Page 89 of What I Like About You

“I was an idiot, Zara. Back in high school, back on the resort. Hell, now, for crying out loud. I would think that you would have figured out by now I’m a pretty big dumbass when it comes to a lot of things,” he said, stepping closer. “But me, and my dumb ass, love you more than anything.”

“Love isn’t always enough, Tripp,” she whispered. She could feel her heart start to crack all over again. She wasn't ready to have this discussion again. She hadn’t even really started to heal from the last time they’d had it.

“I know. And I know that what I proposed a couple of weeks ago wasn’t really a compromise. That I was being selfish, and not just in asking you to give up everything you’ve worked for and the entire empire you’ve created, but in asking you to put your new endeavor at risk too. I’m so sorry I did that. I know I have caused you so much pain over the years, and yes, I know you said you forgive me, but I don’t know that I will ever forgive myself. Because I would do anything if it meant making you happy.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

* * *

“Here’s the thing, Zara,”Dalton continued, taking her hands and closing the gap between them. Their bodies were now flush together, and his heart started to race even more. “If I have to sing that stupid elephant medley from that damn musical right here in this aquarium, then I’ll fucking do it. I don’t care if I look like the biggest fool there is, because you are worth it. You are worth making a fool of myself over and over again, if it means I get to see you smile.”

Zara’s eyes started to glisten in the low light given off by the big tank. He heard her draw in a deep breath and shudder as she let it back out. Taking this as a sign that he had her attention, he took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her and squeeze her tight.

“I’ve lost you twice now, and that’s twice more than my heart ever needed to experience. But it took you walking away from me in St. Thomas to realize that you were right. I needed to face everything that I had been running from. It was time that I grew up and became the man that my mother would have wanted me to be. That I want to be. But also, most importantly, the man you deserve. Because you deserve someone who is going to love and support you no matter what. Who is going to give you the world and help you go after your dreams. A man who knows just how wicked strong you are and pushes you to become even stronger.”

“What are you suggesting then? Something long distance, because that’s really far, Tripp.”

“No, Zara. I’m moving back.”

“What? What about all that about how you couldn’t? About your dad?” She shook her head, seemingly trying to comprehend what he just said. Stepping back from his embrace, she walked over to the seating area and plopped down on the first platform, a very confused look on her face. Pulling her legs up into her body, she sat there cross-legged, waiting for him to continue.

“I spoke to my father.”

“You what?” she asked, looking up at him with wide eyes.

“I spoke with my father. We have a long way to go, but we’re working on making amends,” Dalton told her, coming over and sitting down next to her. “We’re a long way from understanding each other, but maybe someday. A lot has changed in his world recently too, and I think he’s realized that some of the things he did had a lot more of an effect on Flick and me than he thought.”

“You talked to your dad…” she said, her voice sounding a little breathless.

“I talked to my dad,” he repeated.

“How’d it go?” she asked, still very confused.

“I’ve got a lot to tell you,” he said, feeling a rush of relief wash over him as he saw the hopeful look in her eyes. “But the details can wait. It’s not going to be easy, but if I have you by my side, I don’t think there is anything I can’t do. Including take over Southland Holdings.”

“Take over? But you were so against that! How did everything change so fast?”

“I told you, there is a lot I have to tell you, but it’s amazing what can change in one conversation,” he said. He turned to face her, so they were now both sitting cross-legged, their knees touching. They were as close as they could be without her actually crawling into his lap. “I know it sounds crazy, since just about a week ago I was dead set against this. But this is where I belong. You are where I belong.”

“But what about your life down there? Your job? Kyle and Drea, Leona and Cullen? Maeve?”

“That’s the thing about friends—they are there for you no matter where you are. If we do this—if you’ll still have me—we’ll have to make regular pilgrimages back there. I would think at least twice a year and for every major life event. Plus, they’ll come visit us here. Cullen’s really close with Gunnar, the guy who is going to be coaching the Atlanta Rising, so that makes an easy excuse for everyone.”

“So, you’re really staying?” she said, a single tear slipping down her cheek. Dalton gently wiped it away, unsure if there were more to follow. He hoped it was a happy tear.

“Zara, I have spent my entire life loving you, even before I knew what love was. All that time we spent apart, I spent loving you. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Whether it’s getting dressed up for some fancy thing at Archer’s Green, or us staying at home, hanging out in our sweats eating takeout. I want to ‘suffer’ through musicals and theatre productions at the Fox, just to see how excited you get over the performances, and have to watch the same movie five hundred times because you fall asleep halfway through. I want to be distracted beyond the point of reason while sitting in board meetings because I can’t stop thinking about how we made love all night the night before.” A little smile tugged at the corner of her lips as more tears started to form in her eyes. Behind those tears, though, was an unmistakable look—love. His heart swelled taking it all in, and if he wasn’t careful, the waterworks might get him too. “I want to wipe away your tears, whether they’re sad or happy ones. I want to hold your hair back when you’re throwing up from morning sickness. Dirty diapers, first days of school, the whole nine yards, until we’re old and sitting in rocking chairs. Because you are my world, Zara Bonnie Blue Wellington.”

Zara let out a sob as she launched herself into his lap. He reeled back for a moment from the impact of catching her, but righted himself quickly enough to wrap his arms around her and squeeze. Feeling her in his arms now felt just as good as that first kiss a couple of weeks ago outside her hotel room. No, this was better. Because this meant she was really his.

“I love you so fucking much, Tripp,” she mumbled into his neck, still crying.

“I love you, Zara. There are so many things right now I don’t have answers for, but I know that as long as I have you, everything is right in the world.”