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She had a key in her purse to unlock the door but settled for ringing the doorbell instead. He’d texted that evening that he loved her and always would, but she didn’t feel comfortable opening the door and letting herself in. Especially not so early in the morning. He might think it was an intruder and shoot her.
When Griffin opened the door, the dam broke. All the emotions she’d held inside from getting into the ambulance to sitting in the hospital bed to being curled up in the plane seat, it let loose. Sobs tore out. Griffin didn’t say a word as he scooped her into his arms, closed the door, and went straight for his room.
He sat down on his bed with her cradled in his arms, letting her cry, soaking his shirt in the process.
Griffin didn’t knowwhat had happened, but something had since Eve was on his doorstep so early in the morning.
Had it been his text to her last night? Making her see he’d always love her no matter what. That she could come home and all would be put in the past.
Or had something else more sinister happened?
He couldn’t tell and by the sobs that ripped from her body, he couldn’t ask her. Not yet.
Time passed slowly as he held her, rubbing her back. He wanted to whisper soothing words to her, yet refrained. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing.
The tears gradually calmed and stopped altogether. Still, he kept silent, waiting for her to say the first word. He honestly didn’t know what to say.
“I used a private jet I apparently own to get here tonight.”
Well, that explained one thing. It also painted a picture of how far apart they were. How unattainable she could be if he let himself worry about that kind of stuff.
But she was here. That had to count for something.
“That’s pretty cool. No waiting in those long airport lines.”
She giggled, lifting her head as she wiped her eyes. “It was nice to skip those lines.”
He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to pull her closer and wipe away the pain in her eyes.
“I got your text tonight. Did you mean it?”
His hand caressed her cheek. “Every word. I never wanted you to leave. And when I found out the reason why you left, I wanted to go after you. I wanted to stop you.”
“And yet you didn’t.”
“Because I knew you could handle it. Because I knew it was something you had to do. It doesn’t mean I liked it. I had hoped you would come back after it all.” His heart pounded as the next words rolled off his tongue. “Did something happen? Is that why you’re back?”
She nodded, the tears building in her eyes once again. “I almost died tonight. By my own stupidity. By not fighting back. The only solace I had in the moment was that he wouldn’t get away with it. That at least he’d go to prison for killing me.”
Tears streamed down her face as she recounted the entire evening. Every word made him want to cry with her, yet he forced the emotions back, needing to soothe her. He nearly lost her tonight. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it. The possibility that this moment could’ve been taken away from them.
“You’re here now. You’re safe.”
So much had happened on his end as well, but the time didn’t feel right to tell her any of it.
“I’m sorry for leaving.”
“Don’t be. You promised you’d tell me when you wanted to leave and you held that promise. I have no need to be mad about it. I get it. Like I said in the text. I understand.”
He wanted to ask if her coming back meant she intended to stay. For good. But he couldn’t seem to get the words out.
She sat up again, wiping more wetness away from her eyes. “So it’s probably silly to keep renting the cottage.”
His heart went from pounding steadily to an erratic pattern at her words. What did that mean? He was too afraid to hope what he wanted it to mean.
“Griffin?”
“I don’t…I’m hoping that means what I think it does. I’m afraid to ask.”
