Chapter 38 #2
I smirk before pinching the back of his neck and tilt my head. “Now are you going to tell me why you’re here and why Kathy thinks you’re just the sweetest, Mr. Sorenson?”
His hand tucks a stray wisp of my hair out of my eyes. His Adam’s apple bobs and when I look into his eyes again, I see that calm, but vulnerable openness that makes the butterflies in my stomach do summersaults. “I’m sorry your brother’s mad at you. I’m sorry you lost your job.”
My jaw tenses and my brow furrows. He must see my irritation when I open my mouth to speak because he shakes his head.
“No, let me finish,” he says and I see the pleading look in his eyes.
I nod and he continues. “I know those things aren’t my fault, at least not fully.
And I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself and fixing things on your own.
That doesn’t change that I’m sorry that they happened.
I’m sorry we both felt like we had to hide us.
I don’t ever want that. I want people to take us seriously.
And I told you, I’d give you all of me. So that’s what I’m doing.
If we’re going to be together, you’re going to get all of me, whether it’s just you and me at home or in public. ”
I cup his jaw, my thumb tracing the hollow of his dimple, up over the crinkles at the corner of his eyes until I feel the cool metal of his eyebrow piercing.
“That’s amazing. That’s perfect. I just can’t believe you’re doing it.” I press a kiss to his lips. “But that still doesn’t explain how it involves Wasatch Wishes.”
He sucks in a breath and grabs the back of his neck. “I had Jake move a couple things around and we made a donation to them.”
I squint at him. “How big?”
He smiles nervously. “Enough for them to get a new office building, with better facilities, and fund their full time staff for the next five years,” his voice trailing up like a question.
“But—” I start, wanting to tell him this is amazing, but then it hits me.
Kathy knows his full name. That means… No. He didn’t.
My mouth falls open. He shrugs awkwardly. “They said I can have my name on the building. That it’d really help with their fundraising.”
“What did you say?” My voice is a whisper.
"I said I’d only do it if your name was next to mine.”
“Tommy, you didn’t.”
“There’s more. Kathy said you could have your job back if you want it.”
“What are you saying? Please tell me you’re not sick of working with me already?” I shake my head. “No, I want to stay with you. And you can’t just go and buy my old job back for me anyway.”
He laughs and his warm breath nearly makes me melt into a puddle at his feet. “Good, that makes me feel better about the next part. I spent last night in Seattle. By the way, the swings aren’t nearly as fun without you. Anyway, I was there with Jake signing an ungodly amount of paperwork.”
I quirk a brow. “Wait, what for? And did you really fly to Seattle yesterday and then here today? Please tell me you didn’t use your jet. No amount of drinking from reusable bottles is going to offset that.”
“That’s beside the point,” he says, smirking and rolling his eyes. “Jake and I took your idea and put it in motion. We’re going to do it.”
“What do you mean my—” The question stalls in my throat when what he’s saying registers. For the second time in minutes, he has me feeling like I’ve forgotten how to breathe.
He nods. “The foundation. Making a bigger impact. All of it, publicly, and I want you by my side doing it.”
My heart reels. He hasn’t just opened up to me. He hasn’t just been vulnerable with me. He’s cut open his chest, exposing the deepest wound he has, and handed me his heart on a silver platter.
“I don’t know what to say.” I fumble for the words, my mind racing, heart swelling with pride.
He pulls me into him by my waist, with the hands I didn’t even realize he’d placed there. His nose ruffles my bangs before those warm, soft lips ghost over my forehead in a light kiss.
“I love you, Rainbow.” His lips find mine for a slow, lingering kiss.
"So fucking much it hurts. I know there’s nothing I can do about my past and the attention that brings.
So you were right. If we’re going to have to deal with that, we can at least make some good out of it, together.
I told you, I’m all in. I want your brothers to know that.
I want your friends and family to know that.
I want the world to know that. But most importantly, I want you to know that. ”
His gaze meets mine and I feel water prick the corner of my eyes. The pad of his thumb catches a stray tear. Hearing those three words, the ones I’ve wanted to tell him so many times over the last week, make me feel whole and grounded in a way I never knew I could.
“I love you too.” I watch his lips curl into a smile. I palm the sides of his face and bring my mouth to his, kissing him until every last molecule of oxygen has left my lungs.
I don’t know who breaks the kiss first, but when we do, I press my forehead to his. I feel his hands run up and down my back in slow gentle caresses over my light sweater, because I didn’t even think to grab my jacket when I saw him outside.
A hollow knocking sound grabs our attention and we both look to our side. Lizzy and Kayleigh are standing in the coffee shop window, faces plastered to the glass. They’re grinning, like the kids looking into the window displays along Main Street.
He waves and smiles sheepishly at them. Lizzy and Kayleigh both make obnoxious kissing faces and waggle their brows. I give them both middle fingers.
“Do you want to get out of here and talk somewhere a little more private?”
I look into the eyes of the man who just gave me his heart and nod.