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53
BRYNN
Brynn held on to Aaron’s arm as he helped her back into his SUV from the hospital. She hadn’t let him go since she’d called him away from enacting his revenge. Luckily, she didn’t have any serious injuries. The bullet had only grazed her shoulder.
Brynn hadn’t said much since the accident site—still in shock of all that had happened. But she wasn’t wasting any more time on Paul. She’d forget him, just like she’d promised—or she’d do her very darnedest.
“Mason texted to say Dani wanted to stay the night with them. I thought you’d be fine with that since you don’t want her seeing you like this, I’m sure. You need time to come to terms with things on your own I would guess.”
Here he was again, taking care of her needs before she could even voice them. “She doesn’t know, right?”
He shook his head. “No, and we can’t tell her what really happened.”
“I was in a car accident. That much is true.”
He nodded and closed her door. Her gaze stayed glued to him as he walked around to his side and started the engine.
He drove them out of the parking lot of the hospital, heading back into town. The tension was so thick in the car, she could taste it. How should she start this conversation? Should she just blurt out that she loved him and apologize? No. There was something more important she had to say first.
“Thank you.” Her voice came out as a whisper.
He didn’t even turn towards her. He’d barely looked at her since they left the crash site. She’d hurt him, deeply, that much was evident. Have I done too much damage to fix us?
“I failed you. You have nothing to thank me for.” He turned onto Main Street, then pulled into the parking spot in front of the bookstore. He climbed out of the car as soon as the engine cut off, going around to her door. She stumbled out of the SUV, her mind reeling. Her aches had settled into a dull throb thanks to the medication from the doctor.
He pressed his hand to her lower back, guiding her up the stairs on shaky legs and her still-sore ankle. He took the keys from her hand and unlocked the door, ushering her inside. “I know you don’t want me here, but I can’t leave you alone, not after everything. I’ll be down in the car if you need anything. Make sure to set the alarm after me,” Aaron instructed, turning to go.
“You didn’t fail me,” Brynn blurted.
He shook his head, turning back to her. “I should have been there.”
“I pushed you away. I told you to go. That wasn’t your fault.”
“But if I’d told you the truth—”
“I overreacted.”
He spun to face her this time.
“You scared me because you made me trust you. That meant you had the most power to hurt me. I ran away to protect myself,” she confessed.
He blinked, as if in disbelief. “I went back on my word to let you pay for the dress. And I omitted the facts about the car sale.”
“That was wrong. But I know you had good intentions. You can’t do that again in the future. And I can’t run or shut down when I get scared. But I’m done letting fear rule my life.”
“Future?” His eyes lit up with hope, a complete contrast to the man who’d walked out of the diner hours before. “As in, I’ll have another opportunity to fuck up?”
She smiled. “I’m so sorry I said those things to you. You’re nothing like Paul. I let my own insecurities and past cloud my judgment . . . Aaron Ridley, I love you with all my heart. And I trust you would never hurt me of your own volition.”
“You do?”
She nodded and pulled the globe necklace from under the scrubs the nurses had given her, as her clothes were too stained and wet to save. “You want my truth?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“You said I deserved the world, but to me, you’re my world. You and Dani. Aaron, I love you more than I thought possible. And I trust you with my life. With my child. With my heart. Will you be my husband for real?”
Aaron stepped forward, lifting his hand to cup the uninjured side of her face. “My truth—It’s always been real to me, sunshine.” His lips gently brushed hers, soft and stirring.
