Page 68 of Bless My Heart

“Really?” she asks, sounding surprised.

“Yeah. I’ll be there soon.” I hang up and grab my keys and wallet off my dresser.

I practically hop down the stairs, my heart beating a mile a minute. I’ve never been so excited to see a girl before. Well, I guess Hazel isn’t a girl. She’s a woman, and she’s my goddamn woman. I’m determined to show her just how mine she is.

I get to the bottom of the stairs and see Ozzy in the kitchen. I feel the smile immediately drop off my face, and my jaw tenses.

I look at my best friend. Really look at him. I mean, of course, Stella would have a thing for him. Most girls do. He looks like the bad boy all the girls like. I guess, in a way, he is. He fights for money, has tattoos covering his arm, and looks like he doesn’t take shit from anyone.

But he’s also super loyal. He’s been by my side for years, which is why I’m surprised he was so willing to risk our entire friendship for a woman. And not just any woman — my sister.

He looks at me. I look at him. He stays by the sink, and I stay by the door.

“Wes,” he tries, breaking our stare down.

“I don’t want to hear it, Ozzy.” I throw my hand up. “I’m not ready to talk to you.”

“Wes, come on, man.” I shake my head and keep walking to my Jeep.

I’m not going to let this thing with Ozzy and Stella ruin whatever is about to happen with Hazel and me. I can’t. Emotionally, I can only handle one of these situations, and Hazel came to me first.

I pull up to her apartment building. I’ve become so familiar with this place, it feels like I’m coming home. Maybe it’s because of the woman waiting for me on the second floor.

I take the stairs two at a time like I usually do when I’m excited, and then I’m knocking on her door.

She opens the door in joggers and a white, long-sleeved T-shirt that shows off her growing belly. Her hair is down, just like I like it.

“Hey,” I say.

She smiles. “Hey.” She ushers me in and shuts the door. “Thanks for coming.” She sounds awkward. I feel awkward. This isn’t how we’re supposed to be.

“Of course.” I sit down on the couch so I’m not just floundering in the middle of the room like a fish out of water.

“Wes, I’m so sorry for the way I’ve treated you.” She sits down next to me on the couch. “You’ve been nothing but amazing to me since the moment I met you. I kept pushing you away because I expected you to hurt me, but I ended up hurting you. I’m so sorry, Wes. I couldn’t see the good thing that was right in front of me. Every minute we were together was so great. I’ve never been happier than I am with you.” She pauses, but I don’t say anything. “I’ve been miserable since the day I made you leave here. I was so upset we got caught when we were so close. I was scared, and I took it out on you. I blamed you, which wasn’t fair of me. I want us to be a team, and I hope you want that, too. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

I bring my hand up and cup her cheek, looking into her pretty blue eyes. They’re glassy with tears. “Hazel, I just want you to let me be the man you deserve. The father our baby deserves. This is the first time I’ve ever had my heart broken, and it fucking sucks. I don’t want you to push me away anymore, ok? If something happens, we work through it together.” Am I forgiving her too easily? Probably. But I know I’m in love with this woman and don’t want to waste any more time away from her. She’s it for me. She has to be.

“Ok. I can do that.” She nods. “Wes?”

“Mm hmm?” I answer, staring at her lips.

“Please kiss me.” I smile at her.

“Someone’s a little eager.” I twist a chunk of her hair around my fingers. “Did you miss my lips on you?” I scoot closer to her, and her eyes flutter closed.

“Yes.”

“Well, lucky for you, these lips are yours from now on.” Her lips curve into a smile, but I know she’s waiting for me to close the gap between us. I bring my mouth inches from hers and feel her breath hitch.

I use my tongue to trace her lips, priming them for what’s about to happen. I bring her bottom lip into my mouth and suck. She moans in response, and my cock instantly comes alive. I’ve missed the sounds she makes when she’s with me. I’ve missed her screaming my name when I’m inside her.

I release her lip without closing the gap between us. Our breaths dance with each other just, waiting to see who moves first.

My nose brushes up the side of hers, toying with her until she can’t take it anymore. Her hand comes to the back of my head, and she slams our lips together. She’s hungry for me.

Our lips melt together perfectly like they always have. She parts her lips, letting me make my way inside to taste her.

Hazel moves her body to straddle my lap. Her hands run through my hair, pulling on the ends. This is one of the reason’s I keep my hair longer. I love that she has a little something to hold onto.