Page 64 of Keeping His Babygirl

My heart soars at her admission. If she’s missed me, I have a chance to fix what’s broken between us.

“I’m sorry,” she blurts, gripping her hands tightly in her lap and refusing to make eye contact with me. “I feel terrible about how I ended things.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

She pops up out of her chair and starts pacing. “But I do. You deserve better. So much better.”

“It’s okay, doll. I understand.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

Addy

His words should makeme feel better. Instead, they make me feel worse. I don’t deserve to be let off the hook so easily. He should make me beg for it. I’m prepared to beg for his forgiveness.

“You shouldn’t be so understanding.”

He frowns and shakes his head. “You don’t get to tell me what I am.”

I continue to pace, trying to alleviate the built-up anxious energy inside me. This is harder than I thought, and the fact that he’s making it so easy on me just makes it worse. I pace closer to him, and he reaches out and grabs my arm. The next thing I know, he’s got me perched on his lap.

“Calm down, doll. It’s just you and me and the truth between us. Nothing you say is going to send me running. I’ve been telling you for weeks that I’ve not given up on us.”

His words have me relaxing a little. All those little good-night texts come to mind, and I realize he’s right. I gave up on the possibility of us, but he never did.

“I don’t know how to say everything that’s running through my mind,” I say.

“Why don’t you start with your reasoning for ending things with me?”

I blow out a breath and close my eyes, seeking strength. “Several reasons, really. For starters, I think you deserve better than what I can offer you.”

“Don’t you think I should be the judge of that?”

Axel runs his hand down my back, and I relax a little more. “Probably, but you don’t understand how broken I am inside.”

“Doll, I know you’ve been through a lot, but you need to stop seeing yourself as broken. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

The empathetic way he says that almost has me believing he really feels that way. I shake my head. “Losing William broke something inside me. I honestly don’t know if that wound will ever heal. How can I force you into a relationship when I’m still grieving for the loss of my husband?”

“You’re not forcing me into anything. I know you’re still grieving, and I know that a part of you will always love William. I’m not asking you to ignore those things. I’m not trying to replace William in your life. I’m asking you to open your heart up to new possibilities.”

His words give me hope. Maybe he really does understand me. Maybe we can make a relationship work…

“I’m scared.”

“Tell me what you’re scared of, doll.”

“I’m scared that I won’t survive it if I lose you too.”

He gently squeezes my thigh reassuringly. “I can’t predict the future, but I can tell you that you’re strong enough to survive anything. I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”

“I’m afraid of how much I feel for you… I’ve fallen hard and fast, and it’s terrifying.”

He tips my face towards him and kisses me. His lips are soft on mine as he reacquaints himself with me. The kiss is slow and sweet. It’s more than just lips on lips. It’s a reuniting of two hearts. He pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.

“You’re not alone, babygirl. I can’t imagine spending a day of my life without you in it.”

I swallow thickly as tears prick my eyes. I fight them back and ask the most important question of them all. “Can you forgive me?”

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