Page 165 of Halo

Three dots appear. They pulse for a few seconds, then vanish almost as quickly as they came.

A few seconds later, they come back only to disappear again.

My girl is trying.

Maybe I’m not the only one who doesn’t know what to say. Maybe she misses me, too. Maybe those three little dots were her reaching for me, then losing her nerve.

Or maybe I’m seeing hope because I desperately need it.

Either way, I have to know. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize. If I’m overstepping, I’ll beg her forgiveness. But I have to try.

***

Rory came over without hesitation when I called. I tucked Grady into bed, before heading over to Leah's apartment.

The February air nips at my cheeks, cold enough to make my eyes water as I stand there working up the nerve to knock. She’s here—just a few feet and one door away—and somehow that knowledge has my palms sweating despite the weather.

Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders. And knock.

The door opens, and every word I rehearsed dies on my tongue.

Leah stands there in an oversized sweater, her face pale, the skin beneath her eyes puffy and bruised. Her lashes are damp, her nose rosy.

My chest pulls tight. My arms ache to close the distance between us.

“Nick—”

“I know.” I hold up my hands. “I know I shouldn’t be here, and if you tell me to leave, I will. I just … please, I just need to say something.”

She sucks in her bottom lip, then nods.

Taking her hands in mine, the delicate jingle of metal draws my eyes to her wrist.

And my breath hitches.

Leah is wearing the silver bracelet along with every charm I've sent. My thumb traces over each link as if I can actually touch these beautiful parts of her that I miss, that I need, that I love.

Leah deserves more than an apology; she deserves the reassurance of my devotion and my loyalty.

She deserves to be worshipped.

I lower myself to my knees.

“Leah … I don’t know how I ended up in front of the most gorgeous, most selfless woman I’ve ever known, but I know I don’t deserve you. I have never deserved the way you’ve loved me.”

Her chin trembles as tears spill freely down her cheeks.

“You trusted me with pieces of yourself you kept hidden from everyone else. You handed me your hurt, your fears, and instead of guarding them with my life, I betrayed you.” My throat tightens. “It was your story, baby. Your pain. Your choice. And after everything you’ve survived, I became another man who made a decision about your life without asking you first. I would give anything to take it back, but I can’t.” I blow out a shaky breath. “All I can do is try to make it better … if you’ll let me. And I will, Leah Grace. I’ll keep trying for as long as it takes, even if that means for the rest of my damn life because …” My grip tightens around her hands. “I love you. God, I love you so, so much. I think I’ve been in love with you since the first time I saw you with your hair in that frilly little braid crown with a pack of playing cards in your back pocket.”

She lets out a giggle in between her tears, and it's the most breathtaking thing I've heard all night.

I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her fingers. “These last two weeks without you have made one thing painfully clear: I need you. I am so tangled up in you that I don’t know where I end and you begin anymore.” My voice cracks. “I am so damn sorry I hurt you. I understand if you need more time. I’ll give it to you, if you want. Space? Tell me how much, and I’ll figure out how I'll survive. But darlin’, you're it for me.” I press another kiss to her fingers. “Please, give me the chance to love you better.”

Her fingers curl around mine, and then she brings my hand to her mouth. The soft press of her lips against my knuckles damn near breaks me.

“I miss you, too,” she whispers.

The air escapes my lungs. “Yeah?”