44. Chapter 44
OLIVER
Everything was set up perfectly as I opened the door and Luna stepped inside.
She took my arm to help her slip out of her heels.
I respected that her upbringing instilled in her that the moment you step into someone else’s home, you remove your shoes - but my mind went to dark places, as to why I wanted her to keep them on.
I quickly shake those thoughts away, gesturing for her to follow the rose petal path.
She narrows her eyes at me, then follows me into the dimly lit dining room.
Decorated with fairy lights along the walls, a large bouquet of red roses in the centre of the dining table, paired with two sets of fancy cutlery and dining plates. A few lit candles around the room to set the mood.
God, I hope this isn’t too much. I didn’t want to overwhelm her.
But, then again, when had Nigel ever been wrong?
Luna had fallen silent, and the expression on her face wasn’t quite what I was expecting when she abruptly excused herself to the bathroom.
I nod, shaking off the unsettling feeling in my stomach as she scrambles down the hall and I head to the kitchen, manoeuvring around to re-heat the three-course meal I prepared for us, when my shoulders tense at the feel of her standing in the doorway.
I tread lightly, giving her the chance to speak first. To compose herself, as she glances around, apart from the display in the dining room, the house had remained the same.
In that moment, I imagine the range of emotions she must be juggling, so I take the lead in speaking first, with my back still to her.
“Are you hungry?” I glance over my shoulder.
“Y-you cooked?” She asks, making me feel like an arsehole. In all the time we spent together, not once had I cooked for her or expressed my feelings through food. Hell, she wouldn’t have known I could cook until I started revealing things about myself in those emails - had she read them.
That’s when I decide the food can wait and hold off on turning the oven on. Instead, I wipe my hands clean with a tea towel and turn to face her.
“Come here.” I softly command, to which she hesitates, then makes her way over to me. Stepping into my space. That intoxicating smell of strawberries commits murder on my senses, and I love every moment. Breathing her in, while gently tilting her chin up towards me.
“Luna, I’m sorry. I haven’t said this yet. But I’m deeply sorry for what I said to you that night.” Letting my thumb caress her bottom lip.
“I was out of order. I had no regard for how badly I hurt you by making you worry like that, making you relive a traumatic memory, then discarding your feelings because of my cowardice and unresolved baggage.” I continue; she doesn’t pull away, but does allow me to wipe away the first tear that forms.
“I’m sorry for leaving you, I’m sorry for taking Theo away from you, and most of all, I’m sorry for not sticking it out, so the two of us could fight this together,” are the words that cause her to crumble.
I gently guide her into my chest. With room to pull away, but I’m forever grateful she doesn’t cause this is where she belongs, the missing piece to my puzzle and the only thing that makes my world feel complete.
I hold her against me as she sobs, her hands slip around my back and clutch the fabric of my shirt.
“But I really am home for good. And I will wait however long it takes for you to come home, to forgive me and…possibly give us another chance.” I add, stroking her hair.
Though it doesn’t feel like enough. I want to lift her into my arms, bury her head in my neck and hold her as close as possible - but I won’t overstep.
“Being the grade A detective you are, I’m sure you’ve figured out I took part in making sure you have the best birthday possible because you deserve it.
” Pausing to make our eyes meet again. “But mostly because I love you, Luna.” I declare, gently freeing her bottom lip, which she’d snagged moments ago.
“I love you more than breathing itself. Yes, I did you wrong, and it took the most agonising six months of my life to realise it - bearing in mind, I had the most chaotic childhood imaginable. But that will never be an excuse again, nor will it ever play a part in causing you harm.”
“I didn’t realise I had the honour of having your heart the first time around, but I promise you, if you trust me with it again, I’ll protect it with my life.” My trembling hands take hold of her face, and I bask in the way she leans into my touch.
“I know, I said I’d wait, but please at least say something, a-at least tell me I have a chance t-” I start to stutter, losing control as Luna wipes away a tear from my cheek.
I close my eyes, grateful for her touch.
When, to my surprise, I feel her lips brush mine, only for a moment, then I open my eyes to meet hers.
“I love you, too, Oliver,” she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion. I search between her eyes to find an inch of doubt, but come up empty.
