“I have my moments.” I continued to smile at her. “But I’m not the same guy I once was.”
“I’m not the same either,” she said.
“Then I am looking forward to getting to know you now.”
“Well, you have all night.”
I smiled wider at that. “That I do, sweetheart. That I do.”
“You look so different,”Rosalie mused, her eyes raking over me. “You’re all grown up.”
We’d gotten our pizza to go and had made it to the lake, where we sat in the front seat and stared out at the water after eating.
I smiled at her words. “Still me, sweetheart.”
Her cheeks stained my favorite shade of red in the moonlight, and my heart jumped hard in my chest.
“You look different, too. Smaller than I remember.”
“Smaller?” She raised an eyebrow at me.
“Shorter. Just tiny all around. I guess it’s been a long time.”
She chuckled at that, and I relaxed a bit.
“Your show really was amazing tonight. I had a lot of fun,” I continued.
“Yeah?” Her smile widened. “Cassius setting Vic’s stuff on fire didn’t ruin it?”
I laughed. “He’s pretty wild, huh?”
She laughed with me and nodded. “He really is. I love him to pieces, though. Keeps all of us on our toes.”
“That’s good. Never a dull moment then.”
“Never.” She continued to smile at me.
“Fuck, Rosalie. Can I just hug you again?”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
I knew what she was thinking. I hadn’t been able to touch her all those years ago. My trauma wouldn’t let it happen, but I wasn’t that guy anymore.
I nodded and opened my arms for her.
Immediately, she was against my chest, clinging to me.
I held her tightly and closed my eyes as she twisted her fingers into my shirt.
“I’ve missed you so damn much,” I whispered. “I’m grateful for this moment with you. Thank you for giving it to me.”
“Thank you for showing up,” she replied. “I’ve missed you, too. I was grateful when you messaged me.”
We broke apart, and I instinctively reached out and wiped away her tears.
“Always so pretty, even in tears,” I murmured. “But don’t cry, sweetheart. All is well.”
“I-It is well.”
