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I exhale. “I fucked up. Big-time. And I don’t know what to do to fix it.”
Is it even fixable? Maybe this is something that’s going to haunt our relationship forever. I’m not willing to give up, though. I’d never give up on him.
“Just give him a little time,” Temper says. “He loves you; he’s just hurt. You knew he’d feel like this, but what you did stopped Marko. Even if it didn’t go to plan. You were brave, Natalie.”
“I’m just glad it’s all over, and Atlas is safe.”
I watch Atlas for a little while longer, but then I decide to just go home. I don’t want to disturb him, so I send him a message on my way out.
Natalie: I’m heading home, didn’t want to interrupt your workout. I love you.
I stop at Cara’s on the way, and find her and Decker cuddling on the couch.
Arching my brow, I sit down next to them. “Why are you not angry at her?”
Cara looks a little sheepish. “Well, to be honest, I actually told Decker what I was doing. I didn’t want to leave you alone, so he reluctantly agreed. Not like he could say no to me protecting my little sister, although trust me, he did try.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “Great, so I’m the only one lying and deceiving.”
“I didn’t like it,” Decker adds in a dry tone. “In fact, I fucking hated it, but Cara was determined, and I knew I’d be there to save the day if anything went wrong.”
“And you did,” I comment.
“And I did.” He smirks, kissing her temple. “I was in charge of tracking the necklaces, and that plan went to hell, so I wish I was close by instead. But yeah, that’s not going to happen again. I told Cara not to watchVikingsanymore, either, because now she thinks she’s Lagertha or something.”
Cara rolls her eyes. “I think what we did was a little different to what Lagertha would do. We pretended to be victims. She would have just gone in and challenged him to a fight to the death.”
“I’m glad you didn’t do that,” he says, looking over at me. “I’d be angry if she didn’t tell me.”
“Thanks,” I reply, scrubbing my hands down my face. “Why do I do things like this? I should have just stayed out of it and let the MC handle it. Why did I get involved? Next time tell me to stay in the courtroom where I belong.”
“Okay, I will,” Cara replies, wrapping her arm around me. “You two will make up. You have everyone’s best interests at heart, and it did all work out in the end. Marko is dead, and we are alive. Couldn’t ask for a happier ending.”
“What about Sledge?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I don’t know. I haven’t heard from Rhett, and there’s no way Dad will tell me what is going on over there.”
“I forgot about Dad,” I groan. He’s left me multiple missed calls and a voice mail, and so did my mom.
“Yeah, I spoke to him and Mom last night, so you’re lucky. I told them you’re fine,” she says, winking at me. “Took one for the team. And yes, he was especially unimpressed. Mom was just worried.”
“I appreciate you. I guess I better go home and think about what I’ve done,” I say dramatically.
Cara just laughs. “It will be fine. Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I’ll be okay, but thank you.”
I head home, and rage clean my apartment, and then watch a movie in bed.
A few hours later my phone pings.
Atlas: Can I come over?
Natalie: Sure.
I’m happy that he wants to. It’s a little later when he comes around, and he hops into bed with me and pulls me against him. “Thank you for giving me a little space today. I needed it.”
“I thought you might,” I say, touching his cheek. “Do you think you’ll be able to forgive me?”
