Loran knew she wouldn’t be expecting it, but he hoped it would be a happy shock. “She loves me.” Loran was certain of that. “And I really believe I’m the person she wants to spend the rest of her life with. It may mean a long engagement, while we both work through our issues and figure out how to be a solid couple and have an unshakeable marriage, but I’m good with that. I’d wait forever for that girl if that’s how long it took.”
Dan grinned as he held his hand out to Loran. “That’s what I like to hear.”
“Then I have your blessing?” Loran asked, clasping Dan’s hand as he glanced over his shoulder at Bev.
She was beaming when she said, “We can’t wait to welcome you to the family officially.”
***
Bella was lying on her bed in a non-descript hotel room, mentally rehearsing the speech she’d prepared for the following day. It was impactful. She just hoped she could get through it without breaking down.
A knock on her door made her jump, until she remembered she’d ordered room service.
“Coming,” she called out, grabbing her purse.
She opened the door and gasped. “Loran. What are you doing here?” He was wearing faded jeans and a black t-shirt with the logo of his favorite rock band. Damn. He was a sight for sore, swollen, crying eyes.
“What do you think I’m doing here?” he whispered, pulling her into his arms. “You really think I’d let you go through something like this alone?”
They heard a food cart making its way down the hall and Bella swiped at her tears as she said, “Uh, that’s for me.”
“I got this,” he said. “You go back inside.”
She was sitting on the edge of the bed when he came back in with the tray of food she’d ordered. A burger and fries would sit in her stomach like lead after seeing Loran. She still didn’t know what he was doing here or what it meant.
“Grace told you where to find me?” Bella should have known her best friend was up to something when she insisted on knowing where she was staying.
“Yeah.” Loran hung his head. “I wish I could’ve heard it from you, but I get why you left town without talking to me first… after the way we left things.”
He was standing half way across the room and Bella didn’t know why he was keeping his distance. Why wasn’t he reaching out to her?
“It all happened so fast, to be honest. I got the message when I got home and I felt like I needed a day here to collect myself before I had to speak to the parole board.”
He nodded. “I can understand that.”
“Did you fly?”
“Yeah. You?”
“I drove. Needed the time to think.” They were making small talk and it was killing her. She needed to hear him tell her that he loved her, that everything was going to be fine.
His eyes locked on hers. “What did you think about on that long road trip, Bell?”
“Coming back here.” Her breath stuttered as she wiped her sweaty palms on her yoga pants. “How I would feel about it. Lots of memories here, good and bad.” Her college town was picturesque, but when she drove down the street where the attack took place she could see it in her mind like it was happening. She could still see her blood spilling all over the pavement.
“I can imagine.” He finally sat down beside her on the bed and reached for her hand.
She released the breath she’d been holding as she clasped his hand like a lifeline. She hadn’t realized how much she needed him until she felt his arms around her. She’d always prided herself on being independent and strong, but sometimes having someone to lean on just intensified that strength.
“Did you think about us?”
“Of course I did.” She’d spent every other minute thinking about him.
“And?”
She wanted to hear how he was feeling, but he clearly wanted her to take that leap of faith and go first. “Um, I know where my head’s at, Loran. My feelings for you haven’t changed. But I wasn’t the one having the doubts, you were.”
He shifted so they were facing each other. “Don’t ever doubt how much I love you.”
