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She lets out a sigh, and walking into the living room, she slumps down on one of the couches.
I take a seat next to her and turn my body to face her. Leaning my side against the back of the couch, I stare at her beautiful face.
“We don’t have to talk,” I murmur. “I’ll be happy with just staring at you.”
Everleigh turns to face me. “No, we have to talk.”
Nodding, I get up and switch off the lights in the kitchen and living room.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Getting comfortable for the talk.” I take a seat on the couch again and reach for Everleigh. I pull her onto my lap, and when she straddles me, I take hold of her hand and link our fingers.
“Now we can talk,” I whisper.
Just like we used to do in the dark room. Only this time, I can see her outline with the streetlights shining in through the windows.
We’re silent for a while, just staring at each other. I take the chance to soak in the familiar feel of her.
Eventually, it becomes clear it’s up to me to break the silence, and I ask, “Was it just me?”
“What?” she asks softly.
“Was I the only one who felt the connection in that room?”
She shakes her head. “No, Alek.” She lifts her other hand to my jaw, and I lean into her touch. “Our connection was real. It will always be there.”
“Then why are you pushing me away?”
“I’m not.” I hear her take a deep breath. “I can’t pick up where we left off. Too much has changed.”
“Nothing has changed for me.”
Her hand moves down to the side of my neck. “You’ve changed.” Her voice fills with emotion. “You look different. You’re not as calm as you used to be. It’s like you’re the opposite of what I remember.”
“I haven’t changed,” I argue. “I’m still the same man you fell in love with in that room.”
She lets out a heavy breath and pulls her hand away from my neck. When it looks like she’s going to climb off my lap, my arms tighten around her.
“Don’t,” I whisper with urgency tightening my tone. “Just sit like this with me for a while.”
I want her to remember the bond we shared.
I press her head to my chest and bury my face against her hair. “Just feel us, Everleigh.”
Her body remains tense for the longest while before she relaxes in my hold, and then a miracle happens. Everleigh rests her cheek over my heart and wraps her arms around my waist. Her body melts into mine.
“Imagine we’re back in that room,” I whisper. “Pretend I wasn’t shot, and when my father came, I killed him. I killed them all, and we took the SUV and drove away from that hellhole.”
I suck in a deep breath as I close my eyes. “We drove away, and I took you home with me. You met my mother, Misha, and Tiana. I took a break from work and showed you the beauty Russia has to offer. We found out you were pregnant, and when I had to do my training at St. Monarch’s, you came with me. I was there when Vincent was born. I proposed to you, and we got married.” My voice becomes hoarse. “We were a family.”
“That didn’t happen,” she whispers. She lifts her head to look at me. “It’s been four years. Yes, I’ve missed you, and I do love you, Alek. But…”
Christ.
“But?”
“Even though sitting like this with you feels familiar, you still feel like a stranger to me. It’s weird to explain. I feel I have to get to know you all over again. I love the man you were in that dark room.”
