He presses his lips to my temple and hugs me close. “This is what Bill was trying to show you.”
“It wouldn’t have been the same back then ...” I tip my head back and look at him. “I’m sorry, but I don’t regret my decision.” I hold the photo up so we can both see it. “This,” I tap the glass with my nail, “this was pure love, and I wouldn’t have interrupted it for the world.”
His brows pull together, and I hope he’ll be honest with me.
“I did love her,” he whispers, tears instantly pooling in his eyes.
“I know. Don’t you dare feel bad about that. What was your favorite thing to do with her?” I ask.
He smiles and wipes his face. “Everything.”
My heart rejoices because that’s exactly what I want to hear. I don’t want him to hide his love for her from me. I wanted Raffe to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.
“But I especially loved parenting with her. Jackson was a bit of a handful, but I think it brought us closer. We had to work as a team. She always kept Brody and Jackson busy. It was a good thing too. Do you know how much trouble those two would have gotten into without her guidance?”
We both laugh, but then he turns serious, running his thumb over the bottom of the frame. “You were also right there with us. She knew I loved you … she encouraged it.”
“I’m sorry if I caused a rift.”
“That’s just it. You didn’t.”
We’re quiet for a moment. “It’s okay to love us both, Raffe. I don’t want you to ever hide that part of your life from me. I want to hear every detail. Well, maybe noteveryone,” I tease.
“I’ve never stopped loving you, Jenny,” he says seriously, ignoring my joke.
I set the photo beside us and reposition myself so that I’m facing him, my ear resting on his solid chest. His heart beats steadily beneath it. I look up and meet his gaze. “Thank you for holding onto it, even though I’ve given you nothing but reasons to let it go.”
“I’ll never let go.” He smiles.
We spend the rest of the afternoon napping and exploring my room.
“Okay, just so you know, I do all of my showering in this bathroom. It has the best water pressure.”
I laugh as I lower myself into the empty tub. “This thing is huge.”
He climbs in with me. “Room for two.”
The wink he tosses my way has my cheeks lighting up like a brush fire. My stomach tightens at the thought, and honestly, I can’t tell if it’s a good feeling or bad. Of course he’s going to want an intimate relationship with me. I want that too, but … it’s been such a long time since I’ve …
“Hey.” He tips my chin with his knuckle. “I’m sorry. That was too soon.”
“No. I want you to do and say what feels natural.”
“Like touching your butt?”
“You’re terrible.”
“Do you want me to be any other way?”
“No.” I try to look away, but he doesn’t release me. “Fine. I want you to be you, just know I’m probably going to be awkward about it.”
“So, what you’re saying is nothing’s changed because you’ve always been awkward.”
My mouth falls open, and he smiles.
“Take that back.” I shove him in the arm playfully.
“No,” he says, jumping from the tub, laughing. I follow him out, tackling him on the bed.
