25. Henley #2
“If we’re ever going to move forward from this, I need to hear it from your lips. I’ve had seven years to allow my brain to imagine every scenario and every reason why you could have left me like that. Please tell me, Em.”
His palms fall to my thighs, and he drops his gaze to take a steadying breath. “That night will forever be ingrained in my mind.”
“Mine, too.” I breathe, feeling his fingers curl into my exposed skin.
“That night, you looked so incredibly happy. Vibrant, full of life. Free. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
His grip squeezes tighter, as if a warning for what’s to come next. I cover them with my own, gripping with the same intensity. Silently letting him know that I have him. That he’s safe to let go of whatever he’s been holding on to that’s causing him so much pain.
“That day, we took Mama to her annual checkup appointment—” He pauses abruptly to take a breath, and my eyes flutter shut. “She found out that the cancer had returned. But this time, it was in her lungs.”
“Oh, Em—” I breathe. His bottom lip begins to quiver as I brush my thumbs across his skin in soothing circles.
“They explained to us how invasive lung cancer can be. How it’s often resistant to most treatments.
Then, to crush our hopes ever further, they projected that she had another five years at best. Twice she fought it back and came out stronger on the other side.
And with one diagnosis, it was all stripped away.
Replaced with a countdown timer of days she had left. ”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Letting go of his hands, I thread my fingers through the sides of his hair. Forcing his gaze to remain on mine. “I would have been there for you, like I always have. You didn’t have to sit with that alone.”
“That moment opened my eyes to just how fleeting life truly is. I was so afraid that I was about to lose two of the most important women in my life. I knew I had to see you. I couldn’t let you go without finally tell you how much I fucking cared about you.
How I always have. But as soon as I saw how happy you were, I got into my head. After a few drinks, it only got worse.
“I completely messed it all up. When I heard Ryleigh call out my name, everything hit me all at once. I knew I was a wreck, and you were at the prime of your life. If I came back into the kitchen that night, I would have only dimmed it. You deserved to experience the world, follow your dreams. Being with me would have only held you back.”
Glossy eyes met mine, and the dam finally broke free.
Tears cascade down my cheeks, but I don’t let go of my grip.
“What I deserved was a chance to make up my own mind, Emerson. And you wouldn’t have held me back.
Can’t you see that all these years you’ve been giving me courage to keep pushing through? ”
He shakes his head. His voice cracks as he speaks. “What have I done?”
“You remember that day, when I was in middle school and those girls threw away my shoes? I had only told your Mama. I was too ashamed to admit the truth to my parents, because they had saved up to get me the special edition ones I’d wanted for my birthday.
You know, the ones with the green color I loved so much. ”
His bottom lip slips between his teeth as he tries to avoid my gaze.
“The next day I devised a plan of how I was going to make money to buy them back. Was I ever surprised when, three days later, I came into my room to find a brand-new pair of Converse laying on top of my sheets.”
Thick lashes flutter up to meet my gaze.
“I know it was you, Em.”
“When did you figure it out?”
“The next day. I came over to tell Mama Lane thank you. She was bewildered when I showed her my new shoes. You walked into the kitchen at the same time I was holding up my shoes and nearly choked on the water you were drinking.”
The edge of his lip tilts up. “I thought I had gotten away with it for all these years. You’ve always loved those green shoes. I couldn’t have you bouncing around town without your signature trademark.”
“You’ve been doing things like that my whole life, Em.
Splitting your sandwich with me when my stubborn brother wouldn’t.
Letting me swing first at the lake after I’ve had a bad day.
Helping me work through my anxious thoughts.
Buying me a new bed set and other items that would make me feel more comfortable when I arrived at the cabin. ”
I watch his brows fly up to his hairline.
“Don’t think I didn’t know that was you, too.” I wink, rubbing my thumbs against his cheeks before I drop them back into my lap. “My life is intertwined with countless memories of you. Moments that you reminded me of the good that still exists in this world.”
Emerson reaches between us, brushing a tendril of my hair out of my face and tucking it safely behind my ear. “You deserved every moment, Hen. It was my way to show you how much I care about you. How much I appreciated every little ray of your light you granted me over the years.”
He sighs, running his hand over his face. “You deserve the world. If you decide to give this a chance, please know that I won’t ever stop you from following your dreams. If you want to go back to New York, we’ll figure out how to make it work.”
“Really?” The word rushes out of my lips so quietly. I pause, wondering if I even voiced it out loud.
“Really. People make it work every day.”
He inches closer, his arm slipping around my lower back, tugging me forward until my chest was flush with his. Rough fingers grip my chin, just like they did all those years ago, placing my lips just inches away from his. “I don’t want to spend another moment of my life without you in it.”
My breath hitches. His fingers grip tighter into my back, the heavy-lidded gaze burrowing a spot straight into my soul.
“I promised you all those years ago that you deserved someone to protect this heart of yours. Will you let me in again?”
He’s so close that I feel his words feather over my sensitive lips. His promise spreads like molten lava, searing its way through my entire body. The organ between my ribs feels like it’s about to leap right out of my chest.
Unable to voice the words, I nod.
Elation glistens in his eyes, but he doesn’t close the gap. “I need to hear you say the words, Trouble.”
The rasp of his voice, full of desire and restraint begging to be released, sends a chill rippling down my spine. “Take it,” I say breathlessly, twisting my hand into the fabric of his shirt. “You have my heart. Just promise me you’ll hold onto it this time and won’t ever let it go.”
His lips whisper against mine, “I promise.” Then he seals the space between us.
The pace is slow, tentative.
All-consuming.
The thrum of my heart purrs against Em’s chest as he takes his time memorizing every detail of my mouth with his.
His tongue presses against the seam of my lips, and I part to allow him in.
A low groan rumbles through both of us from the overwhelming sensation.
Emerson’s palm slams against the mirror behind me, the other holding the back of my head steady as he devours me entirely.
Pulling back, he takes my bottom lip with him, tugging it gently with his teeth before releasing it.
Warmth travels south to my core, igniting it like the bonfire all those years ago.
His lips trail at a languid pace across my chin and down the side of my neck.
Stopping at the crook of my neck, he sucks and nips, causing my hips to buck into his.
Searching for anything to release the tension that’s building inside of me.
“Em? Hen? Where are you guys?” Preston’s deep voice trails into the bathroom.
A ferocious groan radiates deep within Emerson as he uses his leg to slam the door shut then finds my lips once more.
“Em . . . it’s your Dad.” I laugh breathlessly.
“I don’t care,” he rasps as he continues his conquest of my lips. “Every. Damn. Time. We’ve always been interrupted. Not today.”
Shaking my head with a snort, I try to wiggle out of his grasp. He holds me tighter, peppering kisses all over me, causing both of us to break out in laughter.
The wooden floorboards of the cabin creak. “Son? You guys in here? I’ve got some great news to tell you all.”
Emerson reluctantly leans back. He releases me with a heavy sigh and I hop off the counter to face the mirror. While I try my best to right my appearance and calm the flush of my cheeks, he steps behind me and whispers against the shell of my ear.
“Don’t think I’m done with you yet, Trouble. Dinner. Tonight. My place. Bring your apron.” Then he slaps my ass with the hand towel, flying out the door before I can retaliate.