And yes, I cried. A lot.
I boo-hooed right there in the ladies’ restroom, hiding in the last stall until the emotional storm was over. Call me crazy, but I had a feeling going into my FBI interview with a splotchy face and tears in my eyes wasn’t my best play.
Turns out I shouldn’t have been worried about that, either, though. The agents were really nice—thorough as hell, but super nice. They grilled me for almost three hours, but they brought snacks, gave me the couch instead of one of the hard chairs, and assured me I’m in zero trouble with the law or anyone else.
In fact, not only are Dex and his entire ring of bad guys headed for a long stint in prison, but the agents made sure the good guys over at the NOPD reopened the case and will be prosecuting Dex to the full extent of the law. With all the evidence Plato and I uncovered, they expect it to be an open and shut affair, and that I will be compensated for not only my totaled car, medical expenses, and time lost from work, but my “pain and suffering” as well.
The lady agent with the amazing pink-framed glasses offered to connect me with a personal injury attorney, encouraging me to “sue the shit” out of Dex in a civil suit if I don’t feel thecriminal trial settlement is fair, but I can’t think about that right now.
I’m too happy to have this nightmare behind me and just so glad no one was hurt. The sting went down without injury to law enforcement, Peter’s private detective network, or anyone else. And in even better news, Plato is being aggressively courted by the FBI. They wisely seem to see his super-hacker potential. Sure, he got caught in Dex’s system, but if he’s this good at twenty-one, with no formal training, think about what he’ll be able to do with a few years at Quantico under his belt?
He’s over the moon, and I’m over the moon for him.
But mostly, I’m just happy to be breezing through the French Quarter with nothing scarier than a hard conversation with the man I love lurking in wait.
And yes, that’s scary in its own way. But outside in the late February air, with the sun on my face, it feelsgoodscary. And it’s not like I’m going into this without time to prepare.
I’ve had several hours in a windowless office building with nothing to do but work on my persuasive arguments, and they’re pretty fucking good if I say so myself. I got a C in debate in high school, but I’ve never been good at fighting for things I don’t believe in. But I believe in Dean. In us. And I refuse to go gentle in that Big Breakup if that’s what he has in mind.
The drug ring is a thing of the past. The girls are safe, he’s safe, and I’ve more than learned my lesson about taking justice into my own hands. Hopefully, I’ll never be in a situation like this again, but if I am, I’ll hire a private detective. Taking down criminals is not my forte, but loving Dean and Ava and Bella is. I’ve been good for them, I know I have, and they’ve been so good for me.
Now, I just have to make sure Dean sees how dumb it would be to pull the plug on this when we’re halfway to happily ever after.
Maybe even more than halfway…
The second I swing into the beer garden and spot him at a table in the back, under a Japanese magnolia already flashing giant pink spring blooms, my soul lights up just like that tree.
All pink and hopeful and determined to usher in a season of rebirth.
“So, I’ve been thinking, and I have several things to say.” I stop in front of the table, but don’t pull out a chair. I’m too keyed up to sit, too keyed up to keep my voice low, either, but thankfully, it’s still too chilly for most people to be out in the garden.
But it’s not too cold for me.
In fact, I sort of wish I’d stripped off my jacket before I started this. Baring my soul makes me flush all over, but it’s too late now.
Dean’s beautiful blue eyes are locked on mine.
I have his full attention, and I don’t intend to waste a second of it.
“First up, I hope you already know how sorry I am. But just in case you don’t, I’ll say it again,” I exhale in a rush. “I’m sorry. So,sosorry. The last thing I ever want to do is put you or the girls in danger, and I swear I will never doanythinglike that ever again. And for now, we’re in the clear. The FBI agents assured me that we’re safe and sound, with nothing to worry about now that the men they arrested last night are off the streets. The danger has passed, we’re thankfully all okay, and I hope we can put this behind us.”
Dean pulls in a breath to reply, but I cut in, “Wait. I’m not done. That’s an important part, but it’s not themostimportant part. The most important part is what I learned while hiding out in a stinky hotel room, thinking I might be about to die.”
My throat tightens, but I don’t stop. “I realized that I’ve been making a mountain out of a molehill. And that pushing awaythe kind of love I’ve always wanted, just because it showed up in a different package than I was expecting, would be the biggest mistake of my life.”
His gaze softens, giving me the courage to keep going, “I’m not scared anymore, Dean. I’m really not. I’m grateful. So grateful that the fog cleared, and I finally saw things clearly.” Twining my fingers together to keep from reaching for him until I’ve said everything that needs to be said, I add in a rougher voice, “Ava and Bella aren’t dealbreakers. They’re one of the best parts of the deal. I love them so much, and I love you, and I don’t want to move out or break up or take some time to think or anything else. I don’t need time. I know what I want. I want you, every part of you, and I just… I hope you want every part of me.”
He stands, moving around the table without a word.
He stops just a few inches away, gazing down at me with an expression I can’t quite read, until suddenly…he smiles.
He smiles, and the clouds clear, and I swear every happy pink blossom hovering over our heads lets out a cheer.
“I don’t just want you,” he says, wrapping his arms around me. “I need you. I love you more than I thought it was possible to love someone I’ve only known for such a short time.” His head dips closer to mine as he whispers, “I’m pretty sure I was made for you, Clover Cummings, and you were made for me.”
I’m so giddy with joy that it’s hard to stop smiling long enough to kiss him, but I manage.
Boy, do I manage…
