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“And I did,” he replies, “and I am truly sorry for breaking my word.”
I continue to stare deep into his eyes and the sincere apology that lies behind it.
He’s really telling the truth. He really is sorry.
“Maybe everyone deserves a second chance,” I whisper.
“And do you think I deserve a second chance?” Damon asks tentatively.
His apprehension is uncharacteristic of him, but sweet.
And shows how much his apology means...
I shrug. “Maybe you do deserve a second chance,” I reply.
The man takes in a long, deep breath. It’s as if – with my approval and acceptance - he can finally breathe again.
And then he smiles. “I never got to finish that little conversation we were having when we were rudely interrupted by Luke’s father,” he says with a hell of a load of cheekiness.
“What little conversation?” I ask.
“The conversation when you told me you love me,” Damon replies.
I let out a nervous giggle. “Oh.”
“While I was lying there waiting for the ambulance and looking up at you as my eyes started to close, I remember one thought,” Damon whispers. “I remember thinking that now, with you, I have got a life to live for. For once. And that’s how I know I love you with every ounce of my body. I have never been so sure of something before in my life. And that was what I was going to say before I got myself stabbed and was so rudely interrupted. And now I finally get to say that to you, Ava.”
His words wash over me like warm water, and I am caught in his beautiful stare.
This feels right.
Everyone does deserve a second chance, especially when they say something like this.
He is a guarded man speaking from his heart. This is a rare thing. It’s atruthfulthing.
“You did take a knife in the stomach for me,” I reply. “And it was true what I said back there at the Abbott house. I love you, Damon.”
“Even after everything I’ve done?” Damon asks. “Even if I am a bad man?”
“You are a good man to me,” I reply.
Damon takes a step back as if my words have pushed him physically. He seems... relieved. Relaxed.
At peace.
We both look at each other for a lingering moment before he speaks again. It is a moment full of love.
“Come, follow me,” Damon says, offering his hand. “I’ve got something for you.”
61
DAMON
I takeher into my office. It has been a while since I’ve been in here - before that...incidentat Luke’s place.
To be brutally blunt, walking is a bit of a struggle for me, even the walk from my bedroom to the office is getting me out of breath, but I do my utmost to conceal my pain from Ava. She is right in saying that I’m not going to let a little thing like a knife wound stop me.
And I’m not going to be stopped when Ava is here.
