Chapter 28
DORI
My curiosity takes my mind off our discussion and right to the clear bandage over the scar of his gunshot wound.
“Jami, what did you do to yourself?”
He peeks over his shoulder and glances at the bandage. “That’s just something I had done yesterday after you left.”
“What is it?” I turn him around so I can get a better view.
It’s a new tattoo, but the protective covering is making it blurry so I can’t read it. He reaches for it and tears it off.
“It’s early to be removing this, but I’ll just keep putting ointment on it and keep it clean.” He throws the bandage in the trash. “Do you like it?”
I study it for a moment. There’s a silver bullet heading directly into the scar of his wound, leaving particles and swooshes behind it. They blend into the family crest as if the shot came from behind it.
Where the bullet is entering his scar, there are lines and marks that make it seem like the skin and muscles around it are puckering and being pulled into the scar.
Red blood drips from the place of entry, making hearts at the end of the streams of blood. Above and below the bullet hole are words .
I read them out loud.
“For Eternity.” The sentence continues below the entry wound and smears of blood. “I’ll Always Take One For You.”
My eyes fill with tears as his dedication fills my soul with overwhelming love. “You’ll always take a bullet for me. I don’t know what to say.”
He faces me. “What do you think of it?”
“It’s so personal and meaningful. I can’t believe you did this.”
His expression grows with concern. “Do you not like it?”
“I love it. I just can’t find adequate words for how emotional I feel about it.”
His loving gaze hooks with mine. “I mean it, Dori. I’ll always take one for you. You’re my everything, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. Even if it means I lose my life doing it.”
My throat tightens as tears stream down my face. I fold into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist, and hold him as tight as I can.
“You’re the most amazing man. How did I get so blessed?”
He runs his palm over my back and kisses the top of my head. “I’m the blessed one.”
His gesture is so thoughtful. He deserves the world. It’s my turn to prove to him I’d give anything for him too.
We’ve been back in Miami for a few weeks, and Melanie has had me running all over, looking at condos. I love feeling needed and useful. It makes my heart full.
She scans the living room, tapping her finger against her lips. I let her consider it for a beat. I think this is the one, but I don’t want my opinion to skew her decision .
A smile grows across her face. “Yep, this is the one.”
“Are you sure?” I glance at our Realtor, Desi, who’s been patiently waiting for this moment to come, then look back to Mel.
“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s perfect and not ginormous like yours. I don’t have time to clean a place that size.” She gives a nod to Desi. “Get Jamison on the phone and tell him I’m ready to spend his money.”
Desi faces me. “Would you like me to work with him on the negotiations, or are you doing that part as well?”
My stomach knots. Jami tells me repetitively that his money is my money, but I’m still not comfortable with it. Once we’re married, I’ll work on accepting it easier with help from my therapist.
“Please deal with him on the purchase. I’m here to help Melanie decorate. That’s my only involvement.” I stride over to Mel. “Congratulations. This place is everything I want you to have.”
“It’s a dream come true.” She gives me a hug. “Thank you for helping me. I’ll be the best tenant you’ve ever had.”
I laugh and break away from her embrace. “You’ll be the only tenant I’ve had. And Jami’s your landlord, not me.”
“Whatevs.” She moseys around the room. “You know, this means we have to celebrate. It’s mandatory.”
“We need the seller to accept a contract before you do that. I’ll get working on that now.” Desi pulls out her phone to call Jami. “If you’ll excuse me.”
We wait for her to leave the room while Mel inspects the sofa. “Do you think they would sell the furniture?”
“Sure. Just have Desi ask for it in the offer.”
“Cool. I might have her include it all. My stuff is basic crap.”
“Do what makes you happy.”
She plops down on the couch and reclines back. Her eyes light up. “Hey, I have the perfect plan. ”
“What would that be?” I sit across from her in a sleek, modern, light-blue chair.
“Your birthday is next weekend. How about we combine my celebration with yours?”
I shrug. “Are you sure you want to share the spotlight?”
“Girl, the spotlight is on both of us no matter when we go out. We’re like the greatest eye candy in the world, so it won’t be anything new.”
“I wish I had your conviction.”
“No, you don’t. You like being the way you are.”
I pinch my brows together. “And what way is that?”
“Confident but modest. It’s the only reason I hung out with you when I first met you.” She leans forward and takes a candy out of a dish that’s sitting on the coffee table and pops it in her mouth.