“Which is crazy because…” she starts, “You are the most stubborn grump I’ve ever met.
You’re bossy with mood swings like a teenager, you only like things your way, and you’re possessive, a little controlling, and you’re annoyingly consistent,” she continues, listing all my flaws; none of it is easy to hear, but this was Luna - I take every word.
“And yet…” she sighs, her gaze and tone softening.
“You’re also the most caring human being I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting,” she adds, looping her arms around my neck and jumping. I catch her effortlessly, cupping the back of her thighs, backing the two of us up to rest her gorgeous ass on the counter.
Our eyes locked the entire time.
“Oliver, despite your Surly Bastard facade, I see your big-hearted soul. Were you the perfect person the last time we stood in this kitchen? Far from it, but standing with you right now, I can’t deny the good parts of you, before and now.
” I subconsciously lean closer for more of her touch, and in return, she strokes my curls and keeps going.
“Oliver, you’ve grown up to believe you’re this monster, incapable of love, and the limit of what you deserve was a successful career, but if that were true?
You wouldn’t have taken in your younger brother because your mother wasn’t up for the task, nor would you willingly learn and grow at what it means to be a parent. ”
She smiles softly.
“You wouldn’t have given Diamond or Sandy and her child a place to stay whilst you helped all of them get back on their feet.
You wouldn’t have overcompensated to ensure Theo would never have to question whether he’s loved by working yourself to the bone,” she recites, gently swatting away my tears now that the dam inside me is officially broken.
“A-and if you truly were this horrible person, you b-believe yourself to be, you certainly wouldn’t have taken pity on a feisty dark-haired queen who needed a job and a place to live.”
That’s when the two of us let out a laugh to break the tension.
“You definitely wouldn’t have let her anywhere near your child, put up with her outrageous snoring or spent a fortune on bringing her dream to life, when she wasn’t sure what it was…not till you put it right in front of me.”
Though it shouldn’t, my heart instantly feels lighter as Luna lays out the person she believes me to be. Unaffected by emotions, and instead absorbs being in the same space as me.
“Yes, you were a complete arsehole, and you did leave me. Nor do I doubt you won’t be somewhat of an arsehole in the future, but I know deep down you did it because you love me.
I do wish you had come back much sooner.
I understand why you didn’t, now, and I’m proud of you for putting your healing first. I couldn’t ask for more than that.
” Luna declares, holding my face, nuzzling her nose against mine.
“So, are you going to be a giant pain in my arse for however long we are together? Without a doubt, but I love you, you giant Surly Bastard and I can’t imagine being with anyone else but you.” She declares, mending the very last piece of my defrosted heart.
Silence surrounds us then, sinking in the weight of her words. But what’s most important to me is to have her back, to have Luna in the way I craved most these past few months. I seek refuge in her neck, filled with relief to be in her willing embrace again.
“I love you s-so much.” My voice cracks as Luna scoots closer to me. Caging me in, and yet I have never felt so safe. The idea of dinner gets lost to the ether as Luna and I remain there in the kitchen talking about everything and nothing at the same time.
I tell her all about my therapy journey, about how it felt talking to my mother and even the roller-coaster of reuniting with Mario.
She tells me all about what she went through after I left, how hard it was to celebrate her grandfather’s birthday, how rewarding yet exhausting it was helping with sleep training baby Leo, and how much the children at the care home have been struggling lately, including little Mei.
Luna has always had a soft spot for that little girl.
Eventually, I realise it’s past twelve am by now, and the alcohol in Luna’s system has definitely worn off, and she must be starving, having not eaten since around 2 pm yesterday, but as I try to pull away from her, she groans like a child in protest.
“It’s late; you must be hungry. Let’s eat, then we can cuddle all you want.” I suggest pulling out her neck despite her gorgeous pout.
“I’m not hungry,” she whines before the growl of her stomach betrays her. I raise my eyebrows at her, but she acts as if it never happened.
“We can eat later; I was thinking we could just skip to presents? Or dessert?” Titling her head suggestively.
“Fine, it’s not technically your birthday anymore, but I guess we could do presents,” I give in, pecking her lips.