141. Nate
ONE HUNDRED FORTY-ONE
NATE
The door swings in, and I step forward.
My body slams into Rosie’s.
I hoist her into the air, her arms and legs wrapping around me.
The feel of her.
The weight of her.
She’s mine.
Everything she is… is mine.
“You’re not alone anymore.” I hug her tightly. “You’ll never be alone again.”
She presses her face into my neck, and I can feel her choppy breaths as I hold her even closer.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice breaks on the words.
“No.” I move into her room. “No more apologies.” I press my face into her hair. “But no more secrets, Rosie. Even if you think you’re saving me, no more secrets.”
She nods against me.
I sit on the edge of the bed, Rosie in my lap.
I rub a hand up her spine. “Please stop crying. It breaks my heart to hear you cry. Everything will be okay. ”
She sniffs. “But what about…” She lifts her head. “What about what I did?”
“No one will ever know.” I brush a strand of hair off her face. “He’s gone. His ashes can’t be tested. His records are gone. He never fucking existed.” I run a hand over her hair. “I would’ve come for you yesterday, but I needed to get that handled first. I’m sorry I took so long.”
Her bright blue eyes are still filled with tears as she blinks at me. “You—You did that?”
I nod. “He can’t hurt you anymore, Rosie.”
She throws her arms around me, and the sobs that come out of her are filled with relief.
And as I hold her, I can feel the shift.
I can feel the weight lift off her shoulders.
I can feel her exhale her pain.
I move my hand up and down her back, soothing her, promising her I’m here.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
Over and over, she whispers it.
Together, we inhale.
This woman of mine.
I finally loosen my hold so she can meet my gaze. “No more secrets,” I repeat.
Her eyes search mine. “I only have one left.”
I cup her cheek. “Tell me.”
She flattens her hands against my chest, her palm over my heart.
“Whatever it is, Beautiful. We’ll handle it.” I coax her.
She nods. “It’s just that I never told you… how much I love you.”
I swallow.
Then I swallow again.
Rosie presses her hand more firmly over my heart. “I love you, Nathan. You’re… You’re everything I want. But you’re more than that. You’re everything I need.”
I slam my mouth to hers.
Salty tears flavor our kiss. I don’t know if they’re mine or hers, but it doesn’t matter. We’re one now.
One heart .
One soul.
One future.
My fingers tangle in her beautiful red hair, and I pull our mouths apart.
“You’re not leaving.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not leaving.”
I press our foreheads together. “I don’t just mean the state, Rosie. I mean my place. My home. You’re not leaving. I’m not spending another night of my life without you beside me. There’s no such thing as too fast. Not with you. Not for us. Tell me you understand.”
Her exhale dances across my lips. “I’m never leaving.”
“Good.” My mouth pulls up into a smile. “Now tell me you don’t have to check out anytime soon.”
Rosie bites her lip, and I use my thumb to pull it free.
I trace her lip. “Tell me.”
“I don’t have to check out.”
“Good,” I repeat, then roll her onto her back.