He rests his forehead against mine, his thumb slowly rubbing against my cheek. “I love you too, pretty girl. And I’ll never say those words to anyone but you.”
Chapter 31
Home visits
I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe.
Either that, or I’m having a panic attack.
Gabi squeezes my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turn to face her, taking in her beautiful features. Her eyebrows knit together as she searches my eyes. “Are you okay?” she asks, so attentive, so patient, so kind, and fuck. I love her so fucking much.
I nod, feeling the shake in my body fade away when I meet her eyes, The corner of my lips lifts into a smile. “I’m alwaysokay when you’re with me,” I tell her, because it’s the truth. Somehow, she always manages to calm something deep inside me whenever I look into her soft blue eyes.
“I’ll always be here with you,” she says, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. It’s crazy how a simple touch from her makes my heart race. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. I’ve been in love with her for most of my life, and I slept in her bed almost every night for years. But now that we’re together, every touch feels different...more intense. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.
I let out a breath, running a hand through my hair. “I couldn’t do this without you, Gabi.” I tried. So many times. I’ve lost count of how often I searched for flights, scrolled through my contacts to get to hers, stared at the phone wondering how she was, what she was doing… if she hated me.
God, I hope she doesn’t hate me.
The love of my life steps in front of me, holding my face in her hands, cupping it in the soft, warm embrace of her hands. “You won’t have to do anything without me ever again.”
I like the sound of that.
Fuck, Ireallylike the sound of that.
I nod, taking a deep breath as I raise my fist to the door. My hand trembles, and with another shaky breath, I finally knock.
Nerves wrack through my body as I wait for her to open the door. My heart pounds with each second I wait.
But when the door finally swings open, it’s not her on the other side.
I blink, taken aback by the middle-aged man standing in my childhood home.
“Hello?” he says with a polite smile. “Can I help you?”
I turn to Gabi, blinking in confusion. “I uh…” I shake my head. Did she move somewhere else? Did she... I swallow, hard. I can’t even think about that being a possibility. I turn back to the man standing in front of me. “I was looking for Eleanor?”
“Honey, who’s at the door?” Her soft, familiar voice catches my attention, and I widen my eyes as my mom appears behind the man, looking up at me. “Chris?”
Her voice sends a shiver through me, and I swallow hard, struggling to contain my emotions. “Hi, Mom.”
“Chris?” The man beside her glances back at me.
“Yes,” my mom answers, stepping in front of him to wrap her arms around me. I feel my jaw tighten as she hugs me. “This is my son.”
My eyes begin to well up. She doesn’t hate me.
My mom pulls back, studying my face. “You’re so grown up,” she says, pinching my cheek.
I swallow hard. “It’s been a long time.”
She nods, and I notice a sad smile on her face, but it leaves just as quickly when she waves us in. “Come inside.” She turns around, heading into the house with the man, whom I still know nothing about.
I squeeze Gabi’s hand tightly, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.
My eyes widen as I take in the sight.
The old, worn-out brown couch has been replaced by a long white one, with colorful pillows and cozy blankets. The staircase, which was chipped from my father’s fists, is now painted white. Paintings hang on the walls, there’s fresh flowers in vases, and the sun streams in through the open windows.
