Page 7 of Forgetting You, Remembering Me

“I thought you’d…”

“I’d what? Forget you?” His confirmation breaks my heart. “It’s hard to forget someone like you, Saxon Stone.”

“I don’t deserve you.” He tightens his hold, humming when I kiss over his racing pulse.

“What Sam did to me, to you is inexcusable…but…”

Saxon pulls back, contemplating my statement for clues. “But what?”

Sighing, I press a soft kiss to the crease of his mouth. “But regardless of what he did, I have to be there for him. You know that, right?”

No matter my feelings, I won’t desert Sam when he needs me the most. Yes, his actions over the past…forever are unforgiveable and deplorable, but he’s still the man I was going to marry. He’s still the man I loved with all my heart.

Even though my heart is now filled with love for another, that doesn’t mean my affection for him has magically disappeared overnight. I will always love Sam, but what has happened…it’s just too much. I can’t look at him without remembering all the awful things he said. The way he looked at me like a mere stranger didn’t just hurt, it fucking destroyed me.

I know what most would think. I should mourn my relationship before I jump into another. I should give it time. But the truth is, I’ve wasted enough time. My relationship was over long ago. The ironic thing is, through heartache, I’ve grown and I’ve become stronger. And that’s thanks to the man who looks at me like I’m the rarest jewel in the world.

But even though we’re on the same page, we still need to discuss so many things. “We still need to talk.”

“I know,” he replies, gently brushing the hair from my cheeks.

His touch instantly quiets the storm within me. “But for now, I just need to know we’re okay.”

The thunderous color of his pupils instantly fades, and in its place is a tranquil, deep-sea calm. Pressing his forehead against mine, he steadies his breathing, the smooth cadence music to my soul. “We are. I love you.” Three simple words have never amounted to such a promise, and I feel like the luckiest girl alive.

“Promise me something?”

“Anything,” Saxon replies without pause.

“Whatever happens…just don’t leave town.”

“What’s going to happen?” he asks, cocking a brow.

We both know that the next few weeks and months are going to be anything but easy. Regardless of how I feel, I won’t leave Sam. And I know Saxon won’t either.

“Promise me, Saxon.”

He takes a moment, but eventually, he nods. “I promise.” I wrap my arms around him and burrow into his chest, his steady heartbeat the song which lulls me to a peaceful calm. “Now it’s your turn to promise me something.” The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

“Okay,” I finally reply, pulling from our embrace to give him my full attention.

He mulls over what to say as it’s clear his admission is a hard one to make. “Promise me you won’t fall for Samuel’s lies.”

“What?” But he doesn’t let me finish.

“I meant what I said…Sam doesn’t like to lose. The Sam you thought you knew isn’t the Sam I know.”

“I’m not a trophy,” I reply, slightly offended. “This isn’t a game.”

“I know that, Lucy, but Sam won’t go down without a fight.” The bruises he sports serve to reinforce his words. I faintly trace his battle wounds, flinching when I examine just how bad they are.

“I know we have a tough road ahead, but eventually, he’ll accept this for what it is. I’ve made my choice. I want you,” I say—the blind, naïve fool.

Saxon smiles, but it’s bittersweet. He’s hiding something that will only add another layer to this story, but I’m afraid to ask. “Just promise me.”

Cradling his cheek in my palm, I level him with nothing but sincerity. “I promise.” We seal our deal with a kiss, one which I savor because I know we won’t share another one for a while. There is a hint of desperation to our vow, which I peg down to our raw nerves.

Everything will be all right, I repeat.

---