Charlie chuckled. “When I was with Mitch, I wanted it all—the travel, the semifame that came with being an author, the pretty decent paycheck, and the boy toy at my side. But with you? I want exactly that. You. If I never wrote another book again, I’d have something in my life that made me feel settled and at peace. Let me put it to you this way: the thought of laying outside with you, watching the galaxy stretched before me, and then having a swarm of insects come out and wiggle their butts? I want that. More than I think I’ve ever wanted anything.
“I know I’m not exactly who you thought I was, and I get that you’re angry with me and your brother. Keep in mind, though, without him, I never would have found you. After we left yesterday, he yelled at me a lot, until I told him I was in love with you. That shut him up. At least for a minute. But Clay was angry because he cares. When he found out my true feelings, he stopped and listened. I explained to him what you meant to me. What being here with you did for me. And I told him there is nothing wrong with you. If you’re happy, how can it be wrong? I said maybe it wasn’t you who needed to change, but him and your mother.Thenhe kicked me to the curb.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s not just them. I need to meet them halfway. I think I’ve always known it, but I was afraid. Being with you, I’m not so scared anymore. That doesn’t mean I’m ever going to be normal—”
“Stop that,” Charlie snapped, flicking a finger against my forehead. “What is normal? Who decides?”
“I miss my mom.”
His grip around me tightened. “She misses you too. Maybe you just need to show her that you’re okay. I think that’s what she worries most about.”
I took a deep, shuddering breath. Every insecurity I had, Charlie had seen. And he still wanted me. If he could do this for me, what could I do for him?
“I want to go back to therapy,” I said, my voice surprisingly solid.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded, rubbing my chin over his chest. “I don’t know what good it’s going to do me, but I want to try. To see my mom again. My brother. To go places and do things with you? Yeah, I’m sure. And, if you still want to, I’d like to have you here with me. This could be your home too.”
Charlie sighed. “I want to. More than you could ever know.” He twirled a finger in my hair. “I told you, this place felt like coming home for me. I wasn’t kidding. I’ve never in my life felt more comfortable anywhere. Never had it bother me that I left it. But yesterday, when you told me to go? I couldn’t walk away. I had to come back, because I gave you my heart. You’re the only one who was ever meant to have it.”
Fuck. How could I say no to this soppy, romantic man? And why the hell would I ever think I wanted to?
