“Forget all of it for today, okay? Can you try?”
How could I forget all that crap? I was a horrible witch to him the night before. And then I turned into a psycho. I was living in the past, letting it drag me down, drag him down when he had so much to figure out for us.
He rubbed my back sweetly and said, “Today, we got a serious pest problem and I’m exterminating it. You and me have shit to talk through after last night but baby, I need my head in the game today so let’s just draw a line under all that ‘till we get home. It was too late to arrange another stylist so I hope Suzette won’t trigger you again.”
I lifted my head and kissed his soft lips, “I’m so sorry, baby. That was really shitty of me to lay on you last night with everything you’re---”
In my defense, he made me talk about it. He pushed until I did. I couldn’t hide my emotions from him; he read me so well.
“Shhh. Stop.” he hushed me and kissed my lips while he cradled my jaw in one hand. “That’s not drawing a line, Tia. Let it go today. I don’t wanna fight with you when I got all this shit to deal with. I love you. More than anything. Let me sort this shit out, okay? Be here for me. Just be my girl, taking care of me like you usually do. We’ll figure this out after. Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“We have shit to sort and I should not have brought you here amid all the stress we’re under, you were right about that, and I take responsibility for that setting you off, but that said, I meant what I said last night. Counseling for you, too. Maybe even both of us together, too.”
“You want that after finding out Oliver was scheming?”
“I never would’ve said it six months ago but yeah. I think you and me need a little help. Maybe we’ll never get completely over our problems but last night was no way to deal. Agree?”
I nodded, ?
?That’s probably a good idea. I was having flashbacks yesterday and it screwed with me.”
“Flashbacks of what?”
“Mexico flashbacks. And of stuff between you and me that was… rough. From the beginning. From when we were here.”
“I get it. Right now, we go forward and I don’t want you fucking stressing. You just grow our baby.” He put his hand on my belly, “Don’t know much about that part but doubt stress helps.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t.”
He caressed my belly some more. Whenever he touched my belly, it made me melt.
“Tonight, dress to the nines for me. I want you and Tess to pull out all the stops.”
“I’ll do my best,” I smiled, a little misty-eyed.
He kissed me and pulled us to standing and then swatted my butt. “Go. Eat breakfast.”
I got up on my tippy toes and put my arms around his neck, “I’m so sorry.”
I really was. I was so twisted up about it, even still, but I hated that I’d hurt him last night, that I’d added to his stress when he already had so much to deal with.
“Tell me you’re mine,” he ordered.
“I am.”
“Always.” He flexed his jaw.
“Forever, baby.” I kissed him on the jawline and then kissed his neck.
“Take care of Tess today.”
I nodded. He backed up and moved to the closet and grabbed his jacket, “She’s in her head but I talked to her before you got up and gave her the rundown for tonight. She sees that slimy fuck, she’s liable to flip but I talked to her. Keep a close eye. I’ll have Dex and Nino watching her closely, too.”
“That could be… real hard on her. Maybe it’s not the best idea in light of what he did.”
“I know.” He flexed his jaw angrily, “I thought about what you said so I gave her the out. She’s a Ferrano. She’s gonna look at him not looking beaten or broken. She wants that.”