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She slowly nods her head in understanding. “Can I think about this? I mean, I probably should press charges against him, but I don’t want to make any big decisions right now.”
“Of course. You don’t need to decide anything right now.”
She ponders, twisting her lips like there’s something she wants to say but doesn’t know if she should.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head?” I ask.
“Can I ask you something?” she spits out.
“Anything.”
“Would you have believed me if you didn’t see it for yourself?”
Her question is an immediate stab to my chest, but I know why she’s asking. I heard what that monster said to her. He tried to get inside her head and convince her that I would believe him over her. But I know without a doubt that I would have believed Natalie in a heartbeat if she had come to talk to me. “I would have believed every word you said to me.”
She reaches her lips to mine, and we take our time with this kiss. It’s soft, slow, and exactly what both of us need right now.
When she pulls away, she puts her head back against my chest and nuzzles into me. I watch her try to stifle a yawn.
“Let’s get some sleep,” I suggest.
She nods in agreement, too tired to say any more. I move my body horizontally onto the bed and bring her with me. Her long blonde hair splays over my arm, which she uses as her pillow. I wrap my other arm protectively around her waist.
“Sorry that your birthday was ruined,” she whispers.
I laugh and shake my head.
This girl.
No,my girl.
“Are you kidding me? I started my day waking up next to you, and I’m about to end my day going to sleep next to you. So, I would say that it was a pretty damn good birthday.” Lifting my head, I catch a small smile on her face as I lean down to kiss her forehead before pulling the blankets up over her body.
Brian might have been my best friend for half of my life, but it turns out I never knew him as well as I thought. Or maybe I did and, without realizing it, chose to ignore the side of him that made me question why we were even friends in the first place.
The evil side of him eventually overshadowed the good. And there’s no coming back from this. I might have lost a best friend, a guy I saw as a brother at one point in my life, but what I’ve gained far outweighs my loss.
Natalie.
The best thing that has ever happened to me.
Before Natalie, I had never been in love. It wasn’t something I felt was missing from my life, but now, knowing what it feels like, I can never go back.
Hell, growing up, I never thought I deserved love, and maybe that’s why I never tried to pursue anything with Natalie. Deep down, I knew she would always be more than just a hookup. She was Natalie. She wasmyNatalie.
And being able to say “I love you” to her tonight after so many years already loving her was the most indescribable moment of my life. Thinking about it now, I really don’t know why I waited so long.
No one should ever wait to tell the person they love how they feel.
And I hope she wasn’t upset that I cut her off to say it, but she deserved to hear those words first. She deserves everything she wants in life, and with me as the guy who will love and protect her, that will be exactly what she gets. Everyday. For as long as she’ll let me.
I don’t consider myself a romantic, or maybe I am. I don’t know. But what I do know, without any doubt, is that this girl sleeping so soundly in my arms right now is the love of my life.
Holding her tightly against my chest, I whisper in her ear, “Goodnight, beautiful. You’re safe now.”
Thirty-Three
NATALIE
