Tempted - Page 96
“With every obstacle you encounter, if you take it one step at a time, you’ll never get stuck.”
Squaring my shoulders, I set on my path. My pulse races so fast it feels as though the ground under me might give way. My body won’t stop until I’m with him.
I lean forward on my tiptoes and place an awkward kiss on his cheek. Pulling back, he stops my retreat, placing his hand to cover mine completely. We look down at our hands, now interlocked. Neither one of us is able to speak. But the silence doesn’t last long as I suck in a loud breath to calm my racing heart.
“Are you okay? Why are you shaking?”
My eyes dart back and forth across the room to where my family and Carter are gathered. “Everyone is staring at me.”
“They are. They’re so proud of how far you’ve come. You’re incredible.”
His words wash over me. He’s right. I have come far. My time at rehab has proven that I have what it takes to fight. It gives me the strength I need to have and hope that I’ll only go farther on this journey of soberness.
“I’ve missed you,” he says.
“Me too. It feels like forever. I’m sorry I never returned your calls. I needed—” I take a deep breath. “I needed to find me. Do you hate me?”
“I love you. I could never hate you.” His lips hover over mine. “I missed you.” He places a soft kiss on my lips. “Every day you were gone, I craved you, your body, your heart, but most importantly, your soul. Because that’s what you are to me, Bailey. You’re my soul.”
His lips descend, showing me just how much he loves me. Showing me every emotion he couldn’t say with words.
Merging my soul with his.
A bond that could never break.
Wrapping my arms around him, I deepen the kiss. And without words, I pour my heart out to him. At this moment, I finally feel home.
57
Bailey
It’s good to be home. At first, there was an adjustment period, but now, weeks later, I’m getting back into the swing of things. It was hard at first, having to talk to the police about what Monica did to me, but Harper, being Harper, is handling everything. She is going after Monica for second degree assault. A part of me wishes I can put the whole mess behind me, but I know this is for the best, even if going to court brings up terrible memories, I’m stronger than that. My time at Serenity Vista gave me the tools I need to weather any storm that might come my way.
I’m no longer working at Silver at all. The sale is almost final, so I have relocated my desk into an office space Drew has rented for us. He comes and goes, keeping busy. It’s definitely a change. It’s quiet, but I like it.
We spend every night together. Mostly at his place.
“Knock, knock,” Harper calls from the door, pulling my eyes away from the document I’ve been staring at.
“Hey! What are you doing here?”
She holds up her hand, clutching a bag from our favorite deli. “I come bearing gifts. Thought you probably needed someone to force you to eat.”
At that very moment, my stomach growls. “You know me too well.” I smile.
She takes a seat across from me, unpacking the food and arranging it between us. We dig in, not saying a word for the first several minutes as both of us are clearly starved.
“How are things going?” I say, breaking the silence. She sighs, and for the first time since she arrived, I see the bags under her eyes. A sign she’s struggling. “Cal?” I prompt, and she shrugs.
“I know I acted all tough about it, but it’s hard. I don’t like being alone.”
“So date,” I say, popping a chip in my mouth.
She groans. “It’s not that easy. In a city this big, it shouldn’t be so hard, but it is. The men I meet are either weak and annoying or intimidated by my success.”
“You are pretty badass.”
We both chuckle.
“I’m going to be single forever,” she cries, and I set down my food and take a long look at my gorgeous, intelligent sister.
“I promise you won’t. The right guy will come along. Be patient.”
“Like he did for you?” she says, grinning.
“Exactly.”
“Have you met the mom yet?”
“No,” I say, defeated. “I can’t help but feel like he’s holding back.”
“He loves you, Bailey. Give it time.”
“I know he does. It’s just . . . I can’t help but wonder if he’s embarrassed to introduce me to her.”
“Stop, Bailey. You can’t think like that. You’re a great girl. Maybe he’s more afraid of his mom than you.”
I sigh. “You might be right.”
“Might be right about what?” Drew asks, walking through the door with a handful of beautiful white roses.
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