Ain't No Sunshine

“I know,” I say, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, resting my face in my hands. “But I can’t keep going like this. I’m sorry for not being honest with you. I’m sorry for not seeing what Liv was trying to do. You wanted time. I gave you time. How much more do you need?”

Cory sighs and shifts on the chair. She’s nervous. “Is she still part of your life?” she asks after a beat. Fuck!

“In a way, yes.” It’s a shitty response, but the only one I can give.

“What does that even mean?” Cory asks, her voice breaking a little.

“It means that unfortunately she’s always going to be in my life. But I haven’t seen her since Christmas.”

“Have you spoken to her?”

“Just that once. When you answered my phone.”

She nods, but I can tell she’s not convinced. “And…” Told you.

“And I don’t know what else you want me to say. She calls. I don’t answer. Moms finally backed off on getting us together, but she’s not willing to cut Liv from her life. They have too much history.”

Cory looks to the sky, like she’s trying to find it in her to believe me. We’ve been here before. This is never going to work. She’s never going to trust me again. The thought makes me mad.

“We were never going to work. Were we?” Cory’s eyes drop to mine, and I can see regret there, but I don’t wait for her to speak. I need to get this off my chest. “Despite the fact that Liv’s around and wants me back, I don’t want her back. I never wanted her back. But younever trusted me... No, you never trust us enough to see that.” I pause for a minute as Cory continues to stare.“Why couldn’t you see it? Why can’t you see it now? There was never anyone else. It’s always been you.” My voice breaks just as the tears cascade down Cory’s face.

We’ve both made mistakes, both been angry for stupid reasons. And even though it hurts me to think she doesn’t see or trust how much I love her, I don’t want to hurt her now. I never want to hurt her.

I reach across and pull her into my arms, engulfing her in a hug. Her whole body shakes with her tears, and I feel my own eyes water. I don’t even know why she’s crying, but I want to do anything I can to make it stop. “It’s okay. You’re okay. We can work through this. If you want to, we can fix this.”

Her crying slows, and her breathing evens out as I rub my hand up and down her back. She takes a deep breath and then pulls back to look up into my eyes. ”I broke us. It’s all my fault,” she says as the tears fall again.

“No,” I state firmly as one of my own tears breaks free. Fuck! This isn’t all on her. “Cory, we both messed up. We both—”

“But you’re right,” she says, sobbing now. “If I’d just trusted you… I’ve been seeing someone to help with my insecurities. I’m trying, Nate. I am, but sometimes I just… what if I’m not enough for you?” What?

All this time I thought she was angry with me, and she thought she wasn’t enough…

I grab her face and lift it until she’s looking me square in the eyes. “You have always been enough for me. Since the second I saw you on campus, you have been the only one that will ever be enough for me. You’re more than enough. You’re perfect. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my entire life.”

Cory’s eyes bounce between mine as more tears silently fall. “God, Nate. I—”

I take her lips in mine, not allowing her to finish her sentence. A sentence I’m almost positive was going to be an apology. One that’s not needed. I’m ending this madness. Our forever begins again right now.

My lips gently caress hers, sucking and pulling as I go. Tasting the saltiness of her tears. When she moans, I pull away, needing to get everything sorted before we take this any further.

“I love you, Little Bit. I will always love you. I need you to be mine again. To tell me you’re in this with me. That I’m not the only one who feels this way.”

Cory smiles, taking a slight step back. She sniffles and wipes under her eyes before smirking. “How about you answer the question for me? If you’re right, I’ll take a step closer; if you’re wrong, I’ll move further away.”

Fuck, yes! That’s my answer right there. “You love me, too, Little Bit,” I say confidently.

Cory jumps into my arms, and we crash down onto the bed. “Correct answer. You’re the winner!”

Yes, I am. I laugh at her change in mood and then flip her onto her back before hovering above her.

“I guess it’s time I took you on a first date,” I say with the smallest of smirks.

Cory laughs, and my heart soars as I stare down at her breathtaking gaze. It’s been a long time coming, but I finally have my beautiful girl back in my arms. Where she should be. Forever this time.

And just like that, my sunshine has returned.