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“Not officially. It wasn’t meant to be permanent, especially after what happened at our building…”
I squeeze my eyes shut and let the hot water cascade down my back and the sides of my face. “Okay, but you love him, right? And he’s obviously crazy about you.”
“You know as well as I do that love isn’t always enough,” Sam says, her voice catching toward the end. “I don’t know. I kind of thought I’d go back to my old life eventually, but I’m not even sure I want to anymore.”
I shove my hair out of my eyes and grope for the bar of soap. “How does Tristan feel about all of this?”
“He says he’ll respect whatever decision I make, but he also said he wants us to have a fresh start. Not at Anita’s and not at your house, no offense.”
“None taken.” I run the bar of soap over my flushed skin and pause. “You’re not going to move far away, are you?”
Sam chuckles. “No, don’t worry. If we do move in together, it’ll probably be in the same neighborhood.”
My eyes fly open, and I switch off the knobs. I see the towel hanging on the hook by the shower. I drag it over my body and see a bathrobe now draped over the shower rod. With a smile, I grab it and shove my arm through one hole and then another. When I’m done, I pull the curtain aside, and Sam gives me an approving smile. In the bedroom, she turns her back on me while I get dressed, and the two of us discuss the topic some more.
I can sense her hesitation and her fear. It’s exactly how I felt when I had to leave my old apartment.
While I wasn’t especially attached to it, at least I knew it was mine and that I’d worked for it. Tristan is a good man, and I know he’s going to take care of Sam, but she’s someone who’s had to take care of herself and doesn’t like being forced to rely on someone.
I know he has to tread carefully or risk pushing her away altogether.
After helping me towel dry my hair, Sam takes a step back and examines her handiwork. “Good. You look great, Isabella, as usual.”
I spin around to face her and fold my arms over my chest. “So, now, are you going to tell me what’s happening?”
“I have to go get dressed too.” Sam gives me an apologetic smile and races up the stairs. I sigh, wander into the living room, and sit down on the couch. I’m flipping through my book when Anita comes in and hands me a mug of steaming hot chamomile tea. She offers me a smile and ambles into the kitchen while I take small sips.
Eventually, I curl up on the couch and pull the blanket up over my head.
I’m drifting in and out of consciousness when I hear a familiar voice pulling me out of the depths of darkness. Heart hammering unsteadily against my chest, I throw the blanket off and find myself looking directly at Carter, who is sitting on the coffee table in a pair of dark jeans and a button-down shirt.
But this version of Carter has lost weight, his face is sunken, and he has dark circles under his eyes. Slowly, I sit up straighter, lean forward, and press a finger to his arm. When he doesn’t disappear into another one of my mirages, a gasp falls from my lips, and I cover my mouth with my hands. Carter stands up and comes to sit next to me on the couch.
“You look good, dove.”
I let one hand fall to my side, and the other reaches between us to touch him again, my breath hitching in my throat when I feel his solid and warm flesh beneath mine. “You’re real.”
Carter raises an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I inch closer to him, my heart beating faster now. “You’re actually here. I’m not dreaming.”
Carter’s lips lift into the hint of a smile. “If you’d like me to pinch you, that can be arranged, though I would prefer not to engage in anything while we have an audience.”
“Audience?” I look away from him and find myself glancing over at Anita, Tristan, and Sam, who are standing behind the kitchen counter, pretending to be busy with various things. “Oh.”
Carter takes both of my hands in his and pulls me to my feet. “Before you say anything else, there’s something I need to say.”
He gets down on his knees and clasps his hands together. “I know I haven’t behaved the way I should’ve. When you told me about the baby, I panicked. You have to understand that I’ve only ever had one goal for my life, and kids weren’t a part of that dream.”
I swallow. “I know. I didn’t plan this either.”
Carter’s eyes don’t leave my face. “No apologies are going to make up for what I did to you or the fact that I left without saying goodbye, but I needed to do it.”
Silence stretches between us.
“I need some things from the store,” Anita interrupts loudly. “Tristan, will you drive me? Sam, didn’t you want to buy some things too?”
As one, all three of them scurry out of the house, only pausing to slam the door shut behind them. As soon as they leave, Carter wraps his arms around my middle and exhales sharply. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I don’t deserve a fucking thing where you’re concerned, Bella, but I hope you’ll let me try.”
