“Tell Mom I will call her. I just need time.”
He nods, then kisses my forehead before letting himself out.
My chest rises, sucking in a breath, to let it all out moments later. Then, with my coffee finished, I head upstairs to take a shower. As I turn on the faucet, my phone pings again.
Will: I don’t want to lose you.
The words constrict my lungs, making it hard even to take the smallest of breaths. I never want to hurt Will, and that’s exactly what I am doing—pushing away because of my insecurities.
I don’t linger in the shower, quickly washing then changing into the first dress my hands reach out for. It’s a white backless dress with spaghetti straps and a patchwork design. My hair is wet, but I leave it out to wait for the warm air to dry it naturally.
Outside, the sound of an engine catches my attention.
With my sandals on, I walk downstairs to an empty foyer. Then, slowly, my feet move toward Will’s office. I choose not to knock but push the door open slowly.
Will is sitting behind his desk, dressed in a pale blue business shirt and dark pants. He mentioned yesterday afternoon he had an important video conference early today, which explains why he is dressed in business attire on a Saturday morning.
I don’t say a word, moving closer to him. My hands reach out without a second thought, grazing his cheek with my palm. He releases a sigh, resting his face in my hand.
“You will never lose me,” I tell him faintly. “Impossible.”
“Amelia, I meant what I said last night. You need to stop blaming yourself.” His voice is low but etched in pain. “Our time will come when it comes.”
I nod. “I know, but this just hurts.”
Will motions for me to sit on his lap. With his arms around me, I bury myself in the crook of his neck and inhale his scent.
“Don’t think for one second I don’t feel what you feel. As for Ava, I don’t understand what she was thinking.”
“Me neither.” I sigh dejectedly. “But for now, I don’t want to know. I just don’t want us to fall apart over something she has done.”
Will grazes my bottom lip with his thumb. My chest begins to hitch, the simple touch evoking so many emotions from me.
He shifts my hips, so I’m straddling him. My hands wrap around his neck as I kiss him deeply. A soft moan escapes me when I taste him on my lips.
“I missed sleeping next to you last night,” he murmurs. “The spare room is torture.”
I laugh softly. “I bet you that’s not all you missed.”
Will’s eyes tease me as he smirks while sliding his hands beneath my dress, then behind me to cup my ass.
“You know me too well, Mrs. Romano.”
And with his mouth on mine, the passion between us ignites. Just two people—husband and wife—finding their way back to each other.
But despite his feverish kisses consuming my thoughts, a part of me knows this isn’t over.
For the rest of our lives, Austin will be a part of our family.
Nothing will change that.
And I can’t help but worry that the storm is far from passing.
Not when the hurricane looms on the horizon, threatening to destroy everything we’ve fought so hard to build together.
Fourteen
Ava