Page 57 of Forever Yours

I knew he was thinking of Liz when he said it. He blamed himself for not being there for her that night, just like he was blaming himself now for what happened to me.

I scooted over in the tiny bed as best I could, making sure not to pull the IV.

“Can you just hold me for a while?”

He wiped the wetness from his cheeks with the heel of his palms and got up off the floor.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

I patted the spot next to me. I didn’t care how uncomfortable it was, I needed to feel him, smell his skin, look into his gorgeous gray eyes. I needed something beautiful to erase all the ugly that had seeped down to my marrow.

“You won’t.”

He carefully climbed on the bed and turned on his side so our heads were sharing the same flat, scratchy pillow. The stench of beer coming off him hit me full force. Why had he and the guys been drinking?

Julien pursed his lips as he wiggled, trying not to jostle me as he got into a more comfortable position. Since I couldn’t turn on my side, he somehow managed to squeeze himself next to me.

“Most of my ass is hanging off the bed.”

I held a hand to my side. “Ow. Don’t make me laugh.”

Julien grimaced when he propped an elbow to support his weight. His red-rimmed eyes traced my face. They stopped and lingered on the bruises, and his mouth turned down. My fingertip smoothed away his frown lines.

“What did the doctor say?”

“Mild concussion and bruising. Stuff that’ll heal in time.”

His countenance turned to steel. “I hope to hell you’re pressing charges against that bigoted asshole.”

“Fallon is handling it.”

Julien’s intense gaze turned deadly. “Not without me.”

I could see the darkness brewing. The desire to lash out and hurt the man who hurt me. But I couldn’t let him go down that path. He would never forgive himself.

“You are not going to jeopardize your soccer scholarship—”

Anger flew off him like a violent, turbulent wind. “Do you think I care more about that than you? Fuck soccer. How could that thought ever cross your mind? You are my world. Myeverything. You’re the future I see every fucking morning when I wake up. I want a life with you. A family. You’re my goddamn forever.”

I was speechless. No sound came out. That was the first time Julien had ever talked about our relationship being long-term. I knew he loved me. But he wanted to marry me? Start a family? Holy shit.Holy shit.

Those words were every dream come true, and something I so desperately needed to hear after months of doubting.

Fresh tears leaked from my gritty, swollen eyes. “I love you, Julien.”

He sweetly kissed my tears away. “I can promise you that I love you more.”

Not possible, but I wasn’t going to argue.

My eyelids suddenly grew heavy. It was a struggle to stay awake. I was surprised I had lasted this long.

“Please let Fallon and my dad handle it.”

Julien tucked himself as close as he could next to me.

“Sleep, baby. Your body needs it. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I let the darkness pull me under as he quietly hummed “From This Moment” softly in my ear.

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