“No, of course not!” he snapped as he rose and stepped closer to her. Then he calmed down. “Maybe,” he added, reaching for her.
She stepped back and he followed until she had nowhere else to go.
“Don’t touch me, Tyler.”
He could see her panic. “Why not, Elena?” He leaned closer, but didn’t actually touch her.
“I can’t handle it, Tyler. Please, you have to leave me alone.”
“I’ve messed up, Elena. I can’t go a single day without thinking about you. The thought of any other man coming near you makes me go insane. We both played games, but it can’t be too late for us. In the beginning of all this, I admit that all I wanted was a good time in bed, but then it changed. I didn’t even know that it was changing. Yes, I don’t give my trust easily — I’ve told you some of the reasons — but I’ve realized while you’ve been gone that I need to let those go. My life is only half full without you in it. Forgive me. Please.”
He didn’t touch her, didn’t move back, just waited for her to respond in any way.
“What about the baby?” she asked.
“It really doesn’t matter to me. If she’s your child, then I will love her.”
He meant that. He would love the child for no other reason than because he loved her. And anything that was a part of her he would cherish.
“I don’t understand this change.” She had every reason not to trust him right now. He’d been far from trustworthy.
“She’s mine, though.”
“Wait. What?”
“I’d decided on the drive here that I didn’t even care if she was another man’s, that I didn’t care what you’d done during our relationship, because I wanted you that much. But now I know that you wouldn’t have been with anyone else. You aren’t that way. This is my child.”
“Is that what this truly is about, Tyler? You’ve figured out this child is yours and you don’t want to miss out on raising him or her?”
“No, Elena. What this is about is that I love you. And because I’ve realized how much I love you, I know this child is mine. But even if she, or he, weren’t, I would still love you. If we’d just met today, I would fall in love with you. Because you’re my other half, and fate has brought us together many times in our lives. Why else would we keep finding each other?”
“Do you remember the gentleman’s club?” she asked.
“Yes. After you said what you said at the hospital, I did some soul searching. I ran through my mind of all the shitty things I’ve done in my life. I remember a waitress, I remember your face and I remember my friend being a dick, and the way I laughed. I did that because I wanted him to leave you alone. I didn’t defend you because I was an asshole. That group was a bad group. That was my last night out with them, if it makes any difference.”
“What about the limo?”
He didn’t want to admit to this. It showed who he had been then, and it wasn’t a good man.
“I was drunk for a year straight back then. I did some horrible things. But yes, I remember. I tried to black that time out in my life. I didn’t know you were a virgin. I didn’t even see you back then. But now I know and I hope you forgive me.”
He waited for her verdict, afraid of what she would say next. He seemed to be afraid of everything right now. But most of all, he was afraid of losing her. If he could gain her love again, he knew everything else would work out.
“You’re in love with me?” she finally whispered.
“Yes, Elena, so in love with you.” He leaned forward and gently kissed the corner of her mouth, then skimmed his lips across hers, his touch soft. “I love you so much I hurt,” he added as he pulled her close.
And he nearly jumped for joy when she melted against him.
Picking her up, he moved to the couch and cradled her in his arms.
“I thought I was happier alone, that if I didn’t give you my heart, there was no way to get hurt again. But it wasn’t my choice whether to give it to you or not. It’s always been yours, I think, even from the time we were kids. I just had to grow up enough to realize that.”
“I should slow this down, tell you that we’ve been moving too fast this whole time,” she murmured against his neck. “But I can’t find it in me to deny you. I’ve also missed you so much. I also hurt without you.” Her tears warmed his skin.
“I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you,” he told her as he caressed her back.
“Don’t do it again, Tyler.”
“I swear I won’t,” he said before moving away — just a little — and holding her face so she could see into his eyes. “We’ll marry and you can teach me every day how to be a better man.”
“That’s your idea of a decent proposal?”
“What’s wrong with it?” he asked.
“What makes you think that a nice girl like me would marry you?”
“Should I have added the words If you’ll have me?
Elena laughed before leaning forward and kissing him, this time long and slow. When she broke away they were both breathing heavily.
“That’s a start. I will marry you, Tyler, because you have so much to learn.”
He carried her into the bedroom, and he wasn’t sure who was teaching whom by the end of the night.
Epilogue
Don’t speak to him, don’t make eye contact, and don’t leave the car.”
Piper Covington stood there listening to the security man with an earpiece in his ear and she had to bite her tongue.