Page 78 of Wreck Me
With his hands on his hips, his gaze wandered over the cabin, trying to think of how he was going to come back from this colossal fuck-up. Just when he figured something out, was he going to lose her?
A picture on the fridge caught his eye. Crossing into the kitchen, he snatched it from the stainless steel. It was one of the selfies they’d taken when he’d given her the camera, the morning after their first time together.
In this particular shot, Megan’s eyes were closed, but the smile on her face radiated happiness. Her shoulders were bare, and her dark hair fell around them. He nuzzled her neck with a hint of a smile on his lips, and her free hand cradled one stubbled cheek.
He’d loved her even then.
It clicked what he needed to do. And he prayed that he could convince her that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him. The only one that could bring down his defenses and make him a better man.
She was messy to his neat. Whimsical to his grounded. Risk-taking to his risk-averse. Warm to his cool.
She made him want to be all those things he wished he was. She made him whole.
She was his.
He turned to Marcus. “Can you hold her up somehow tomorrow?”
“I can come up with something.”
Charley launched off the arm of the sofa and rushed into the kitchen, bouncing on her toes. “You got a big gesture planned? You know you’re going to need one, right? Can I help?”
He looked over at his younger sister. She was a royal pain in his ass, always had been. But he loved the hell out of her. She had one of the biggest hearts and wanted him happy. Hell, she’d known before he did how he felt about Megan. Not that he’d ever tell her that.
He looped an arm around her neck and brought her in close to rub a noogie on her head. She yelped and tried to push him away. But when he dropped a smacking kiss on the top of her head and said, “Absolutely,” she slid her arms around his waist and squeezed.
She looked up at him, hope in her eyes. “You can do this, Aidan.”
He’d seen it before when they were kids, whenever she asked him a question about things. For just a moment, they were thirteen and seven again. He took that faith she had in him and hung on to it.
He had a feeling he was going to need it.
Twenty-Two
Wreck Me
“I really wishyou’d stay tonight and leave in the morning. What’s the rush?” Charley asked, her lips curved down into a frown. “I mean, don’t you think you should start your trip refreshed in the morning?”
Megan chuckled as she stuffed the little gifts that she’d received in her handbag. “You’re the one who told me a few days ago that leaving now in the middle of the day would be good for traffic in Atlanta.”
Charley crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in the chair, then glanced at the smartwatch on her wrist. “Yeah, well, I’m rethinking that logic now that the time is here.”
Megan smiled and laid a hand on Charley’s arm. “I’m going to miss you too.” It was just her and Charley left. Everyone else had gone on their way, and Marcus said he had some paperwork to do before they opened for the night shift.
She sighed and looked around the empty Silver Moon Cafe. “I wasn’t here long, I know, but I’m going to miss this place too.”
“It’s not too late to stay…”
“You know I can’t stay. For a lot of reasons.” One of them being trouble wrapped up in a gorgeous six-foot-four package that had broken her heart.
“You could always stay with Mom and me tonight. It’s just a night, Megan.”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m pretty sure I’ve worn out my welcome. It’s time for me to head out.”
Megan bit her lip to keep the tears from forming in her eyes. Again. She was physically leaving Madison Ridge, but her heart would always be there as long as Aidan had it. And she had a sneaking suspicion that he’d always have it, even if he didn’t want it.
“I’m sure Emma could find you another room for the night.”
“Are you kidding? I can’t ask that of her. She was generous as it was.”
