AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know. Fatima showed me some of Zeke’s baby pictures and they’re practically identical at this age.”
“I can’t imagine being a mum,” Cheyenne said, “but I think I could get used to playing with the wee one.”
“Anytime.”
I paused outside the door, wondering if I should interrupt. Presley hadn’t spent time with any friends since we’d been together, so it was nice to see that she’d found one in Cheyenne. I needed to talk to her, but it could wait a few minutes.
“Are you doing all right, Presley?” Cheyenne’s voice dropped slightly. “I’m sure this has been a lot for you to handle, with you and Zeke still being pretty new.”
“It’s been…” Presley’s voice trailed and there were a few seconds before she finished her thought. “Lonely. Zeke and Aunt Meg really took Carter’s death hard, which is totally understandable, and while I’m a little sad too, I barely knew him. We only talked a handful of times, you know? And I don’t have any friends here, so I’ve been alone more than anything.”
“Well, you have my number. If I’m in town, I’m happy to go shopping or meet you for lunch or just come play with the baby. Anytime, Presley.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Damn, I really felt like a jerk after hearing that.
I’d promised her she’d never be alone again, yet it was happening right under my nose.
Well, that ended now.
“Hey.” I walked into the bedroom, smiling at the two ladies. Cheyenne was in the rocking chair with Jeremy on her lap, and Presley was sitting on the floor with her legs tucked under her. “Getting your baby fix?” I asked Cheyenne.
She laughed. “Yep. Then I give him back and go on my way. I’m in no way ready for one of my own!” She got up and handed me my son. “I’m going to go find something to eat. I’ll see you two downstairs.”
“Bye.” Presley smiled after her.
“Hey, beautiful.” I sank down on the floor next to her, bouncing Jeremy on my knee.
“Hi.” Her eyes searched my face. “Everything okay?”
“That’s what I should be asking you.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. You just told Cheyenne how lonely you are.”
She dipped her head. “A little. But I’m not upset. I know you’re grieving.”
“I’m mad,” I said softly. “At myself. I let you down, even though it wasn’t intentional.”
“These were extenuating circumstances,” she said.
“Yes, but I promised to take care of you, and I haven’t been doing a very good job of it. We just got married and instead of making sure you were adjusting okay, I pushed you away. That’s not fair, no matter what else is going on.” I reached for one of her hands. “We’re married. You need to be able to count on me even when bad shit happens. And vice versa. I love you, Presley, and I want to make sure you feel that every single day for the rest of our lives.”
39
Presley
Tears stung my eyelids.
I’d been keeping a tight rein on my emotions since our impromptu nuptials because deep down I’d been afraid this was nothing more than a marriage of convenience. I hadn’t allowed myself to believe he could ever love me the way I loved him. I’d subconsciously convinced myself that I could be happy even if he wasn’t in love with me. That I could and would make this work for Jeremy. Because walking away was no longer an option.
Hearing him say that he loved me opened a floodgate of tears that I’d been holding back for months.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.” With Jeremy in the crook of his left arm, he used his right to pull me close. “Please don’t cry.”
I sobbed against his chest, a torrent of emotion escaping me as I let go of all the things I’d been keeping bottled up. From the fallout I’d dealt with after the first time we’d slept together to Aunt Meg’s heart attack to Carter’s death, I hadn’t realized just how tightly wound I’d been. How much I’d been burying to keep from falling apart.