“Why would that make you want to hang out with me?”
“Duh. There can’t be two of us like me. Could you imagine the fights we’d have over who was in charge?”
“I don’t need to be in charge.” I stand and stroll to the window.
The view of the beach is spectacular. My heart fills with gratitude that Jami is willing to help Melanie out.
He’s such a good man.
Mel cuts into my thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
“Just how amazing my fiancé is.”
“He’s a great catch. I still wish I would’ve seen him first.”
I turn to her and pretend to glare. “He’s going to be my husband, so stop thinking about him in that way.”
She waves me off. “Every woman who takes one look at him is fantasizing about him. At least I tell you up front.”
She’s probably not wrong. A zap of jealousy strikes me, causing me to frown.
Melanie must read it on my face. “He already loves you more than life itself, but if you want to solidify that and show it off to other people, give him what he wants.”
“And what would that be?”
“A baby.”
I tilt my head. “How do you know that’s what he wants?”
“I see the way he holds you. His hands are always rubbing your belly like you’re already pregnant. He asked me once if you ever talked about having kids. It’s obvious he’s thinking about it.” She pauses. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but…”
“But what?”
“After you were rescued, they told Jami you were pregnant. His entire face lit up when they told him. Then he found out you made it up. I was talking to him about it one day, and he admitted he was sad it wasn’t true, but he wanted to focus on you being found and safe.”
“He was sad that I wasn’t pregnant?”
“Yeah. I’d say almost devastated. He wants a baby, Dori, and he wants it with you.”
My adrenaline spikes. “I don’t know if I can go there again.”
“Why?”
“You know why. If I lost another baby, I’d die. Just thinking about it…” I tune in to my feelings like my therapist has me practice.
Then it hits me. The intense fear I used to have about getting pregnant isn’t there. Not only that, but the thought of sharing that with Jami makes me warm all over.
“Okay, Dori. What just went through your head?” Mel stands and joins me by the window.
“I don’t know what it means, but when I tried to identify how I was feeling, I was calm. Almost…excited about the possibility.”
“You’ve had a lot of time to heal from your loss. You’ve told me you’ve talked about it at length with your therapist. Maybe you’re ready to consider it.” She pats my shoulder. “I bet it would be the best gift you could ever give him.”
And with those words, an idea forms in my mind. I need to speak with him about it first, so as soon as we’re done here, I plan on going straight to his office.
“Melanie, you’re a genius.”
“I’d like to think so, but sometimes I do stupid things.”
“Such as?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s the biggest colossal of a fuckup. It rivals some of yours.”
“Hey!” I playfully push her arm. “I haven’t fucked up that much.”
“Okay. We can skim over the last year where you were involved with two men and wreaking havoc on everything in your path.”
My stomach drops with her reminder. “Damn. That was a mess. How did I make it out of that with the man of my dreams? I’m lucky he didn’t turn his back on me and never speak to me again.”
“You got that right.” She pulls the sliding glass door open and steps out onto the balcony.
I follow her out, walk to the railing, and bend over, resting my arms on the top of it. She does the same.
The breeze blows my hair, so I tuck it behind my ear. “Tell me about this fuckup of yours.”
She groans. “I had my phone on the couch because I had been texting Jonah. This guy I’ve been hanging with when I’m hot and bothered stopped by. We ended up messing around, and somehow my phone recorded an audio of us, and it got sent to Jonah.”
I grimace. “Oh, Mel. That’s terrible.”
“I told you it rivals some of yours.” She pretends to throw up over the balcony. “I’m sick about it.”
“What did Jonah say? ”
“Nothing I didn’t deserve. He hates me now, but enough about that. Have you talked to Hunter since you left?”
I gaze out at the majestic view. “Yeah. I had to coordinate the handoff of the money he gave me so he could give it to my brother.”
“How did that go?”
“Good. We even talked about him dating again.”
She gives me a side-eye glance. “How did that come up?”
I shrug. “Jami told me he thought Hunter was seeing someone. My curiosity got the best of me, so I asked him if he was dating again.”
“What did he say to that?”
“He said he was going out from time to time, but it was nothing serious. He wants to focus on raising his son and doesn’t see where a new relationship fits into that situation.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I think he’s right. I loved the guy and didn’t think I would be able to accept him having a child with someone other than me. Can you imagine how hard it would be for a woman who just started getting to know him?”