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“It bothered me then, but I kept it to myself because it felt like itshouldn’tmatter. Like I didn’t have a right to wonder what was going on between you, because you and I weren’t together. But now it feels like it matters. Now it feels like it should be something we talk about, like there shouldn’t be these types of secrets.”
Before I’m even done speaking, he’s rounded the island and stepped close to me, taking my hands in his.
“I don’teverwant to keep secrets from you, Busy,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “For a long time I’ve lived a life where I kept things to myself because it didn’t feel safe to trust someone else. But I feel safe with you. I feel like I could talk to you about anything and you…won’t leave.”
His words shock me. Not only because of how honest they are, how vulnerable, but also because it makes it clear that he’s been thinking about our conversation from the other night. He was so sure, then, that he had closed himself off from loving again out of some self-sacrificing motive. Now, it seems like he’s accepted that it might be more rooted in fear of being abandoned again.
I step forward, wrapping my arms around his waist, sighing deeply as he brings me in tight against him. His hands gentlycaress my back, and I feel him place a kiss at the crown of my head.
“I’m crazy about you, Busy,” he says, his voice quiet.
He pulls back, bringing his hands to either side of my face.
“I didn’t know love could feel like this.”
I shake my head. “Me either.”
Then he dips down and presses his lips to mine. It’s gentle and sweet as he kisses me once, then twice. On the third, he nibbles at my lower lip, and I moan, opening to him, his tongue dipping in and tangling with mine.
God, I love the way he tastes, love the way it feels to be held in his arms, arms I know will hold me close even when they fail to hold steady.
My phone beeps with a chime that comes from the baby monitor on my phone, and a few seconds later I hear Junie call out for me from her room. I slow the kiss, wishing we had all the time in the world, right now, to kiss each other.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell him, stealing one more quick kiss before I head to Junie’s room.
When I emerge back into the kitchen, Reid smiles at Junie and gives her a goofy wave.
“Misery!” she shouts, as if she didn’t just see him an hour ago.
Then she’s clambering out of my grasp and tottering across the room to him. I understand the urge to race into his arms, and I laugh as he crouches low to pick her up then hoists her high up in the air. Junie squeals and laughs, and Reid brings her down and presses a bunch of kisses against her cheek.
My chest feels tight, and I rub against it, my palm moving in gentle circles as I watch them. It takes me a few minutes to realize what it is, and when I do, I smile.
I don’t think my heart has ever felt so full.
When the door opens, my dad beams at me. “Hey, Little Bee,” he says, embracing me like he hasn’t seen me in weeks. “How many times do we have to tell you not to knock?”
I shrug and slip off my shoes as I step inside. “I don’t know. Another thousand, probably.”
He chuckles, closing the door and following me in. “Here to get your girl?”
I nod. “Yep. We’re heading to the school to meet up with Marie and her kids.”
“Oh, that’ll be nice,” he says. “She and your mom are outside. And just so you know…”
I grab the handle on the door then turn to look back at him.
“…she makes chicken piccata every Monday, hoping you’ll stay for dinner.”
My smile slips, and I glance over at the kitchen, spotting the bag of flour and containers of olive oil and chicken stock sitting out, surrounded by lemons and garlic and a few other ingredients.
“She does?”
He nods. “But she kept asking and you kept saying no, so…” He shrugs. “She didn’t want to keep pestering you.”
My throat grows tight, and I turn to look outside where I can see my mom and Junie sitting on a blanket in the shade.
“I know things have been…off between the two of you,” Dad continues, coming up to my side and looking out with me. “But maybe some time, you could say yes? Might make her happy.”
