“I have to say it because it’s true.”
“Because of what I did this week,” she whispered. “After you left. You walked away, Trevor.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “I jumped through every hoop you set for me with Grace and at the first challenge you cut and run.” She swiped at the corner of her eye and focused on the ground when it got too hard to meet his gaze. “Just like you, I deserve someone who is going to stick around, even when things get tough.”
He tipped up her chin. “You deserve so much more than I’ve given you. I’m not telling you I love you because of anything you’ve done but because of who you are. Who I am when I’m with you. I thought I was good being alone. I thought it was better for everyone, but my whole world is nothing if you aren’t in it. I wish I had a boom box so I could stand outside your window playing it. I wish you had a living room full of bitter women so they could stand witness to my declaration that you complete me.”
Sam breathed out a laugh although she wasn’t quite ready to believe this was real. Her heart was afraid to hope. “I take it Grace had you watching old-school rom coms while you were away?”
“A few dozen,” he admitted. “And I’d memorize every romantic line if it would make a difference. If I could make you understand how much you mean to me.”
“Life isn’t a movie,” she whispered. “There are no cameras here. I can’t put on my pretend face with you.”
“I want the real you,” he said. “I suck at words, but I swear I’ll say the three most important ones to you every damn day if you’ll give me another chance.”
She pressed her knuckles to her chest as she felt hope take root in the empty valleys of her heart. “Tell me about the reporter.”
“I didn’t know what you’d done until we came off the mountain two nights ago. I never meant for—”
“It was my decision, Trevor, and I don’t regret it.”
“But the camp—”
“I don’t regret it,” she repeated. “I told you I wanted to protect Grace.”
“And I should have trusted you. But we want to take care of you, too, Sam. It goes both ways, and it was Grace’s idea to do an interview where she could talk about you. I called Kendall and had her put me in touch with a reporter from one of the national morning shows. We gave her a few of the photos of Grace...” He held up a hand when she started to protest. “Not the one that you’re thinking of, but a couple that showed her resemblance to you. I let them interview Grace about getting to know you and what you did to protect her reputation and privacy.”
“But now she’s out there. It won’t go away.”
“It’s on our terms,” he said. “She was proud to talk about you and your work with Bryce Hollow.”
“She talked about the camp?”
He nodded. “You’re a big part of her life. She wants it that way, and so do I. Do you know why I came to your rescue at the pool in Colby, Oklahoma? Why I stuck with you like glue after that day, even taking on Bryce because the two of you were a package deal?”
She shook her head.
“You’re special, Sam, because of who you are on the inside. The gooey center.”
“You’ve been talking to Kendall and Jenny.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “You have smart friends. But your mom did a number on you and your sister. Then Bryce screwed with both of us. I bought into her shit and my own fear. How I felt about you scared the hell out of me. I loved my parents and they left me behind, and I was afraid you’d do the same thing.”
He blew out a breath, as if the words didn’t want to come. “I thought you were too good for me—the way I felt was too much. I figured once you left for Europe all those years ago it would become clear. You’d see yourself the way I see you. So I pushed you away, but it’s not going to happen again. I won’t be fool enough to ever let you go. I know I’m stupid and stubborn and I’m going to make a million mistakes along the way. Give me another chance anyway.”
She felt tears prick the back of her eyes and didn’t stop Trevor when he slowly drew her closer. His big hands cupped her cheeks, tipping up her face. “I want you in my life, Samantha Carlton. I love you.”
“A million mistakes,” she whispered, “and a million chances to make them right.” She kissed him tentatively, as if their mouths joining was an introduction. In some ways it was—a new start and the beginning of a lifetime of possibilities.
“I love you,” she whispered against his lips, and knew she would love him forever.
“You are mine, Sam.” He kissed her slow and deep. “Always and forever.”
“Forever,” she agreed, as all the broken pieces of her knit back together.
