Page 62 of Needing You

“Except youdidbelieve it,” he said quietly, his thumb brushing back a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “And it’s fucking crazy to admit this, but I’m not even mad you did. Believing that is a hell of a lot better than believing the alternative.”

“And the alternative was you leaving without us.” The dots connected in my mind, and I let out a shaky breath. “No, Will. I didn’t think you’d leave us. In fact, if that jerk had come in there sayingthat,I probably would have laughed in his face.”

“Really?” His surprise was so extreme that it almost made me laugh right then.

“Yes, really. Ugh, Will. The whole thing made me realize how much I’d screwed everything up by not having us be partners from the beginning, and I was mad at you for wanting to leave your brothers and your mom again. But I know you wouldn’t leaveus.”

I practically felt the relief seep out of him as his whole body relaxed. He touched his forehead to mine only briefly before tipping my chin up with his knuckle and kissing me with brutal tenderness—more brutal than the passionate kisses we so often shared. When he pulled back, his eyes were shiny and so full of love that I almost didn’t recognize him.

“Well, I’d never agree to a job that took me away from you or Jackson, but I also wouldn’t leave the rest of my family either. I’m here in Granite Springs for good, Kate. I’m right where I want to be. With all of you. And I’d never want to take Jackson away from his life here, but even if I did, I damn sure wouldn’t do it unless it was something we decided on together. All three of us, actually. Because he’s not a kid anymore, and I’d want him to have a say in it too, not just you.”

It shocked me to my core that my heart could withstand yet another blow, but I shuddered in his arms with the force of it. He shushed me and rubbed my back as I pressed my forehead into his chest, trying like hell not to break down.

“What is it?” he murmured into my hair.

“It’s Jackson. We had finally had it out, and shit, Will. It was rough. He basically hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you,” he said quietly, then he urged me back so I’d look at him, his eyes holding determination once again. “Where is he?”

“Out for a run. He took off right before you got here.”

“Okay. When he gets home, we’re all gonna sit down and make sure we’re on the same page about the future. Because wearepartners in this. I don’t care how it started. Jackson needs to know we’re a team, and the past doesn’t have to fuck up all the good shit we have coming to us.”

Nodding, I pulled him close once again. “I love you, Will Walker.”

“I love you too.”

30

WILL

Jackson pounded up the stairs outside Kate’s apartment and burst through the door fifteen minutes later. Kid had grit, that was for sure. The rain had picked up considerably, and his hair was flattened to his head, his shoes leaving small puddles on the doormat.

His eyes flicked up to meet mine. “When did you get here?”

“A few minutes after you left, apparently.”

He stood there, glancing between us, raindrops melting off him, looking like a lost little puppy. My heart pinched, and I walked toward him and pulled him to me like I had Kate.

He didn’t wrap his arms around me, but he did come willingly.

I spoke into his sopping hair. “I’m not going anywhere, okay? We’re staying together now. You’re not gonna be able to get rid of me. I’ll probably move into your college dorm with you. But until then, we’ll be here.”

He leaned back, and I could almost feel him trying not to glare over my shoulder at Kate. “We’re not going to Denver?”

I released him and stared down at his crestfallen face. Kate had explained some of what he’d fought her on—holding me back, holdinghimback, the two of us deserving to do what we wanted because she’d lied. And that shit couldn't stand. But before we got there, we had to get to the most important thing. “We’re not, and we were never going to. That douchebag didn’t know what he was talking about back at the bar, and I’m sorry if it messed with your head. I came to Granite Springs to be with my family. I’m over the fucking moon that I did because now I get to be with you and your mom, too. So, for that reason and many others, I’m not leaving again.”

His lips pressed together to form a grim line, and he nodded. “’Kay. I’m gonna go shower.”

“Sounds good. We’re going to talk a bit more when you’re out.” Shit, that sounded ominous, but I didn’t want him thinking he could hole up in his room and avoid an actual conversation. We’d barely scratched the surface.

“I’m sorry,” Kate said when he was gone, scrubbing her eyes like she’d lost all the wind in her sails.

I slid onto the couch and hooked an arm around her shoulders. “You have nothing to be sorry about, and really, neither does he. It’s been a weird few hours.”

She shifted, so I looked down to find her staring up at me like I’d done something impressive. “What?”

She shook her head. “You’re just so… calm. Like, I don’t even understand how you’re the one who isn’t storming around and losing it. Are you really Will Walker?”

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