Chapter Fifty-Four – Verity
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
VERITY
R ain drips from my lashes. The downpour has gotten a million times worse.
Most people are waiting off to the side, hiding under any awning or scaffolding they can find. Smart people are huddled under their umbrellas. I’m clutching my tote bag to my chest to protect it as much as I can while I sprint down the street.
I hop over the large puddles pooling at the crosswalks—grateful I chose to wear my sneakers today—and lick the water running down my lips. My hair must be absolutely soaked by now; I can feel the heavy weight of the ponytail swinging against the rain.
“Verity!”
The sound of my name cuts through the loud patter of rain and zooming of cars on wet asphalt. I slow my steps, whipping my head around to locate the man who called out to me.
Cullen is jogging up the street, ripping his suit jacket off without breaking his stride. I continue sprinting until we meet in the middle.
“What are you doing? I said I’d come to you.”
“What am—” He cuts himself off as he throws his suit jacket over my head. “You’re completely soaked.”
He wraps his arm behind my back and draws me close to him as he jogs us back down the street and into the lobby of a fancy office building.
He pulls back, those hazel eyes filled with concern.
Cullen repositions his jacket over my shoulders before moving to undo his tie.
He uses the fabric to dab at my damp face, muttering to himself.
“Are you okay? This is why I said I’d come to you. What if you catch pneumonia?”
“It was important.”
“Nothing is more important than your health, angel.”
“You are. You’re more important than anything else.”
Cullen’s hand pauses, and I see the wariness in his expression, the way he is battling against hope.
“What’re you saying?”
“I’m saying I forgive you. That I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to live my life without you but realized that it’s impossible.
I don’t know when it happened, but you became my rock, Cullen.
You became the clear sky after a stormy night.
You look out for me without me even asking.
You make me feel like I matter, just by existing.
I don’t have to prove anything to you. You see me for me and love me anyway. ”
“That’s because you’re special, Verity. Anyone can see that.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
I shake my head. “It’s you who makes me feel special, and it’s you I want to be with.”
He smiles, but it’s fleeting. Something crosses over his features and causes him to avert his gaze to the ground. He swallows for a beat.
“Even though my divorce isn’t finalized?”
“Yes.” I take the fist that is holding the tie and wrap my hand around it.
My skin is chilled to the bone, but warmth bursts where we connect.
I force him to look at me, to look at my unwavering belief.
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s still shitty that you omitted the truth, but I know you regret that decision.
And if you ever lie to me about something like this again, I will toss you in the Hudson River and pray to God that you get the worst case of norovirus known to man from ingesting the water. ”
He lets out a laugh through his nose, and seeing the corners of his lips tick up settles my heart.
“I swear to you, Verity—no more secrets.”
“So, there’s nothing else you haven’t told me? Nothing else you’re keeping hidden?”
“Nothing else.”
I quirk my brow. “Then do you care to explain the mysterious coffees I’ve been receiving lately?”
“You found out about that, huh?” He rolls his eyes and then wraps his arms around my shoulders, tugging me against his chest. He places a kiss on the crown of my head, murmuring against my hair.
“I promise not to keep any big secrets from you, but I’m not going to promise to stop spoiling you with secret gifts or surprises. Let me love you, Verity.”
“Okay.” I nuzzle into his pec, feeling the most at peace that I have in weeks.
“Verity.”
“Mm?”
“Can I be your boyfriend again?”
I lift my head back, peering up at him through my lashes.
“Yes.”
Cullen cups my jaw and draws me into the sweetest kiss. The connection feels like coming home after a long day; it washes away all my stress and worry.
I missed this.
I missed us.
I missed him.
When I first jumped into this relationship with Cullen, I’d known I was making the decision for myself even though it put my carefully crafted life at risk.
And despite everything that has happened, I still don’t regret it.
Because jobs come and go, but love is limited.
Finding that true connection with a person is something you can’t let slip through your fingers because there is no guarantee you’ll be able to pick it up again.
So, I kiss Cullen back with all my might, soaking wet in the middle of a fancy office building because that is what I want. I kiss him for every moment we spent apart. Our tongues twirl in a memorized dance, moving to the tune of a heart.
He sucks on my bottom lip, creating a deep heat in my core.
“You’re mine, Verity. Forever and always.”