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They walked down to the empty bandshell, and before he could suggest it Riley sat on the edge of the stage. Without letting go of his hand. Instead, she held on tight, as if she was afraid of letting go.
“I’ve missed you.”
Her softly spoken words were the sweetest music that had ever played on that stage.
Humbled by her admission, he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss there. “Not nearly as much as I’ve missed you.”
“I’m sorry.”
Her words sliced into him, ripping his insides to shreds. He remembered how he’d balked at her self-preservation on the day Mary had texted him. Shame filled him.
“I’m the one who’s sorry. You were right. I came looking to fight that night. I didn’t realize—not even after you pointed it out.”
Her hand shook in his. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” he corrected, knowing that he couldn’t stop until he’d told her what was in his heart. “It mattered enough that it drove a wedge between us.”
“Because I let it.” She took a deep breath. “No, I did more than let it. I drove it as deep as I could.”
“Because I scared you?”
Her lower lip trembled, as if corroborating her next statement. “I’m terrified of you.”
“I don’t want you to be scared, Riley. That’s not how I want you to feel about me.”
He stepped close, wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t pull away. Instead she leaned into his arms, resting against him. Forever, he thought again. That was how long he’d wait for her. How long he’d fight for her. How long he’d be hers.
“I don’t want to be afraid anymore.”
His heart knotted at her sweet admission. “Tell me how I can help,” he said. “What I can do to make things right. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Looking down at her hand in his, she gave a little squeeze, and said, “Then love me.”
* * *
Riley couldn’t believe she’d made the plea. That she’d let Justin guess at how vulnerable she was.
Guess? Ha. She’d pretty much spelled it out for him.
“That’s all?” He laced his fingers with hers. “I thought you were going to ask me to do something difficult, like slay dragons or thwart evil masterminds.”
“No evil masterminds or dragons. It’s just my own insecurities imprisoning me.”
“Then let me free you.” He squeezed her hand, looked into her eyes. “I love you, Riley.”
Riley’s heart leapt at his words. His very unexpected words. Johnny had tossed the phrase at her so freely, never meaning them. Justin had never spoken the words to her before. Not once. Until now.
Wanting to believe him, but unable to foil her fears, she pressed her forehead to his. “You’re sure?”
“You doubt me?”
Her hands shook and she held on to his tighter. “No, Justin. I don’t doubt you.”
She’d doubted herself—doubted that she could handle losing someone so precious. She almost had.
“You have no reason to doubt me, Riley. I’m yours.”
Hers? Was it even possible?
