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I turned and gave her a look. “Are you trying to make me feel worse, Bean?”
She bopped me on top of my head with the brush softly. “Of course not.”
She turned my head back around to start braiding my hair. I pushed her leg playfully but since she’s so light she almost fell right off the side of the bed. She gripped my shoulder so she didn’t fall, which made me laugh uncontrollably.
“Damn bitch, you tryna kill me!” she exclaimed.
“Maybe,” I said jokingly.
We caught up a little while I ate my food and she unpacked. Then we watched a movie. I thought the previous conversation was over, but as we settled into bed, I heard her whisper.
“It sounds like he knows he really fucked up.”
“I know,” I whispered with my back to her.
“Are you gonna…forgive him?” I felt her shift, so I knew she was now looking at the back of my head. I turned toward her and just stared at her for a moment.
“I can’t, not after everything he said to me. I can’t let my heart break like that again. I shouldn’t have crossed that line in the first place. I know that now.”
“But—”
I sat up to change the subject.
“I’m going to get some water. Do you want any?” I just wanted her to go to sleep and leave this conversation alone. She shook her head, and I headed downstairs.
There was a light on in the kitchen. I looked out the front window and saw that Pops and Liza made it home. I sighed in relief that it was them and not Lincoln. I reached the kitchen and stopped in my tracks. Lincoln was sitting at the kitchen island with a bunch of papers spread out. He looked at me, surprised.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize you were still in here.” I turned and started to walk away.
“Songbird,” he sounded desperate.
I stopped walking but didn’t turn around. I could feel myself becoming nervous. I heard the chair scrape against the floor like he was getting up, and I flinched. I felt his warmth come up behind me, and then I felt his nose caress the spot right under my ear.
“Aubrey,” he whispered. His breath on the back of my neck took my breath away. I was frozen where I stood. My brain was no longer controlling my legs. “Aubrey, please let me explain what happened that day.”
I finally got the strength to move. I turned toward him and stepped back. “I’m aware of what happened, Lincoln. I was there when you tore me down.”
He turned a dark shade of crimson. He stepped towards me and grabbed my shoulders. “Don’t do this… don’t give up on me.” He moved his hands into the hair at the base of my neck.
“I didn’t give up on you, Lincoln. You gave up on yourself by thinking no one else would ever care about how wonderful you are. You showed your true colors and made it crystal clear I was just a big mistake to begin with. You told me I was temporary; that was all I needed to hear.” He was just staring at me, not saying a word.
“Can I just grab my water and go? I need to go to sleep.” I tried to pull back, but he didn’t let me go.
“No.”
My eyes went wide when he said it. “Aubrey Lynn Miller, you are mine. I will spend every day proving that I am worthy of your love. Even if you walk away from me, I won’t give up on us, no matter how long it takes. I will wait forever.”
He leaned down and crashed his lips into mine before I knew what was happening. This kiss was desperate. I felt my resolve melting away. I could feel the passion behind this kiss, but I couldn’t help hearing his words replaying in the back of my mind.
You are only temporary.
My lips parted, and Lincoln took my tongue into his mouth and continued kissing me like he couldn’t breathe without me. My heart and brain are telling me two different things. My heart knows I want this; I want him. All of him, forever. But my brain is only replaying his harsh words and telling me to stay away and to be safe and guard my heart.
He picked me up, digging his fingers into my ass, instinctively making my legs wrap around him. He swiped his papers off the kitchen island and deposited me onto it. He started kissing down my neck, and he continued by sucking on my collarbone like he was trying to brand me.
“Why are you even in here?” I said breathlessly.
He had a look of lust in his eyes. “I was waiting for you, Songbird.”
