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“I get it. I’m so sorry that I scared you again. It wasn’t the same, I promise. I’ve been working on everything you said in therapy and this was different. I thought I lost her.”
“Maybe if I understood why you responded the way you have in the past, it’d give me some insight into how we keep getting here. Seven, this is a recurring problem you don’t seem to want to fix. I’m sorry about Tina, and I wish her no ill intentions and a speedy recovery. I’m tired of feeling discarded, though. This brought up old emotions and I don’t like the spiral downward, either. The head games don’t feel good.”
“I’m not playing games. I wouldn’t be here if I was. Tell me you don’t think that I’m that much of a monster.”
“Seven, I don’t know what to think. Last night, I was so angry with you. I cursed you out so many times in my head that it felt like I’d done it for real. Then you come here this morning and I can barely stand to look at you. What am I supposed to do with that? Huh? How do I build with you if it hurts so fucking bad? Answer that.”
“Can I come in first?”
Corinne nodded. “Yeah.”
I told her everything. Even about my past that I tried to hide. I didn’t want to be known for that kind of shit, so I kept it to myself. Not with Corinne, though. She now knew everything.
“Forgive me, baby?”
“You said that you’ve had this discussion with Tina as well?” I was still skeptical.
“I have. She understands that she’s overstepped. I’ve enabled her by not stepping up to advocate for us. I’m sorry. Promising to get it right every time isn’t realistic. I can promise to not be so reactive to her. Take a second to see what’s going on instead of letting her sense of urgency become mine. I may need your help with that. This is new for all of us.”
His words penetrated the walls I’d built over my heart. I fought against it, but some of them still managed to get through.
“You hurt me, Seven. I know what happened. It makes sense. The pain didn’t subside though. I’m tired…”
“I agree it looks the same, but it wasn’t. This was life or death. Not some moment from her filled with anxiety and attention seeking.”
“If someone called me about my sister and said that she was in the hospital undergoing major surgery, I don’t know if I’d have remembered either. But if this becomes a habit–”
I didn’t want to talk anymore. Instead, I wanted to hold my woman in my arms while I slept. So I picked her up, and distracted her with a kiss, while I carried her to the bedroom.
“What are you doing?” She asked when I placed her on the bed.
“I’m about to sleep, and I want you in my arms when I do it. Problem with that?” I tilted my head to the side while waiting for her response.
“No… I guess if it’s only cuddling, it’s fine.”
“Please understand that when I get some sleep, I plan to get inside you and make up for all this lost time. I don’t want to hear anything about rules and things. I heard what you said the other night before you hung up. If we want the same things, then there’s no reason we can’t do that. If you have a real objection, that isn’t something that we’re working on, speak up.”
Corinne shook her head and pulled back the comforter on the other side of the bed.
“Mmm… now that’s more like it.” I climbed into bed with her, pulled her into my arms, and relaxed into some of the best sleep I’ve had in ages.
CORINNE
Six months later…
Six months later…
I rolled over into Seven’s arms. He’d proposed to me last night, and I’d accepted. We’d celebrated in bed while being super verbal about how good it felt to be with one another. We didn’t skimp out on the savoring and tasting either.
“Are you finally going to put the ring on your finger?” He asked before he kissed the top of my head.
“I will. I wanted to enjoy our last escapade as boyfriend and girlfriend before I put it on.” I giggled before looking up at him. “When I put that ring on, it all changes.”
“It all changed when I bought it.”
“Maybe for you, but I was living my best ignorant life. Remember, it’s blissful.”
“Corinne, put on the damn ring before I spank your ass.”
