“Are you all right?”
She looked up, her eyes damp. “I will be.”
“Can I do something?”
“You already are.”
“I want to do more.”
“Take me home, Richard. I’m ready.”
“Okay, sweetheart.”After we left the beach, it hadn’t taken us long to gather the few things she had brought to the cottage. I packed up the remaining food and threw it all in the trunk. I waited, giving her some privacy in the cottage for yet another goodbye.
The drive home was in direct contrast to the frantic pace I had set getting to the resort. Katy was beside me, her hand clasped in mine as we made our way back to the city. I drove leisurely, giving her a chance to relax. I stole glances at her frequently.
“I know you’re looking at me.”
“I like looking at you.”
“I’m fine, Richard. Really, I am.”
“Are you nervous about coming back with me? The difference in our relationship?”
She leaned her head back, looking at me. “Nervous?”
“It’s all changed now, Katy. We’re going home as a real married couple. For starters, as soon as we get home, your things are coming to my room. Our room. For good.”
“I know. You get to snuggle me every night.”
“And you get to listen to me snore.” Then I became serious. “We have a lot to face together.”
“And we’ll do it.” She hesitated. “Are you nervous?”
“In some ways, yes.”
“Why?”
I pulled over to the side of the road, draping my arm over the back of her seat. “I’m still me, Katy. Deep inside I’m still the same asshole. I have a temper. I’m not perfect—not by a long shot.”
“I don’t expect you to be perfect, Richard. But I don’t think the asshole inside is the same as the one you used to be.”
“You have a great deal of faith in me.”
“I’ve seen the change in you.” She smiled. “Plus the fact, I love you.”
“I’m worried I’ll let you down.”
“What about when I get mad at you and I act like an asshole?”
That made me chuckle. “Since I’m sure it will be justified, when it happens, we’ll deal with it.”
“We’ll deal with it all together, Richard. Asshole behavior included.”
“I swear I’ll try to be better.”
“I know you’ll try, and even more, I know you’ll succeed.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because you love me.”
Running my knuckles down her cheek, I nodded. “I do, sweetheart. Very much.”
She covered my hand and kissed the palm. “We all have our moments, you know. Even me.”
“Is that right?”
“I used to get angry at the way you’d talk to me when you were being more . . . dickish than usual.”
“You hid it well.”
“I got even, in my own way.”
“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity. Do tell me, how did you get even with me?”
The ghost of a smile played her lips.
“Katy?”
“On the days you were extra pissy, I would swap out your low-fat cheese and mayo for the full-fat version on your sandwiches. I never cut the fat out of your foam in your lattes—ever actually. I just let you think I did.”
“What?”
“I forgot to ask one day when I was getting your sandwich and you never noticed. It was my own silent revenge.”
“That was your way of getting even?”
“I figured if your pants got tighter, you might have to work out a little harder. Maybe sweat the asshole out of you.”
I started to chuckle. That turned into laughter. Deep, belly laughs that made my eyes water.
“Such a vindictive bitch you are, sweetheart. I’m glad you’re on my side now. My treadmill trembles over your immense wrath.”
“Go fuck yourself, VanRyan.”
Leaning over the console, I kissed her. She had no idea how incredibly endearing she was in this moment, or how much my love for her increased every time she uttered those words. Once spoken in anger, and now in jest, they were a reminder of how far we had come together.
“Take me home, Richard.”
“Okay, sweetheart.”
I pulled back onto the road, my nerves gone and a smile on my face.RICHARD
THE CONDO WAS SILENT WHEN we arrived. I set down our bags and looked at the mess I had left behind.
“I should have cleaned up. I was anxious to get to you.”
She walked around, picking up a couple bottles. “You need to stop drinking so much scotch.”
The words were out before I could stop them. “You need to stop leaving me.”
Her eyes widened.
I tugged on my cowlick. “Shit. Home five minutes and the asshole comes out.”
“I’m going to give you that one. I shouldn’t have run. I should have stayed and talked it out with you.”
Reaching out, I brought her into my arms. “You had no reason to trust me, then. I’ll make sure you won’t have that excuse next time. Not,” I added, “that there is going to be a next time.”
She nuzzled close. “No.”
“Then we’re good?”
“Yep.”
Glass crunched under my feet when I moved, and I looked down with a grimace. “Careful.”