Page 102 of Unsure in Love

“My entire life, I’ve been the tough, confident one. No one gave me the role. I just took it on because I felt like I had to be the strongest one. Lucy had so much on her plate. She had to take care of us because Mom and Dad dropped the ball. Tessa was by her side, helping. April was always the sensitive one, and Ruby is the baby.”

She shrugged. “I got it in my head that I had to take care of them, stand up for them, and make things a little easier for my older sisters. I guess I assumed I had to develop a certain tough, independent, and snarky attitude to be strong. So, I embraced that, and that’s been me for as long as I can remember. It’s hard to change who I am.”

I wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek. “I’m not asking you to. I love everything that you are.”

Her green eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Don’t you want someone… I don’t know… easier to deal with?”

My chuckle resonated in the room. “If I wanted that, then we never would have had that hot as fuck one-night stand. I certainly wouldn’t be here five months later, telling you that you’re who I want to be with.”

A slow smile appeared. It wobbled a bit, but it bloomed until it lit up her face. “That one-night stand was hot, wasn’t it?”

Smirking, I briefly pressed my lips to hers. “I don’t want you to worry about us, but whenever you do, just know you can tell me. Okay? I want us to be honest with each other.”

She sniffed. “I can do that.”

“Good.”

“And I want to stay with you for a while,” she said.

I paused. “As in…”

“As in, I want to stay with you in New York.” She worried about her lower lip. “I’ve been thinking about taking a break from Oakland since I went to Brooklyn. I like it there because that’s where you are.”

My heart practically melted.

“And I don’t want you to miss out on anything with our child because of the distance.”

I was ecstatic, but I didn’t want her to make any decisions she’d regret. “Are you sure? I don’t mind going back and forth for a while.” Although when Nic called and told me Cass was missing, I hated that I was so far away.

“I, um…” Her cheeks turned crimson. “We’re sort of a new couple, and I want… to see you every day.”

Elation practically made my heart jump out of my chest. The thought of having her close, of starting our family, made me happier than I’d ever been. “I want that too.”

“Good,” she breathed. “And I’m really sorry about not calling you and taking so long to—”

I pressed a finger to her lips. “It’s fine. You were stressed about confronting your sisters about your father. I get it.”

Cass blew out a breath and smiled. “You always get it. You’re perfect.”

I snorted. “You’re biased.”

Her grin faded and worry pricked me in the chest. I was about to ask what was wrong when she said, “You are… for me. You’ve been so good to me, so good for me. I want to work on… healing.” Her timid gaze, which was unlike the bold woman I knew, met mine. “I hope you can keep being patient with me.”

My heart turned over seeing her vulnerability. Cupping her nape, I pulled her close to kiss her forehead. “I will.”

After that, we finished our hot chocolate. There was an assurance and peace that settled over us, which hadn't been present since we met up again in New York. It was because we were both completely sure about what we wanted and where we stood.

When she got up to wash our mugs, she smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek. The simple contact made my heart turn over.

38

CASS

“I don’t want to go in there.”

Damian turned to me with raised eyebrows. We were in his car outside Lucy and Nic’s place.

“We could head back to your place if you aren’t ready to talk to them.”

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