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He shook his head. “I’m here for you.”
That softened the hard edges inside me. “Thank you.”
I wouldn’t have asked for it, but I sure as hell appreciated it. “I would have given up if it weren’t for you and your family.”
“I know you don’t have a lot of experience with things like this, but that’s what family does. We’re there for each other.”
“But we’re not family.” The only family I had was absent for much of my adult life. I spoke to Aiden via email and the occasional video call, but it was never enough. When I talked to him, I pretended everything was okay. I didn’t want him to worry about me.
“We’re neighbors, and after everything we’ve been through, you mean something to me. Even without my promise to Aiden, I’d be here.”
I let out a sigh and blinked back the tears that threatened. I just had to make it through tonight. Then everything would be easier.
We resumed packing up the room. When the room was bare, and the to-keep boxes all there was left, we closed the door.
I let out a breath, and my eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Heath. I knew I was close to losing it.
Heath drew me into his arms, and this time, I let out the sobs that I’d held in all night, knowing I wouldn’t be able to do what I needed to if I gave in to what I was feeling.
Heath rubbed my back and held me while I cried. When my legs buckled, his arms came under my knees, and he lifted me, sitting on the couch with me still in his lap. I rested my cheek against his shoulder as the tears slowed, reveling in the feel of being in his arms.
I picked at the material of his shirt. “I’m sure you have better ways to spend your evening.”
His arms tightened around me, and his breath tickled my hair. “I can’t think of any.”
His protective nature never failed to draw me in. He was so good with his family and friends. I was just glad I was still considered one of them.
I felt exhausted, my muscles sore from the tension of the day and the hard work we’d done.
“You want to go to bed?”
I moved off his lap so I wasn’t touching him anymore. Being close to him felt too good. If he stuck around, I’d start to get ideas about rekindling our relationship when he’d made it clear he didn’t see a future for us. “I don’t think I can sleep.”
He stood. “You need anything to eat before bed?”
“I’m still full of pizza.”
He held his hand out to me. “Come on, then.”
“Where are we going?”
“To bed. I’ll hold you until you fall asleep.”
“You’d do that?”
“I’d do anything for you, Marley.”
His words landed on my heart, sprouting roots and spreading to the furthest chambers. “You’re going to make me cry again.”
His lips quirked. “We can’t have that, now, can we?”
I placed my hand in his, and his fingers interlaced with mine. It was familiar and comforting. My heart rate picked up as we moved toward the bedroom. “We packed up everything.” I didn’t have anywhere to sleep.
He hung his head. “I wasn’t even thinking about that. Should we make up a room upstairs?”
“It’s too much work for tonight.”
Heath drew to his full height. “Grab your bag. You can stay at my house.”
