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“Really?” My eyes swelled with tears. “You’re letting me go see him?”

He nodded. “Of course.

“I’d love to go,” I smiled.

* * *

After laying down fresh flowers at Kiryl’s grave, sobbing and spewing every form of apology I could, I slipped into the backseat of Antonio’s car for a silent drive home.

As soon as we entered the empty house, Antonio pulled me into the kitchen, lifted me onto the counter and handed me a tub of ice cream that I greatly appreciated. And needed.

I stuffed my face in silence, and he let me.

I eventually lowered the tub to the countertop.

“How are you feeling?” He ran his hand down the side of my head and I shrugged.

“I miss him.”

I fiddled with my fingers on my lap.

“Tell me you know that it’s not your fault.”

I hesitated before I nodded. “I know.”

I snaked my arms around his neck and he pulled me into his comforting embrace until I heard it.

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley drifted through the silent night and I wiggled off the countertop and hurried into the living room.

With excitement I turned the song up and Antonio slipped both arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.

My eyes fluttered closed as I leaned into him, allowing the song to trap us in a space no one else could enter.

“Why’d you choose this song?” I asked, thinking back to the moment I walked down the aisle.

A beat passed, and I could hear the smile in his tone. “Because I can’t stop falling in love with you.” He said as though it was the most obvious answer to my question and I chuckled, resting my head back against his shoulder.

He smiled as he kissed my temple repeatedly.

“Your obsession with me is sickening, De Luca.”

He turned me to face him, his smile wide, and rested his hands on my waist. I reached up, cupping his face in my hands.

“I shouldn’t have run four years ago…” I gave my head a slight shake. “I should have trusted you, and instead—” my words caught in my throat. “Instead I made you hate me,” I whispered.

He stepped closer, allowing no distance between us. “I could never truly hate you, Nirah. I don’t think I ever did.”

I chewed the inside of my cheek, finally hearing the words I’ve always wanted him to say.

“I was upset with you, yes. But hate?” He took my chin in his hand, slightly tilting my head up. “You’re my girl. I could only ever love you.”

Finally, my heavy heart turned light.

I had been running for years in search of an escape.

After I met him, I continued running without knowing how to stop. But I didn’t have to know how. Because he’d show me. He was my escape. The home I so desperately searched for. The one I needed to run to instead of away from.

Antonio was my beginning and end, just as I was his.