Page 26 of Keep Me

“Ever since I was a child I’ve been afraid that if I ask for help or affection I’ll be left alone. I’ve always needed to be able to do everything for myself so I’m not pushed away. I don’t want to live like that anymore. I want to be selfish. I want to be loved.”

His body relaxed, the tension fading away. “Good. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.”

Warmth flooded my face and I smiled up at the ceiling. I was exactly where I wanted to be.

But there was one more thing. I cleared my throat. This was going to be hard to get out, but I needed to say it out loud if I was going to move forward.

“I think,” I took a breath to calm myself. “I think I’m going to tell Oliver that I’m struggling with Jeanie’s care. He really loves her, and she thinks of him like a bonus grandson.”

“That’s a good idea,” Reese said, carefully. He was trying to be supportive without pushing me too much.

“After I was disowned I didn’t want him to think I was trying to leech off of him. But Oliver isn’t that kind of person. He’s like a brother to me.”

Reese rolled over onto his side, propping himself up with his arm. “Your family is so much more than blood. I hope you know that.”

I could feel the beginnings of tears threatening to build behind my eyes. “I do, thanks to you.”

He smiled and brushed his fingers across my cheek. “Does this mean I can keep you?”

I laughed. “Silly,” I said, catching his hand with my own. “I’m not going anywhere.”

THE END