Chapter 70 #2
I scoot closer to him on the couch and wrap my arms around his waist. “I’m done letting other people’s standards define me.
I’m Cordelia Davenport.” My bottom lip quivers as I remember Gwen’s video, harkening me back to the truth of who I am.
“I have always and I will always live on my own terms and with the people that matter to me.”
Renthrow tilts his head, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hypothetically, if there was a semi-professional hockey player with a very impressive Hello Kitty collection and a genius little girl who really, really wanted you to be in their lives, how would you feel about that?”
“I would say it depends.”
Renthrow scrunches his nose. “On what?”
“How often do I have to watch princess movies? Because I can do one, maybe two, but a marathon is off-the-table.”
Renthrow laughs and brings my hands to his lips to kiss it. Then he tugs me to my feet.
“Where are we going?” I wonder as he nudges me to put on my shoes at the door.
“I have something to show you.”
“What is it?” I look down at his pants pockets.
“Let’s go downstairs first.”
Curiosity fills my chest and I race out the door. My feet thud on the apartment staircase, and I’m dragging Renthrow behind me.
“We don’t have to rush, sweetheart. Slow down before you trip.”
I rein in the pace and, a few seconds later, we burst out of the apartment building. My eyes sweep the parking lot, looking for Renthrow’s truck.
“Cordelia!” Renthrow calls, and I turn to the side, stunned to find him leaning against a motorcycle with a side car.
The bike is green with a thinner frame than I’m used to seeing, and the gas tank area is flat, which tells me it has in a battery and not an engine.
However, the bars are curved inward like a motorcycle’s handles, and there’s a grip handle similar to my bike.
I cover my mouth with both hands and gape at him. “What is that?”
Renthrow straightens and walks confidently toward me. “It’s an electronic bike with a sidecar.”
I notice the pedals. It’s an e-bike, but the designers were very inspired by motorcycles. I see lots of elements of a classic design here.
“What’s she working with?” I murmur. Sliding to a crouch, I run my finger over the engine hub and spot the numbers embedded there. “Nice. It’s a 750-watt battery. How fast can it go? I’d guess twenty to thirty miles an hour tops?”
I look up and find Renthrow staring at me with an amused expression. Realizing that I should probably pay more attention to the man than the machine, I clear my throat and pop to my feet.
Renthrow laughs softly.
I smile at him. “Did you ride this here?”
He nods and steps toward me.
Nerves jangle in my stomach. The last thing I said to him was crushing, and I realize I still haven’t apologized for it.
“Renthrow, about what I said in the garage—”
“You don’t need to apologize.” He continues moving into me, and I almost have a heart attack from how bright and magnetic his hazel eyes are in the sunshine.
I avert my gaze. “I’m still processing a lot right now with… everything. But eventually, I’d like to return to the discussion.”
“Baby steps.”
“What do you mean?”
He pushes forward, and I step back only to realize that I’ve hit the side of the apartment building.
Renthrow sets his palm flat to the bricks and looks down.
The muscles on his forearms flex, threatening to pop out of his tight shirt.
The muscles, paired with the hazel eyes, put a spell on me that keeps me from breathing.
“I mean that I want you, Cordelia Davenport. You. And I don’t need you to move a muscle. I don’t need you to change a thing. I’m coming to you. Whether it’s a thousand, ten thousand, or a million steps, I’ll keep taking them until I get to you.”
My heart skips a beat. How is this man so incredible?
I slip my arms around his neck to bring him closer to me. “What if I’m not worth it?”
His gaze dips quickly to my lips before he meets my eyes again. “Impossible.”
“What if you regret it?”
“Never.”
“Even if it means you’ll make the same mistake twice?” I whisper, my heart beating fast.
Renthrow’s expression turns very stern. “Me loving you is not a mistake, Cordelia.”
My jaw drops. Did he just…
Renthrow continues, “I take us as seriously as I take being a father.”
Wow. That’s a loaded statement. I know what a good father Renthrow is.
“I respect what you want, and I respect you.” His thumb slides across my cheek. “I won’t pressure you to do or be anything you don’t want to. I just want you in my life, Cordelia. As long as Gordie and I have you, we can figure out what life together looks like on our own terms.”
“People will judge us,” I remind him.
“Let them. I might not be a perfect man, but my daughter is about as close to perfect as one can get.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. “And so are you. That’s all that matters to me. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
“Neither do I,” I admit. “I feel like I was wandering around in the dark, and then you and Gordie appeared. And there was…so much warmth. I didn’t even realize what was happening to me, but I just knew I wanted more. I can’t imagine my life without you both. I love you too.”
Renthrow’s eyes brighten, and he slips an arm around my waist, pulling me away from the wall and into him.
He rests his forehead against mine and breathes out in utter relief. “I missed you.”
“I missed you.” I swallow, wetting my parched mouth. “That was a really good speech.”
“Was it?” His gaze fastens on my mouth.
“And that’s a really nice bike. A bit old, but it’s got great potential.”
“Mm.” His heated hazel eyes fall to half-mast.
I pull back just before he kisses me. “You still haven’t told me how many miles it can do.”
He directs a patient grin at me. “Maybe a hundred?”
“No way.” I gasp. Although I’m not sure if I’m hyperventilating from the bike’s amazing capabilities or that teasing smile.
“Or did the guy at the shop say fifty?” Renthrow amends.
“That sounds about right.”
“Cordelia.” His smile lifts, and it sends a flutter straight through my belly.
“Yes?”
“Are you done talking about the bike?”
“Uh…”
“Can I kiss you now?”
I lean forward. “Yes, please.”
“So polite,” he murmurs, and then he kisses me softly, like a promise, like the best start of a new chapter.
His hold around me tightens, a little too tight, a little too strong. But that’s Renthrow. And I don’t mind. I feel treasured in his arms, protected in the best way, and I know that…loving a man like him means I’ll always feel safe.
He continues to sip from my lips, taking his time as if he wants to make up for the days we were apart.
As we kiss, I feel life pouring through every cracked shard of my heart, like the gold that turns broken pottery into priceless works of art.
The warmth settles in my heart where Renthrow and Gordie have a permanent home.
I don’t ever want to stop kissing, but soon, I can’t breathe. We finally break to come up for air, and he looks down at me with a thoughtful look.
I tuck my bottom lip between my teeth. “What?”
A wrinkle appears between Renthrow’s brows. “Have you been crying?”
How could he tell? Has my concealer worn off? “Not anymore. From now on, there will only be happy tears.”
Renthrow slips his thumb over my cheek and rests his forehead against mine as he echoes. “From now on, there will only be happy tears.”