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“You’re already helping, Grant. Just being here for her right now is the best thing you can do, but I know you’ll do anything she needs. Whatever it takes.” Ophelia settles in next to me, sinking down on the bench. “Is there anything I can do?”
“You’ve done a hell of a lot already, Butterfly. You helped save my little girl.” I can’t help leaning toward her. “Fuck, you savedme. Thank you.”
“...it still doesn’t feel like enough.” She lifts her head, looking up at me with those green eyes.
I don’t care what she is.
I’ll never think of them as Arrendell eyes when they’re too warm, too pure, too full of that gorgeous heart they lack. Her hand rests on my arm, light as snow, yet so much warmer.
“Just wish I could do more for you,” she whispers. “I wish I could do everything.”
My heart stills in my chest.
I don’t want to hope. Not after this shit show with so many raw feelings torn open.
I clear my throat. “What are you saying? Be clear, woman, my head’s too spun to read between the lines.”
She looks down.
For a second, I’m worried I’ve scared her off, but then she jerks her face up and looks at me.
“I’m saying I almost lost you,” she whispers, tears glimmering in those beautiful eyes. “He could’ve shot you. That could’ve beenyougoing over the railing. Grant, I—”
“Ophelia.” I spare a hand from Nell to cup Ophelia’s cheek. “You never lost me. Not once. Not even for one second.” And I hope she knows what I mean. “No matter what happens, you never will. You’ve always had the best of me—hell, you teased it out of me in the first place—and it’s not going anywhere.”
“Yeah?” Her soft breath blends into a slow, hopeful smile.
“Yeah.”
“So... maybe we can try again?”
“No damn maybes about it,” I growl. She’s always needed me to be honest, and I’ve never been good at it until she came back into my life. Now it’s easier than ever to say, “I need you with me, Ophelia. Not just as a roommate, helping me with Nell. I need you to bemine. If you need more time, I get it. I’ll—”
“No! I don’t.” She shakes her head quickly, blonde hair whipping around her face. “I’m stronger with you than I am without you, Grant. I’ve figured that out. So maybe life is messy right now. Maybe I just found out my father is a huge creep and two of my brothers are crazy killers and nowdead. Maybe my mom’s in the hospital fighting for her life and my sister’s an addict who almost married our half brother. But... but I canfindthe strength to fight through all of that, to be there for my family—my real family—and to stand strong. And I don’t have to search hard as long as I have you... As long as you’ll let me hold you up, too, I mean. As long as you’ll accept my apology for being stupid and not coming to my senses sooner.”
I shouldn’t be able to smile again.
Not after the black day we’ve had.
“You’re a little short to hold me up,” I say, grinning like a madman.
I cup my palm against Ophelia’s cold skin.
Her eyes narrow, but her smile only brightens as she rubs her cheek to my palm. “Don’t be an ass. You know what I mean.”
“Maybe I want to hear you say it.”
Her eyes glimmer, widening, her smile fading.
Her cheeks flush hot and those soft pink lips finally give me what I need.
“I love you, Grant. I never stopped loving you. Not once in all these years.”
I’m burning inside like the setting sun as I lean in and claim that lovely mouth.
“Then it’s a damn good thing I love you, too,” I say, growling with delight. “I’ve always been obsessed, Philia, and I always will be. As long as I’m breathing, you’re mine. Plain and simple.”
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