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“Hello.” I remembered our last conversation but now I finally understood what he said. Lydia had a family of people who cared about her that she made herself even after the tragedy that took her first family from her. I never knew that kind of love and I never learned how to find it. I knew I was undeniably lucky that I stumbled into this love.
“I just wanted to say, sorry for vaguely threatening you all those months ago,” Michael said.
I didn’t hide my surprise well. “You don’t have to apologize.”
“No. I do.” Michael sighed. “Not exactly for that. I just thought you were an irredeemable asshole? And said so to Lydia.”
“Oh.” To hear it said so plainly, I was hit again with how cold I had been for years and years; hit by just how lonely I made myself.
“But you changed yourself. And I’m glad. Because I could tell Lydia liked you a little. Even back when you were still a jerk. I don’t know what you did, but you worked for it and are better for it.”
“Lydia helped.” I couldn’t take all of the praise.
“Yeah. She’s pretty good. But it takes a lot to change yourself.” Michael smiled at me, like he did at Lydia. I got the urge to cry, but held it in. It was strange for that to be my first instinct. “I’m just happy for you. For both of you.”
“I’m unbeatable!” Virgo cried as Lydia shook her head in clear defeat.
“Where did Virgo learn to play pool?” I asked.
Michael shrugged. “I don’t really want to know.”
Chapter 15
Lydia
“I’m going to go see my mother,” Taylor said.
He sat me down on the bed and paced in front of me that morning. We were two weeks away from Christmas and I expected his uneasy air to have something to do with the party planning and having to break some bad news to me about the refreshments. I never would have thought it would be something like this.
“You want to see her,” I said, my voice was emotionless because I wasn’t sure what I was feeling.
“I don’t want to see her.” He sighed. “It’s more complicated.”
“Help me understand.” I truly couldn’t imagine wanting to see that horrid woman after everything she did to him. But it didn’t happen to me. I couldn’t possibly feel what he was feeling. I hoped he could help me understand, so I could be there for him.
“I’m not going to forgive her or make up or anything like that,” he explained. “I never stood up to her. And I want to. I couldn’t even do it when she and my father visited. I just froze.”
“You weren’t prepared for them, nobody would fault you for that,” I said, hoping he still didn’t blame himself.
“I will be ready this time. I’m deciding to go.” I could tell he’d given this a lot of thought.
“I understand,” I said tapping his wrist before wrapping my arms around him.
“I’m telling you because I want you to be there.”
I thought he might.
“I won’t force you. I’ll go either way. But I know I’ll be stronger with you there.”
I buried my head in his chest. “I’ll go. No question. I won’t say anything to her, but I won’t let her touch you.”
He let out a shaky breath. How long had he been holding it? “I love you Lydia.”
Now I was the one who couldn’t breathe. “I love you too.” How long had I waited to hear that from him? I knew he felt that way. He showed me with his actions and with his body. To hear it was something else. It was proof he was working to be my partner, that he wanted me to stay.
He pressed a kiss in my hair. “I don’t want to go yet. I was going to wait a few days to prepare myself.”
“You might second guess yourself,” I warned.
