that high. I’ll remove her before it gets that froggy.”
I wish we were going inside alone. The only place I want to be is in his arms somewhere … maybe with food. And a nap.Heaven knows that I need both. But I need to take care of this situation with my mom because our patterns of behavior are unhealthy. And then the enormity of what Ripley just said hits me.
“When you think of coming here, I want you to eventually feel happy. Like you’re coming home. I’m on your side always and forever. Because I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time, I think.”
Coming home. To Ripley. To the man I love. To the life I once dreamed of and now dream of again.
One that I never thought was possible.
I want this so much—more than anything.
It’s time to move forward … by letting go of the past.
“Let’s get this over with,” I say, leading him inside.
He rushes to open the door for me.Always the gentleman.
“Waffles!” I say, laughing as he leaps in circles like a ballerina. “Hey, buddy.”
He barks before jumping so high he nearly makes it into my arms.
“Don’t jump on people,” Ripley says, shaking his head. “We’re working on that.”
I bend down and pick him up, and he licks my palms. Then he scurries up my chest and puts his little nose in the crook of my neck and sighs.
Yeah, buddy. I’m happy to be back, too.
Ripley leads me into the kitchen with his hand nestled in the small of my back. I don’t feel like a stranger here anymore, nor do I feel like a visitor. I belong here. I feel it in my bones.Home.
