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I believe you.
“I don’t blame you.” I clutched Ella a little tighter to my chest. “I wasn’t very honest from the start.”
“There’s no easy way to tell me the things you needed to.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I need to work on my listening skills.”
“And I need to work on my communication skills.”
His shoulders relaxed. “This is going to be a stupid question. Are you okay?”
I kissed the top of Ella’s head. “Yeah. This could have ended so much worse.” I shuddered but refused to let fear overtake me. “It might not have ended at all.”
“It did.” His eyes filled with determination. “We’ll figure it out our way. This is a piece of history. It doesn’t have to define us.”
I closed the distance between us and looked up at him. “Exactly. We have the power to choose what to do going forward.” I nudged his arm with my elbow since my hands were full.
He eased his hands from his pockets and banded his arms around my back. “You amaze me. I’ve never met a stronger person.”
“During all those self-defense classes, I never actually thought I’d have to use any of it.”
“You played him so well,” he marveled.
“I knew it was my best chance of getting out of that basement. Being his prisoner again wasn’t an option. I have too much to live for.”
Andrew stroked Ella’s hair. She blinked at him with dark lashes.
“I’d like the two of you to come home with me.”
He does?
Ella made a gurgling sound of approval while I tried to get over my shock. “We barely know each other. I’m still married. And there’s still so much to deal with.”
He gently tugged me closer. “We’ll get to know each other. You won’t be married to him much longer. And I’m with you, whatever we have to face.”
“But Ella?” I asked weakly.
Andrew winked at me and held his finger out for her. She grabbed it with her tiny hands. “I think she likes me.” There was no mistaking the pride in his voice. “It’s her mom I have to convince.”
“She doesn’t need any convincing.”
He brightened. “Does that mean you’re moving in?”
It was fast, but I had to learn to trust my heart. And it was shouting that with Andrew was where we belonged.
“Can we try? See how it goes? If either of us is unhappy, we can talk about it?” Paths of Purpose had not only been a place of healing for me, but in a way, a crutch. I’d grown comfortable here, gotten my confidence back because of this place.
I wanted Andrew and everything he was offering. The last time we’d seen each other, things hadn’t ended well. But he came to find me. He risked his life to save me. Crazy or not, I couldn’t doubt my heart. Not when it was so sure.
“I won’t be unhappy, Bright Side. But yeah, if you need a trial run, that’s what we’ll do. Whatever you want.”
“That’s definitely what I want.” I wiggled my toes, which were like ice.
Andrew immediately noticed. “I’m an asshole. I should’ve given you my socks.” His eyes darted down to Ella. “Shit. Sorry about that.” I laughed. “Damn it.”
“It’s a hard habit to break,” I said between giggles.
“When she curses, I won’t have my sister to blame.”
“Nope.” I held Ella out to him. “Will you hold her while I go change and get our things?”
