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“Of course I did.”
She shook her head slightly. “No… I think my words went in one ear and out the other. Not because you don't care about my feelings—I know you do—but because you couldn't understand where I was coming from. As far as you were concerned, I would be with you, and you love me, so that was that. Everything else was inconsequential.”
“That's not true.”
“Itistrue. You didn't stop to consider my feelings at all. You only saw the situation from your point of view. I tried to get you to see it from my point of view, but then we got caught up in the moment and never really finished the conversation.”
“Caught up in the moment?”
“Yes. I was trying to explain how I felt, and the next thing I know, I'm naked and flat on my back on your bed.”
“I'mnotgoing to apologize for that.”
“I don't expect you to, or want you to. We were equals in that. My point is, you never acknowledged how I felt. You never said, 'I can see your point, Elizabeth. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that Anne and Catherine were coming or that there may be an ex or two of mine there.' But even though our conversation didn’t go the way I thought it would, you made me feel loved, like I was the only woman in the room, and it helped to shore up my confidence. I just need to know that you understand where I was coming from.”
“I understand, I do. I wasn't thinking about how you'd feel meeting Anne and Catherine or how you'd feel about being in the same room with women I'd dated. I'm ashamed to say it, but it's true.”
She went to stand in front of him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head against her stomach.
“I don't want you to think I've been dwelling on that, because I haven't. I’d let it go and had given myself a little pep talk before we got there. Like I said, walking into that room on your arm was surreal, but I wouldn't have traded places with anyone in the world. I was exactly where I wanted to be, with the man I love.”
He buried his face in her stomach and inhaled deeply. “Mm-hmm. Sure. With the man you love, who made you feel horrible and shit all over his cousin.”
She ran her hands through his hair. “You’ll fix it, right? No one's perfect, Will.”
“You are.”
She laughed softly. “I'm far from it.”
He kissed her stomach and then stared up at her. “I love you so much, and I'm sorry. For last night, for tonight… I can't apologize enough.”
She bent to kiss him. “Once is enough. Well, for me it is. You still have to deal with Richard.”
Will groaned. “He said he quit. What if he's serious?”
“Maybe it was said out of anger.”
“I hope that's all it was, but I wouldn't blame him if he walked away.” He sighed heavily. “Can we go to bed now? I'm wiped.”
She nodded and kissed the top of his head before going into the bathroom. She was exhausted too, and the thought of crawling into bed was very appealing. Not ten minutes later, they were ensconced under the covers, curled together.
“You know what?” he asked, whispering into the dark room.
“What?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“You know what else?”
“What?”
“I'm very lucky you're still here.”
“Of course I'm still here.”
She felt him nod, and he pulled her closer. “Of course you are.”
