Kiersten slumped back in the chair. “I just got so mad when I saw that woman with her hands on him.”
“Yeah. I know the answer to that one, too.” He grinned. “You were jealous.”
She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help the smile that crept out. “You’re a veritable font of information tonight, aren’t you?”
“And you get it all for free.” He picked up his menu. “Now here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to feed my niece or nephew, and then you’ll go home and tell Garrett everything you told me. That you miss him and want him and love him. All of that soppy shit.”
She started to rise. “I have to tell him now.”
“You’ve been avoiding it for a few months now.” He cocked a brow. “What’s another hour? Feed the baby and give him a chance to cool off.”
Kiersten hesitated. Garrett had looked pretty angry. Maybe he would need a little bit of time to calm down. But every second he spent thinking she didn’t want him was a second he could change his mind about being with her. She’d put him through enough. “I don’t know.”
A waiter walked by with a steaming cheeseburger, and her stomach growled loudly. Mike chuckled. “Looks like baby agrees with me. Food, then fight.”
Kiersten flushed. “Fine. But I’m leaving as soon as we’re done eating.”
“Deal.”
He turned his attention back to the menu and she did the same. But she didn’t see the words in front of her. All she saw was Garrett’s face when he’d left.
And the pain in his eyes.
An hour later, Kiersten entered the house cautiously, creeping inside on tiptoe. After the awkward confrontation at the restaurant, she didn’t know what to expect of him.
Heck, she didn’t know what to expect of herself, either.
Seeing him with that woman had sent her over the edge. She’d lashed out in her jealousy, and then tried to make it look as if she didn’t care. But she did. And she didn’t want him with anyone else. She wanted him with her.
It was time to tell him the truth.
“Are you trying to rob me, or come home quietly?” Garrett asked from the darkness of the living room. “I can’t quite figure it out.”
Kiersten started guiltily, clutching her purse to her chest. “I was being quiet in case you were asleep.”
“No, I’m wide awake,” he replied, an edge in his tone.
His angry voice took her off guard for a second, but she had been expecting it. Crossing her arms across her chest, she said, “We need to talk.”
“What? Do you have another girl to introduce me to?”
She inhaled sharply at his words. Okay. She deserved that one. “No. I…I didn’t like seeing you with her. It hurt. And I got mad, so I lashed out the only way I knew how. I made you think you didn’t matter…when you do. You matter.”
He dropped his face into his hands and massaged his temples. “I didn’t want to be with her. And I haven’t been out picking up other women.”
She knelt at his feet and rested her hands on his knees. “I know. I believe you. And I trust you. I do.”
He lifted his head and stared at her in surprise. “Wow,” he said. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”
“I should have said it long ago.” She squeezed his legs. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.” Something flickered across his eyes but he quickly stifled it. “I’m going to end this conversation on a high note and turn in. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
But he didn’t get up. She had a feeling he didn’t really want to. This was her chance. He’d been there for her all along and she’d sent mixed messages. But not anymore. No more hesitation or panic. Time to step up to the basket and take a shot—or something along those lines. Geez, she was starting to sound like Garrett already. That had to be love. “This isn’t easy for me. Every time I open my mouth to talk to you, the words disappear. Or they come out wrong.”
“I’m familiar with the notion,” he said dryly.
She took a steadying breath. “I never wanted to love anyone after Pete. And I certainly didn’t want to trust anyone enough to break my heart. But somehow, you broke through my defenses. I-I don’t want to be friends. I want more. If…if you still want to be a family.” She waited for his response, her heart pounding in her chest.
It wasn’t too late, was it?
It couldn’t be.
When he didn’t say anything, she rushed on. “I treated you terribly, and I see that now. I was so scared you would hurt me the same way Pete did that I pushed you away. And in protecting myself from you, I became Pete. I hurt you nonstop. I was cold and cruel and horrible.” She took a deep breath. “But I see now what I was doing. And I also know that you make me whole—and you showed me what love can be like. It isn’t about mistrust or heartbreak, but about finding your other half and being happy. You make me happy and that’s all I want.”
Just him.
“My feelings have always been strong wherever you’re concerned, so maybe I loved you from the start?” Why wasn’t he saying anything? “And before you ask, yes. This is me talking. This is what I want. Not someone else. Just me and you.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’m a mess. Emotionally and otherwise. But you’ve never given up on me, no matter how much I pushed you away. Don’t start now. Don’t give up on me because I l-love you. And I hope that maybe someday you can love me too?”
She held her breath and hoped with all her being he would take her for what she was. Flaws and all. Because wasn’t that part of love, too? She swore she’d heard somewhere that love was really loving someone because of their flaws…not despite them.
Time to see if that was true or not.
Chapter Thirteen
She loved him. Really loved him. He released a shaky breath, unable to look away from her. Unable to move or speak or process any thought besides the fact that she loved him.
Holy shit.
Kiersten fidgeted. “Are you going to say anything to me?” She rolled her hands and gave a half laugh, half groan. “I’m kind of freaking out a little bit here.”
His eyes widened at her nervous question. He hadn’t realized he’d left her hanging like that. Had been too busy listening to her words and trying to absorb them. Memorize them. Rubbing his jaw, he tried to hide his grin. “Like…?”