“I’m sorry,” Jack says again.
“Just give her a little break from this. Today has been a pretty rough day for her.” Caine’s voice is soft.
“Bye,” I croak out before Caine hits end on my phone.
Caine presses the release of my seat belt, lifts me up and places me on his lap.
“What’s wrong with me?” I ask. My stupid body is shaking! And the fucking tears pour down my face again.
“You’re sad. And your brother wasn’t aware, for whatever reason, of what you were going through, and you felt alone,” he says, somehow knowing exactly how I feel
“I did,” I stupidly bob my head up and down as he speaks.
I cry again. And again, he just holds me. “I’m such a mess,” I whisper.
“You’re my mess,” he reminds me, holding me closer. “I’m proud of you. I don’t think I told you, did I?”
I take a shuddered breath, and slowly, the weight stealing my oxygen lifts, and I can breathe again.
“One, you held your ground with your mom, which was incredibly painful for you. I was proud of you for sticking up for yourself, drawing that line. And two, you rode a horse today. You were terrified to get on Wind-Song, but once you got on him, you looked so natural up there, so happy.”
I can hear the smile in his voice. It gives me the confidence to look up at him.
“I’m sorry I’m ruining our day.” A stupid sob escapes my chest. I try to hide my face behind my hands, but Caine grabs them and wraps them around his neck.
“Our date hasn’t started yet.” His voice is so soft, so soothing and kind.
I tilt my head and sniff, stupid stuffy nose from crying. My head is swimming!
“You have no idea how much I care about you.”
The words… they are like a balm… sending heat from my heart outward.
I need his affection. I don’t need fancy; I don’t need gifts. I just needthis.
Caine is simple, unpretentious, and kind. I don’t need anything else. I couldsoak him up like the sun shining on my face.
“I care about you too. More than I can say. I don’t know how; it’s so overwhelming,” I try to explain. “Please be patient with me.”
“Sweetheart, I’m not going anywhere.”.
I let the sadness float away and sigh into his warmth. I just need this moment. Today has been so up and down. A rollercoaster ride of emotions. Ever since I woke up, I’ve been up and down and up and down.
But now, warm arms envelop me, and I feel safe and calm.
I take a deep breath and pull back and place a soft kiss on his lips. “I’m ready to go to dinner.”
“You’re sure?” he asks, quirking a brow.
“Let’s put on some music,” I suggest. “How much longer is the drive?” I ask once we pull back onto the highway.
“We should get there by seven,” Caine says, clearing his throat.
My finger hovers over the playlist I was about the select, and I turn to look at him. “Did you just say seven?”
My eyes roam to the clock on the dash. It’s just after one in the afternoon. Why is this just now registering in my brain?
“Yep,” he says, nodding his head, not looking at me.
