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“We can start from this moment.”
“I’d like that but . . . I’ve remembered a lot about that perfect night five years ago, and we deserve so much more. The Gravor of back then would’ve called you within an hour. I would’ve asked you out. We would’ve gone on a few dates. Shared a movie. I would’ve rushed to the grocery store and bought all sorts of ingredients to create those dinners I promised you.”
“I would’ve gladly been a part of all that.”
“I missed out on kissing you, holding you, sharing our child.” His chin lifted. “But I’m not dead yet. As long as we’re alive, there’s hope for me yet.” He dropped to his knees and took my hands, kissing the palms one after the other. When he looked up at me, so much hope shone in his eyes, he might as well have ripped open my chest and grabbed onto my heart. “Will you go out with me?”
I couldn’t stop smiling. “On a date?”
“It’s a start. I want to back up to where we were five years ago and step forward with you by my side. Will you let me back into your life?”
Chapter 14
Gravor
I’d remain on my knees forever if that’s what it took to show her how much I needed her in my life. She was my true mate, the woman I was destined to love for a lifetime, but this was about more than that. I liked Mazie. Even without the bond I felt deep inside, I’d want to be with her.
“No pressure,” I said quickly. Maybe I should get to my feet. She was staring down at me with a stunned expression on her face.
“No, no. I want all this.” Her cheeks darkened, and her eyes sparkled. “I never thought I’d find you again. Not after the first few months when you just disappeared. I’m more than happy to start where we left off. Neither of us is to blame for what happened.” She urged me to my feet. “But, um . . . Yeah.” She looked over her shoulder, but I didn’t know why. “Asher’s here.”
My son.
“Would you like to meet him?”
My heart spiraled, smacking into my ribs. “More than anything. Asher. My son.”
“We haven’t talked about what we’ll say to him, so for now—”
“We shouldn’t tell him. Not right away.”
“But soon.”
My lungs hurt so much; I couldn’t breathe. “Yes, soon.”
She gave me a soft smile and took my hand, leading me inside. “He’s asleep.”
“Let me put on some clothing before I see him.”
“Probably a wise idea.” The skin around her eyes crinkled, and her laugh came out husky, as if she’d been holding her breath and she finally let it go. “Although, he won’t care a bit. Even if we tried to wake him, he’d just mumble and stay asleep. When he was potty training, I’d bring him into the bathroom during the night and tell him to go pee, and if I didn’t tug down his PJ bottoms, he’d pee right through them.”
I’d missed so much, but I wasn’t going to miss any more.
“Seeing him will be enough. I can talk with him tomorrow.” I tugged on the gray sweatpants she’d purchased and padded out into the hall, barefoot and without a shirt.
I was surprised by how much my hands were shaking. My belly kept flipping over, and my heart was a bass drum in my ears. I had a son! A son. He didn’t know who I was, but I was going to change that. I’d be there for him from now on. Someone to play with. Talk to. A friend and a dad. Everything.
She cracked Asher’s door and peeked inside, sending me a smile over her shoulder. “Come on in, Gravor,” she whispered. “It’s time for you to meet Asher, your son.”
Opening the door fully, she waved for me to enter ahead of her.
I swallowed hard, and my gaze locked on my little boy lying on his bed wearing pajamas with some sort of action figure all over them. Splayed on his back, one leg hung over the side of the bed while the other was hitched up on the covers he’d kicked back. His mouth was slightly open, and his long lashes fluttered. Sweet dreams? I sure hoped so.
I moved forward slowly, my pulse erratic in my throat. When I reached the bed, I dropped to my knees beside it. He had my dark hair, my skin color, and the lanky frame I remembered from photos my parents had of me and my brother when we were that age.
He was beautiful.
I reached my hand toward him, but it froze partway.
