Page 128 of The Bluffing Game

“No, that’s not why. You need help, Dalton. You see it, I see it, lots of people see it, and maybe you don’t want to acknowledge it, but I’ve had some ideas to really bring in a lot of business at the restaurant. We’re so close to the beach. We could do packed lunches for tourists, and we could hold themed birthday parties, and we can rent out the space for other parties, for photographers, and …” I stop as he grins. “What is it?”

“Those are a whole bunch of really good ideas.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, I think we could really make some of them work, maybe even real soon.”

“I think that it could really bring in a lot of extra revenue,” I say. “Is everything okay, Dalton? You look really stressed out.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to pretend you care.”

“I do care—I really care—and you look like shit.”

“Is that why you’re here? You want to tell me that I’m ugly now?”

“You’re not ugly, but you’re not taking care of yourself. And if you’re not taking care of yourself, how are you taking care of Toby?” I sigh. “It’s not any of my business, but you can’t allow yourself to get sick. You can’t allow yourself to stress out.”

He chuckles. “You care about me?”

“Of course I care about you. You’re always trying to take care of me.”

He looks surprised. “Yeah, and it’s what I was trying to do for you,” he says, “and I guess I overstepped the mark because you didn’t need it, did you? You’re strong and smart and independent and beautiful, and even though I didn’t have you for long, those moments are ones I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I love you, Sage, and I know you don’t want to hear this now. I know I am acting the fool, but I just have to let you know I’ve missed you. I’ve missed your hold and your touch and your wit and your intellect and your charm. And thank you. Thank you for coming up with those ideas. Thank you for thinking of me. Thank you.”

“I just wanted to make sure that you were okay.”

“I need to tell you something.” He lets out a deep sigh. “I am sorry. I need to apologize to you. I crossed the line three times. I deceived you three times. I was trying to protect you, but in doing so, I overstepped. I tried to control what you knew and how you lived your life. Yes, it was because I wanted you to be happy and safe, but I crossed the line. I truly do understand that. And I’m sorry. You don’t need me watching over you. You just need me by your side.”

He offers me a warm smile, and my heart thuds.

“I just want to be by your side, Sage. Do you think you can forgive me?”

“I just don’t even know what to think anymore, Dalton,” I say honestly, my head throbbing in time with my heart. I feel an intensity of emotions so real that it’s overwhelming. “Are you going to keep acting like I need your protection, or are you going to let me do my own thing?”

“You are your own person, Sage. I love you, and I want the best for you. I will be there for you in whatever way you want me to be. I won’t overstep anymore. I need you just as much as I hope you need me. I may not always be perfect, Sage, but I want to be perfect for you. I promise to always listen and always be honest. I swear I will never hold anything back from you. I need you to know that.”

His words are warm and sincere, and as we look into each other’s eyes, I can feel the love pouring out of him. I know at that moment that he did everything for me, not against me. I know he loves me, and I know he’s the one for me.

“I love you too, Dalton. Don’t you get it? I don’t mind that you protect me. I don’t mind that you are there for me. I want to be your equal. I want us to protect each other. I want us to be there for each other. I want us to love each other. I want to be your partner, not your princess in a tower.”

“You love me?” he says softly. “Like, really, truly love me?”

“Yeah. I love you more than there are stars in the sky.”

“You just stole my line,” he says, grinning. “But I don’t mind because I love you too, Sage. Oh, how I love you. I was such a fool when I told you that I never wanted to get married, that I wasn’t looking for anything serious, because you, Sage, you are everything. You are the light of my life. You are everything, and I never want to let you go. I just don’t know if I’m enough for you though.”

“You’re more than enough. Don’t you know that, Dalton? From the first moment I met you, I didn’t care about being with a billionaire. I didn’t care about status. All I could think about was you and your little boy and how you made me laugh with your grumpiness. And I want to be a part of that life. That’s the world I want because that’s the world where I feel safe and loved and warm, and that’s all I ever was really craving. Just that feeling of belonging, that feeling of family. And with you, that’s what I have. With Toby, that’s what I need. I don’t ever want to forget this feeling. I want it to last forever.”

“Me too,” he says as he leans down and kisses me on the mouth. “I love you more than anything in the whole wide world. And I will listen to you, Sage, I promise. I’ll be the man you need me to be.”

“I’ll hold you to it, Dalton.”

“I know. And thank you, Sage.”

“For what? For loving you?”

“Well, thank you for that too, but no. Thank you for coming up with ideas to save the business. It means so much to me that you care.”

“Don’t you worry, Dalton. I might not be looking for a billionaire to love, but I’ll get us some investors. I’ll make sure that our business succeeds because it’s you and me involved. Ain’t nothing going to break us up or bring us down.”