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Her eyes soften. “They put it down as child abuse.”
I nod.
“You did what was right.”
A low scoff leaves me. “His dad was arrested the next day. He lost his job, lost his pension.” I meet her gaze. “Lost his wife next.”
Her eyes tighten as she tries to piece it all together.
“Couple weeks went by, and then she came over to thank the father of the son who was brave enough to help hers.” I scoff. “My mom wasn’t home when she stopped by, she was in the city, where he was supposed to meet her the next morning.” Anger forms in the pit of my stomach, but I push it down. “Dr. Avery Hammons made herself quite comfortable that night, and when she finally left, Alex already had her convinced to take my dad with her.”
“He took from you,” she breathes.
“Yep. His mom couldn’t get back with his dad after word got out what he did, not if she wanted to keep her practice open and successful. Alex’s dad lost everything, he felt he lost everything, so he made it his mission to make sure I did, too.”
“Your dad walked away, just like that?”
“My dad never appreciated my mom to begin with. The fact that I was never good enough for him made it easier to leave me behind, too. He had an heiress for a wife and gained a doctor. Had a son who started on his team but ‘only’ held a 3.0, gained one who started and was top of the class.”
“Second in class,” she whispers.
I chuckle lightly, looking to her. “Yeah, second to my Pixie. That was just another reminder he’s better for you.”
She frowns, stands up and walks over to me.
I spread my legs for her to step between, but she straddles me instead, leaning her elbows on my shoulder pads.
“I don’t need another version of me,” she says, running her thumb across my bottom lip.
“You deserve someone worth as much as you,” I rasp.
“I deserve someone who will love me hard, want me despite my mistakes, and appreciates who I am because of them.”
I swallow, and her legs sink farther beside me. “I can do that, D.”
“I know,” she whispers, kissing me lightly. “Your worth isn’t measured in your accomplishments, Nico, even though you have many to be proud of. It’s how hard you love that counts.”
I pull her mouth to mine, kissing her roughly and she moans against me.
She can feel it, my love for her.
“My silent knight,” she breathes across my mouth before sinking into me more.
But I’m a greedy bastard. I want words.
I pull back, looking up at her as she smiles gently at me.
“Mr. Brando said it was about misconception, right?” I start.
She laughs, nodding as I run my hands up her thighs and under the jacket until I’m gripping her hips.
“Tell me, D. What do you see when you look at me now?”
Her palms find my cheeks and she holds my eyes with hers.
“I see a guarded, suffer in silence type who is more than the first glance could ever give. A stubborn, hardheaded guy I want to keep,” she whispers, a calm, almost sadness taking over her eyes. “Even more, I see the guy I accidentally fell in love with and wouldn’t change if I could. A gorgeous, strong-minded guy I want to love me back.”
My pulse is beating out of control, my heartstrings pulled tight as I stare at the girl I never thought would say half the shit she just did while staring right at me. Right fuckin’ into me.
My Pixie.
I pull her closer, tilting my head to whisper in her ear. “I do, Pixie. I have, and I will.”
She pushes me back, waiting, but not long.
“I love you, Demi,” I whisper, and tears fill her eyes. “And not only can you keep me, baby, but I’m not against forcing you to, ‘cause I’m keeping you, following you wherever you go. Shit, I’ll chase you if it comes to that.”
She laughs, her head tipping back but only for a second before my palm is spreading across her spine and I’m bringing her face to mine again.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being brave enough to try, even if it was in an ass-backward way.”
This time it’s me who laughs. “I’ve never been one to do things right the first time around.”
She smirks. “Now that I’d have to disagree with.”
A loud laugh leaves me.
I bring my hands around to rest them on the curve of her ass, our gazes meeting. “Good to know, Pixie, but just wait.” I lean forward, biting on her bottom lip a second. “It only gets better with practice.”
She lets my jacket slide off her arms, giving me a saucy grin, whispering, “Prove it, Neek.”
So I do.
At her request, we skip the stupid dance knowing there’ll be more, and I take her home, showing her over and over until she’s putty in my arms, and then falls asleep in them.
