Stolen Dreams (Dreams #4)

Chapter Eighteen

LILAH

E very single word that came out of him was like a knife slicing into me. He’s never let his shield down with me. I don’t think he did with anyone, but definitely not with me. Knowing it took a lot for him to give me that, I feel the way his heart is beating in his chest under my hands. “That right there is one of the reasons you are a great dad,” I state, and my hand falls off his chest before I do something stupid, like roam them up to his neck and wrap them around him, giving the whole fucking town something to talk about. “You care.” He stares into my eyes, something he’s been doing a lot. Something I seem to silently beg him to do more and more. “That is going to mean the world to her when she looks back and thinks about this moment.” My own heartbeat speeds up, my hands trembling nervously, hoping I don’t say a wrong word that has him going off. “Behind that gruff exterior is one of the best men I’ve ever met in my life.” I can see the side smile fill his face, and I do something I might regret in the morning or even five minutes from now. I get on my tippy-toes, and instead of kissing his lips, like I long to do, I kiss his cheek. The stubble pinches my cheek, and the only thing I want more at this moment is to wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his neck, feeling his heat seep through my body and safe in his arms. Instead, I swallow down the lump that has formed in my throat and notice the way my eyes got so dry they burn.

I turn and walk out of the school and into the fenced area. My head is down as I need to get away from this right now. I need to focus, and being in the middle of all these people, it’ll be a miracle if I don’t break down. I spot Lucy over at the side with Autumn and Charlie and know, in a couple of minutes, Emmett will be coming out to find her.