I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight.
I don’t say anything. I don’t know the right words to say.
I just hold him.
He’s still for a long moment then his arms wrap around me and his head drops to my shoulder.
We’re in public—yes, it’s early, yes, the table is as private as I could manage.
But we’re still in public.
Still visible.
And he’s still accepting the comfort I’m offering.
“I thought I was the same as them—or would end up the same as them eventually. I thought it was my destiny to be like them. That the only love I could give would be toxic. Fuck, I’m still scared it might be.”
“It won’t be.”
He lifts his head, his eyes colliding with mine.
“What’s that saying?” I ask softly. “About imposter syndrome—like you can’t be an imposter if you’re worried you are one.” I touch his jaw. “It won’t be toxic because you won’t let it become that way. Because you lived it and hated it and don’t want it to be our future or our family’s future.”
He shudders. “Our family?”
“You’ve already built a wonderful one with Luna and Smitty and Sawyer and Faye and Kailey and the others.”
“They’re your family too.”
“I know,” I say. And it’s no longer me just saying those words.
It’s me believing them.
“And we’re adding to it.” He settles his hand on my belly and my heart starts pounding so fast it feels like it will explode out through my ribs.
“Yes,” I whisper, eyes stinging. “Our family.”
“Harp,” he whispers back, his fingertips pressing lightly into me. “I was an asshole and I hurt you. I’m so, so sorry.”
“I hurt you too,” I say. “I was scared and I was protecting myself by pushing you away, But I hurt you and I’m sorry for that.”
His big chest inflates on a breath. “How are you so wonderful?”
“Keep remembering that wonderfulness when I send you out on midnight craving runs.”
He chuckles. “I can’t wait.” Then he cups my cheek, his expression going serious. “I know it’s going to take work to fix this—what’s wrong with me, what I did to us. And I know that, despite my best efforts, I’m still probably going to fuck up sometimes.” His eyes hold mine. “But I promise you that I won’t walk away again, won’t leave you wondering if I’m going to come back, if I’m going to be there for our family. Because I will be. Always.”
“Leo,” I whisper.
“And so I know I can make all these promises—tell you that I’m going to stay, going to be here—but I also know it’s going to take time for you to trust in that, for me to prove that to you, especially when the season starts and I’m traveling all the time.”
I hadn’t even thought of that.
God, that’s going to suck. Except?—
“I’ll have the girls to keep me company.”
He smirks. “To get you into mischief, you mean.”
