Page 77 of Open Net

I was prepared to go downstairs and extend an olive branch. In front of my mom and Jackson. On my terms. Now I felt thrown off.

“Do you have a second?” he asked.

I looked around, feeling trapped, and finally nodded.

He moved to the bed and sat on the corner, facing me.

“I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

I moved back to my chair near the window and lowered myself onto it. “I’m okay.”

His eyes seemed to be searching for something. They moved up and down my body. “I know I failed you in the past, Emma. I know I need to pay more attention, and I’m working on that.” He sucked in a breath. “That’s why I’ve been giving you space. I could tell you needed it.”

My eyes met his and nodded once.

“But I need my wife. Emma, I need you. I know that you need to work through things on your own time and that I don’t deserve your forgiveness yet, but I need to know that there’s a chance.”

Was he asking me if I was considering making this permanent? Being separated forever? My heart split in two at the thought.

“No.”

His eyes widened with a flash of fear. “There’s not?”

I shook my head. “No, I mean there is. I don’t want this to be for forever. I don’t want to be alone.”

He stood up and sat in the chair across from me. I could tell he wanted to reach out for me, but he resisted.

“Really?”

I nodded. “I need to be absolutely sure this won’t happen again.”

He started to talk but I held up my hand to stop him. “I know you’re working on it. I know you’re seeing Dr. Elliot. That’s a start and I’m sure it’s helping.” I let out a sigh. “I don’t have the answer yet. I don’t know how I’ll know it won’t happen again.”

He didn’t argue. He simply nodded. “What else?”

“Maybe we could spend time together.”

You would have thought I just told him the Fury won another championship with the way his eyes lit up.

“I’d love to. Maybe we can go out tonight?”

I thought about it, but I didn’t want to push things too fast. Plus, I didn’t have a babysitter. Mom was here but I couldn’t just assume she would watch Jackson.

“You’re thinking too hard,” he said. “We’ll go out tomorrow.”

I smiled, grateful he knew me so well. I tended to overthink things and he somehow knew when to push me and when to give me space.

He stood and leaned down, placing a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow, baby.” My heart lifted a little, but I reminded myself to be cautious.

I nodded and watched him leave. This was the right thing to do.

* * *

Mom had no problem watching Jackson. I knew she wouldn’t, but I was holding out hope I might have an excuse.

I was more nervous for this date than when Olli asked me out for the first time. Five years of marriage, a baby, and plenty of illnesses should have exposed us to everything about each other. There were no more surprises. At least, I didn’t think there were, but I’d been proven wrong by him recently.

I smoothed the front of my black dress over my stomach and sighed. I’d been walking and doing a bit of yoga, as much as my body could handle but the last ten baby pounds refused to leave. This was as good as it was going to get for tonight.