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“Ouch!” Little thing suddenly elbowed me in the ribs while yanking on the fine hairs on my legs with the other hand. “What the hell?”
Angry and spitting fire from her eyes, she whirled around on her knees to face me. Bailey looked ready to punch me. “So instead of talking to me, explaining, you walk away and treat me like shit?”
“Language.”
“Fuck you.”
“Babe, stop.” Taking her hands in mine, I yanked her to me, causing her to stumble into my chest.
“Let go, jerk.” Bailey pushed my hands away, but I manipulated her to my liking. I had her settled sideways on my lap before she realized what was fully happening. “How could you?”
“I was scared.”
At that, she froze and her struggling stopped. “What?”
“Sweetheart, you scared the living fuck out of me back then.” Her tear-filled eyes settled on mine, lip trembling a tiny bit. However, she didn’t talk, just watched me. Waited. “Bailey, I fucked up. I know that walking away like that and pushing you out was a dick move, but I didn’t know how to accept what my heart seemed to know. Even as kids, we shared this tight bond, and along the way it morphed into emotions I couldn’t accept due to fear: of your age, our family’s reaction, and my leaving. Hurting you was everything I didn’t want but couldn’t stop. I’m sorry.”
For a long time after my apology neither of us spoke.
Bailey settled herself in my arms and just let me hold her. Sometimes I’d hear her sniff, while other times she’d mumble something under her breath.
I let her have that time.
Gave her some limited space so she could try and make sense of everything I’d just confessed.
The early evening sky had turned dark across the water the longer we sat there in silence. Waves crashed and that sweet, salt air cocooned us in a bubble.
Slowly, the lights along the pier and boardwalk illuminated the sky as everyone flocked to their rides and entertainment.
“Sweet or salty?” The question was asked so low I almost didn’t hear her.
It was also a trick question if I ever heard one. My girls always had a sweet tooth, and four years hadn’t changed that.
“Bullshit question, baby. You know that.” At my response she looked up, and I could almost see the nasty reply sitting on her tongue. Instead, I nipped her lip and then soothed the sting with my tongue. “Don’t curse.”
“Shut up.” She shrugged; her body was turned toward me—or as much as my hold allowed, my grip too firm. Having her tucked against my body felt too good. Soothed me. “And I was going to say maybe, Miles. However, if I wanted to curse, that’s at my discretion. My choice.”
Cute. I’d let her think that and re-fight that battle later.
Besides, I found it hot as fuck when she did. Not that I’d ever tell her.
There was a place and time for her to curse—whenever she was riding my cock being it.
“Maybe what? Tell me.”
“Maybe means that I’ve changed. That I’m not the same girl you once knew.” Those light green eyes stared at me—she was searching for something, but I just didn’t know the what? “For all you know, I’m a health nut. Obsessed with my body and keep sweets at bay.”
There was a hidden meaning behind that small jab:
She wasn’t the same little girl I left behind. That I’d missed her growing up, becoming the woman who I now loved.
Of that I had no doubt.
The familial care had morphed into this sacred emotion that caused my heart to beat fast every time I saw her. Opened my eyes to the beautiful world of loving her and witnessing the purity of her love for me in return.
Her emotions never waned or died. They’d survived heartbreak.
She was mine, and I was hers.
