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“Sweetheart,” he says in a low, impassioned voice, “that’s not possible.”
“You don’t know that,” I whisper fervently.
“And I told you once, you’re not the villain you make yourself out to be. You couldn’t hurt a fly.”
I make a face. “That’s a lie and you know it.”
The hand still resting on his lap lifts, but pauses, hovering in mid-air like maybe he was about to nudge my chin up to force me to look at him. So I grab his wrist and bring it to my face, showing him it’s okay. As much as I love how respectful he is, I don’t want him to start second-guessing things, and going against his nature.
It reminds me too much of my parents.
Don’t give up on me. Don’t cast me off.
Sighing, he moves both hands to my jaw, lifting my head.
Our gazes brush for a long, powerful beat, and then he closes his reddened eyes, leans forward, and presses a kiss to my forehead.
Against my hairline, he says, “You’d never hurt Abby. That much I’m certain of. Out of all the things I’m worried about, you being bad for Abby is not one of them. It doesn’t even come close to making the list.”
Jaw working, I nod.
“And if it makes any difference, I haven’t even met Mel’s boyfriend yet. Neither has Abby. And he’s been around for three months. He hasn’t met her parents yet either.”
My eyes widen.Three months?
He shakes his head against mine, sensing my thoughts. “Mel had to know first, if he’s gonna be around long-term. That’s why. We’re not about to have a revolving door of people coming in and out of Abby’s life, not when she’s so young and it could confuse her.”
“Oh.”
I feel his lips rise against my skin. “I love you, Sky. Sounds pretty long-term to me.”
Relaxing, I scoot closer, burying my face in his neck.
His hand slides back around my head, holding me there. I inhale deeply.
“I’m not letting you go,” he says. “For anything. I’ll make this work. Whatever it takes.”
But what if she makes you choose?The question sits on the tip of my tongue, held back only by sheer fear of what the answer would be.
Because you already know what his choice would be,a voice reminds me sadly.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I wrap my arms around Nolan’s middle, sliding my cheek down to where his heart thumps strong and steadily.
I love you,I think.
Over and over again, I say it in my head, testing the strange words out. Wishing I could say them out loud.
But maybe it’s better this way, keeping them locked inside.
Should the worst come to pass after all…
It’d be much easier to walk away, without leaving those three words dragging, echoing in my wake—a noose around both our necks.
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
NOLAN
It’s Sunday evening, three days after Christmas, and Skyler and I are snuggled up on my couch watchingGremlins.
