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He nudges his dad. “I’ll go wait inside.”
Alden glances down at him. “No, I don’t want to keep Melody if she needs to get to her interview.” He looks back at me. “Maybe I could call you?”
“Why?” I blurt out, my voice thickening with emotion. “I don’t think there is nothing left to say.”
I can’t do this. I can’t be here talking to him as my heart shatters even more at the reminder of all I lost.
“You know what, buddy? Why don’t you go ahead and go on in?” He tilts his chin toward the front doors. “But don’t start the tour without me.”
“Tour?”
“He wants to transfer here so he can go to school with Dorian, but actually...” He lets out a sharp exhale. “I was hoping that we could speak. I was going to give you a call today, now that everything is officially settled.”
“Fran told me you resigned.”
He closes the distance between us, stopping just a few inches from me. “It was the right thing to do. For me. For you.” He takes a deep breath. “Forus.Dammit. I meant to do this in a much more romantic way.”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I didn’t think I’d run into you here, but this is as good a time as any, I guess.”
I frown.
His eyes bore into mine, soft and so full of emotion. “I miss you like hell, Melody. And I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I messed up by calling things off. You were right. We should’ve worked together and worked it out. I should’ve resigned earlier. In fact, I wish I had done it the moment I started falling in love with you.”
I blink back the tears forming in my eyes as I shake my head. “Why are you saying all this...”
He grabs my hands, giving them a light squeeze. “I should’ve said it so much sooner, Mel. I just... I don’t know. I’ve spent so long on my own. And even when I was married, it still felt like I was on my own. I was scared of falling for someone. But once I fell for you, I didn’t want it to end. Ever. And I was in denial about what I had to do to have you the way you deserve to be had.”
I nod as a rogue tear slips down my cheek. “I don’t blame you for what you did. As much as it hurt, I understand why you felt you had to do it. But it still hurt.”
“And it kills me to know that I was the one hurting you. But if you’ll have me, I’d like to try this again. The right way.”
“But what about Connor? And your ex?”
“Connor loves you. He spent this whole week telling me what an ass I was for letting you go. Please, Mel. Please say we can try this. I want to treat you right. I want to show you how you deserve to be treated. I need you to… Just, please.”
Tears stream down my face but I can’t talk. It feels like a dream having him here. And I know I’d panic as well if anyone threatened to take Dorian away from me.
I might be afraid to have my heart destroyed again, but I’m even more afraid to say no and throw my chance at real love away. I take a deep breath.
“Okay,” I choke out, a sniffle immediately following. “I think I’d like to try it the right way. But please don’t break my heart again. I don’t think I can survive it again.”
“Never, I promise.” He breathes out a sigh. “And I want to help you and Dorian any way I can. So, maybe you’ll let me help you out? I can pay for Dorian’s procedure, float your bills, whatever you need so you can focus on finishing school.”
I smile but shake my head. “I can’t let you do that. The school is planning a fundraiser for Dorian, and I don’t know how to function without a job. I’d like to go through with this interview.”
“If that’s what you want to do, I want you to do it, Mel. I just want you to be happy. Preferably with me because I love you.”
I blink a couple of times. “I... You...What?”
He laughs, his eyes lighting up in a way I’ve never seen before. “I said I love you, Melody. I really do. I think for the first time in my life, I’ve actually fallen in love. It’s just a shame it’s taken so many years.”
I cry, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks.
He wraps his arms around my waist, holding me tightly. “Oh honey, please don’t cry. It’s okay if you don’t love me yet. I can wait. But fair warning, I’ll do everything in my power to make you mine body and soul.”
I rest my head against his chest, breathing in the scent of his cologne. Everything about the moment feels right as he kisses the top of my head.
I lean back.
