“Um. Yes. We’ll work something out. When it’s time.”
“Your parents are such lovely people. I hope they didn’t decide to stay at a hotel because of me.”
“I think they did—but for a nice reason. I think they could tell I wanted a little alone time with you after how badly I was shaken up.” I smile at him. “You saved the day.”
Mercer coughs. “No, I just did what any mate would do.”
“Eli looked like he was going to wet himself.”
“Ah. Then I should be especially glad this mother warmed up to me by the end of the night.”
“It was quicker than that. As soon as she saw how Zack lit up around you, you were golden.”
“It wasn’t an act?”
“I don’t think so. She offered to babysit on our honeymoon.” I finish vacuuming up the last of the dino confetti and cross my arms. “It was nice to see them being friends again, too. Things have been strained since the divorce. I can’t believe they decided to stay with Linda at her rental.
Mercer stops gathering paper plates and plastic cutlery into a trash bag, a tense look on his face. “That’s so nice of her, especially considering I semi-threatened her son.”
“Semi? You threatened to remove his tongue—or vocal cords. Either way, that’s a total threat, not half of one.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. Someone needed to do it, and it was kinda nice not to have to do it myself. I was also completely thrown by how shetook my side. I know I’d have a horrible time choosing to see my son as the villain.”
“Zack will never be a villain!” Mercer hisses in shock.
That’s not the point. Not thewholepoint. The point is, I appreciate what you did. You stepped in and shut Eli up when he was throwing around that stuff about two caregivers. And by saying we would get married, you put the idea of a second, stable income in his head.”And in mine.
“It wasn’t a romantic proposal, was it? But I can do better! I will, when you tell me it’s time.”
When I don’t say anything, Mercer drops the trash bag slowly, shoulders falling. “It’s too fast? Well, I’m not rushing. It’s just that I’m not afraid, and I already know.”
“Know what?” My throat is tight.
“That I love you and want to be with you. That I want to be with you and Zack, as a family, if that’s what you want, too.”
“Want? Mercer, I... You are everything I could want, but I’m just... Today reminded me how amazing you are, and dreaming of a life where you’re here permanently is wonderful, but it’s not necessarily going to happen. Not because of you. Because of me.”
Mercer licks his lips slowly, and I’m not sure if it’s from nerves or because he really needs to leave and get back in the water. I can’t imagine what it must be like, knowing you need water to live and yet choosing to leave your lake or ocean for a house on solid ground.
“Eli was your true love, and he broke your heart. Treated you badly. So badly that you don’t think I can heal it, even with everything I’m willing to do?” he whispers in a stricken voice.
“No! No, I’m just being realistic. It’s been a month. For a month, anyone can commute back and forth, but you need water. You deserve a habitat where you’re purely comfortable, and instead, you keep choosing me.”
“For you, I could live in a desert. I’d dig wells a mile deep to find water if it meant being beside you,” Mercer vows, taking my hand.
“Why do you say things like that?” I shake my head, unable to fathom a love like that. A love so deep and so fast to develop. Even if I feel it, too, a scared, shaky version of that all-consuming love, I don’t know how to return it, to believe that I can truly have it.
“Because I mean them. Because I love you.”
“No one has ever loved me like that,” I admit, and I’m ashamed. I chose Eli. A shallow love. Was it love at all, or just mutual attraction and convenience? If I was so stupid before, how do I know I’m not messing up again?
“But, Madelyn, isn’t this how you should treat the person you love? The people you love? Because that’s all I’m doing, loving you the best way I know. And I’ve never loved like this, either. If I’m doing it wrong, I’m sorry.”
“You’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing it right, so right, so perfectly! I’m just worried because... Well, what if the person you love so perfectly can never love you back in the same way?” I hold my breath and wait.
“I’m a kraken. Never for me is a longer time than never for you. I will wait. Unless you tell me not to.”
