“I can’t believe you want me to live with you.” I can’t help but get choked up. “I would love to.”
I drag her to me for a hug. Thank goodness she isn’t in any pain. “I want you to know that I’m working on becoming a better person. I signed up for online college courses. I will get a job to contribute financially. I don’t want to be a burden to you. Chloe Smith, you deserve the best man in the world, and while I might not always be able to give you that, I can give you the best version of me and I hope that’s enough. You make me want to be a better man …”
Now it’s my turn to blabber on, but thankfully, Chloe grabs both my cheeks and crashes my lips to hers, sealing our lives in the promise we made as kids.
“Ted Landon, you will never be a burden to me.” She rests her forehead against mine and stares into my eyes as she continues to talk. “Of course, I want you to be the best version of yourself because I know that will make you happy, but you’re already perfect to me.”
Chloe knows exactly who I am, including the really bad parts, and she still wants to be mine. I can’t believe how lucky I am. Most people in my position would be tossed into the gutter and left there, and rightfully so. Somehow, I have a beautiful woman who believes in me to become that again.
“I love you so much, Chloe, and I’m going to make you proud. My mom as well, and my father. Definitely my father.” I reassure her in between kisses.
“You’re dad would be proud of who you are right now.” She strokes my hair softly. “He is looking down on you right now and seeing how amazing you are. Trust me.”
I really hope that she’s right because I don’t want his death to be in vain. I will keep him in the fore front of my mind at all times to drive me to be the most amazing man that I can be. He would want that for me.
Chapter 27 – Chloe
“I don’t have a lot of stuff,” Ted reminds me as we step into the house. He’s clutching his small bag to his side with all of his worldly possessions in one hand, and he isn’t joking.
“It isn’t just my house anymore,” I remind him with a soft kiss on the cheek. “It’s ours. So make yourself at home. Put your stuff anywhere. I don’t want you to feel like this is only my house, okay?”
“That’s going to take some getting used to,” he admits. “I used to sneak in through the window to come in, remember?”
I giggle as I clutch on to my chest, getting emotional. “I would love to bring you home to meet my mom… you know if she was in America and not in England and didn’t already know who you were.”
“What does your mom think about me living here?” he can’t resist asking. “I bet it’s strange…”
“I don’t think she fully understands what’s happened,” I laugh. “I tried to explain it to her a million times, but it isn’t easy over the phone. She said that she’s coming to visit soon though so I can clear it all up then. But she’s glad that you’re here. She always thought that me and you would end up together.”
“And you don’t think that she’s going to hate me for everything?” He looks cautious and sad.
“No way, she adores you and she always will. Even when you left last time, she always told me that you’d come back.” I drag him to me for a kiss, grateful that he’s here and I don’t have to watch him run away again.
“So, are you going to give me a grand tour of the place?” he asks teasingly in between kisses. “You know, since this is my new house now and everything. I think I need to get to know every single room intimately.”
My whole body reacts to the spark in his eye and the suggestion in his voice. He wants to christen every room here. So, I start with the living room and push him down on the couch.
“This is the living room,” I whisper breathily as I tug my top over my head. “I hope you like the couch.”
“Oh, very nice,” he muses, playing along with me. “I especially like your TV.”
“Right, well let’s see what else I can show you.” I take his hand. “There’s a lot of house to see.”
I make up some nonsense about the kitchen appliances as I whip his shirt off and playfully unhook my bra. He follows me, with his tongue hanging out as the material flutters to the floor beneath me.