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“Of course I do. Everyone deserves a second chance, Cole.”
Silence settles between us. His eyes flash with torment, but I don’t push him. Whatever demons he needs to exorcise, Cole has to do it on his own terms.
So I wait.
And wait.
Eventually, he lets out a strained breath. “I killed him, Hadley. I put a gun to his head and I...” Cole shatters in front of me. He grabs his hair and tugs, trying to fight the tears pooling in his eyes.
“Shh.” I pull him to me. “It’s going to be okay. Everything will be okay.”
Hearing Cole break is one of the most heart-wrenching things I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve lived through a lot.
We lie like that, him curled around me, seeking comfort, for what feels like hours.
Eventually, he inhales a ragged breath and peeks up at me. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t ever be sorry, Cole. Not with me. I meant what I said to you. I love you. I’m head over heels in love with you. Nothing you say or do is ever going to change that. Just promise me that if things get to be too much or too hard, you won’t shut me out. Because I’m not su—”
“I promise. I want to let you in.”
I reach out and smooth my finger over his brow. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
He frowns for a second before a look of pure horror washes over him. “I’m not ready. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.”
“That’s okay, I just want you to know I’m here.”
“I don’t deser—”
I push my finger against his lips. “No more of that. This is a fresh start, for both of us.”
His eyes drop to my stomach, and he splays his hand there again. “For the three of us.”
My heart.
It’s so full it feels like it could explode.
There is so much we still have to talk about, decisions we need to make about the future. But for now, I’m happy to just enjoy this and take comfort in the fact that Cole is here.
He’s here.
Donny Lopez is no longer a threat. James seems set on finally doing right by his sons.
And we’re having a baby.
A baby.
Every time I think about it, I’m overcome with a sense of sheer panic. But there’s something else too. Something under all the disbelief and confusion and fear. Something that makes me wonder if this is my second shot at doing things right.
I’ve lost everything—my family, the boy I thought I’d have a future with—but now I have something to care for, to nurture and love.
They say when things get dark and you feel like there’s no way out, you need to look for the small flickers of light.
Maybe this is our sign.
Our hope.
Our salvation.
