Page 71 of Saved from Obsession

“It’s like,” I stop again, thinking. “Like I can get through anything now. Even the bad memories. Because I made it through all of this. And I know I have you to support me through all of it.”

“Always, sweetheart.” Then Leo’s features tighten, his mouth pulling down. “But I’mso sorry. You shouldn’t havehadto go through it. I should have kept you safe.”

“Stop.” He’s been apologizing to me ever since I woke up in the hospital, and I need to put an end to it. “It isnotyour fault, Leo. It’s no one’s fault but Frank’s. Not mine. Not yours. I don’t want you to keep saying you’re sorry.”

“Another thing.” I squeeze his arm when he starts to talk and he clamps his mouth shut, brows rising as he looks at me. “Thank you. For saving me over and over again. Racing across the state for me. Risking yourlifefor me.”

“And you saved me in so many ways. Not just my safety, but you made me believe in myself again. You made me believe I deserved happiness. You’ve done so much for me, Leo. I canneverthank you enough.”

“Georgia.” His voice goes soft. “You never need to thank me. Iloveyou. I would doanythingfor you.”

“Leo.“ My heart is impossibly full. “I love you so much.” And I know I’m not supposed to do anything physical with him right now, but I can’t resist leaning forward to give him a soft kiss, lingering a few seconds to taste him.

“Georgia,” he scolds, but with a smile pulling at his lips.

“What?” My face is pure innocence.

He shakes his head and chuckles. “Troublemaker.” Then a buzzing from the coffee table draws his attention, and Leo swipes his phone up to glance at it. “Cole is going to be over in an hour. Do you want to have dinner before or after?”

“After, I think. Do you think I could take a shower first?”

Leo shakes his head. “Not yet, sweetheart. Not with the wound on the back of your head, and standing in the shower in the heat—I think we should wait a little longer for that. But I could give you a bath later…”

Oh. My disappointment about the shower disappears instantly. “I’d love that.”

“Okay, so dinner after Cole comes, and then a bath.” He smirks at me and adds, “And no funny business, either.”

“Fine.” I pout at him, but I’m not really upset. A quick kiss is one thing, but I know I’m in no shape for anything more than that yet. “Maybe I can call Hayden later.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” Leo lifts me off his lap and settles me back onto the couch cushions. “She called while you were sleeping. She has to work tonight, but she’s going to call tomorrow morning. And she said she misses you, and that we owe her and Boone a visit when you’re feeling up to it.”

Still talking, he heads into the kitchen and opens the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. “Tex called, too. And Beth.” He pauses, grabbing my pain pills and tapping one into his hand. “They both wanted to make sure you were doing okay. Beth said she can’t wait to meet you when you visit Hayden.”

“That’s so nice of them.” Taking the pill and water from Leo’s outstretched hands, I wash the pill down with a little grimace. I don’t love taking pain medication, so I’m hoping to transition to Tylenol in the next day or two.

“Georgia.” There’s an odd note to Leo’s voice. He sits back down on the couch, sideways to me, lifting my legs so they’re draped over his. “I wasn’t going to bring this up yet, but now that you’re actually here—”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Don’t worry.”

“Yousound worried,“ I retort. “So, nowIam.”

“I’m notworried.“ His eyes meet mine, darkening to a shimmering green. “I’m a little nervous.”

I scoot along the couch to move closer to him. “About what?”

Now that we’re side by side, Leo takes my hands in his, stroking his thumbs across them. He sucks in a breath, and then his words spill out in a rush. “I know we didn’t talk about it, and I know how you felt before I left Ballston Spa, but I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Another deep breath, and he looks at me, hopeful and scared and loving. “I want you to stay here. Not just while you’re healing, but permanently. I just can’t—” His voice cracks. “I can’t be away from you. Not now. Not ever.”

“And we don’t have to live here,” he continues, still rushing, like he’s afraid I’ll say no if he doesn’t get everything out at once. “If you want to find a house, or another apartment—if you want to leave Sleepy Hollow, I’ll do that, too. Anywhere you want. I just want to be with you.”

“Leo.” Still careful of my head, I climb into his lap, smoothing the creases from his forehead. “You don’t have to convince me. I’ve been thinking about it, too. And I want to stay with you. Here, with your team, in Sleepy Hollow. There’snoplace I’d rather be.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

LEO

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