“And it was scary. I couldn’t imagine myself holding onto something as bad as I had with my other dream just to lose it again. And with the way this place has always made me feel… It felt inevitable.”
I go to wipe at the tear that spilled, but Eli is already there, his warm thumb collecting it. His hand remains there for a moment, and I lean into it, feeling another surge of courage. He hasn’t interrupted me yet.
“But I’m done being scared. I won’t let my father, or these shitty people, take anything more away from me.” I shake my head. “I won’t. And I’ll be honest, it’s fucking scary to think about what’s to come if I stay here, but you showed me to be brave even in front of the things that have the potential to tear me apart. So I’ll face these fears.” I swallow. “Because you’re not a person to leave, Eli. You’re a person to run home to.”
The corners of his lips are blanched, his jaw tight.
I don’t know what to expect from him. He could very well be done with the drama I’ve brought into his life. I take a deep breath as I wait for his answer, but the last thing I expect him to say is, “You know what I was doing before you got here?”
I pause, then shake my head.
He nudges his chin toward the car to our left. “I was preparing to leave.”
My pulse stammers. “Leave to go where?”
“To you.”
My brows furrow, the words spinning around in my head until his grip settles onto my waist, and I finally make sense of them. I almost sway into him, the relief as potent as a hard drug.
And Keira knew. That’s why she sent me here.
“I tried to respect your choice, to see that maybe you don’t love me as much as I love you, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t true. We belong together, Cassie. We always have.”
As much as I love you.
My eyes well up again, and his mouth tips up like he doesn’t need me to say the words to know how I feel.
“I haven’t had a teammate since my dad died. I looked for one. I tried with Liz, but I couldn’t fight this feeling of loneliness.” His fingers caress my hips. “Until you. You make me feel like you’re on my team. And I was dumb enough to let you go before, but I’m not doing it again. Not a chance.”
“So… What were you going to do?”
“Charlie was spending this weekend with Zoe, and then I would’ve figured it out. Tried long distance. Maybe given Liz a fewnights so I could come see you every month. I don’t know. I’d have found a way. I just knew I wouldn’t lose the only woman I’ve ever loved for a second time.”
I let my forehead rest on his hard chest, eyes squeezed shut. His chin dips to my shoulder so his breath is right against my ear. Even through the silence, Ifeelhis love for me. It’s palpable, as obvious as the dark color of his hair, or the sweet smell of his skin.
I want to get lost in his embrace and settle into this, but there’s one last thing I need to clarify. I dig the tips of my fingers into his chest. “You… You know I can’t give you a bigger family.”
Eli pulls my head back so I’m looking at him, his wide eyes alternating between mine. “I need you to listen to me carefully when I say this. Ihavea perfect family. And you do, too. If you want it.”
I sniffle, then stand on my tiptoes and finally,finally, kiss him. He tastes like sea salt and mint, like what I’ve been searching for all my life. The kiss is tender, filled with longing and with realization. It’s a deal sealed, a promise made, a dotted line signed. Whatever’s coming for us, we’ll face it together.
“I love you,” I whisper when we pull apart.
One of his true, light-up-the-sky smiles paints his face, and I know that no matter what happens in my life, this is the sight I always want to come home to.
“I know, baby.” He slides his nose alongside mine, stopping with his lips hovering just above mine. “But now, why don’t you show me?”
Chapter 43
“You have to stop snoozing.”
Eli looks up from where he’s kissing down my body, stopping at my belly button. His grin is devilish. “Look who’s talking.”
My back arches as he keeps his sweet torture going. His bed—our bed—is a sanctuary we have spent most of the past week in. After I was done with my big declaration, I realized I’d never taken into account where I would stay in Cape Weston. Ruth’s house wasn’t mine anymore. However, the second I mentioned this to Eli, he looked at me like I’d grown a second head and clamped his arms around me, scooping me up and carrying me to his bed. “You’ll stay here, obviously.” It sounded crazy to move in together when we’d technically only been truly together for the past five minutes, but this wasn’t anyone. This wasEli.
“I don’t want to invade yours and Zoe’s space if you’re not ready,” I replied.
He lightly pinched my butt, making me squeal. “We’ve been ready for you for a long time.”
