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He was hiding.
He was the strongest, bravest man she had ever known, but in the face of love, he was hiding.
If she could understand that.
Because he had just taken her heart and flayed it open. And she had already known that love could hurt, because the betrayal of her father had wounded her so badly, and she had to make the decision to forgive him in spite of that.
Was that what she had to do here? Forgive and love until he could do the same?
She didn’t know.
She found herself wandering to the library, because it was where she had found him before. It was where she had found some of the answers she had been looking for. Maybe... Maybe she would find them again here.
Because she wanted to understand. Because she had so many questions.
Why had he done this now? Why had he turned away from her now? Told her she could live a wholly separate life from him, go back to California...
He didn’t do it until he was sure that you loved him.
That truth sat there, like a rock in her chest. He hadn’t done it until he was certain of her love.
He had not done it until part of him was certain that she would stay.
And so that meant she had to, she supposed. Even if it was the hardest thing she had ever faced in her entire life.
The idea of staying with a man who didn’t love her.
She went straight to the back shelf, but she couldn’t find it. The book with their story.
The book was gone.
And that, above all else, gave her hope.
* * *
“What are you doing down here?”
Javier looked up from the book and at his brother.
“Where else would I be?” He asked the question somewhat dryly, and yet to him, it made perfect sense that he was here. To him, it made all the sense in the world.
“Not Dad’s favorite dungeon,” Matteo said. “But still, definitely a logical choice for somebody who is punishing themselves.”
“Is she still here?”
“Who?”
“My wife.”
“As far as I know.”
“Are you certain?”
“Honestly, I didn’t consider the whereabouts of your woman to be my responsibility. I thought that was one of the perks of flopping her off on you. What has happened?”
“She’s in love with me.”
“Obviously,” Matteo said.
