Chapter 52
When You Can Hear Me
Reed
It had been months of dating Maliyah Davenport, and I still couldn't believe my luck.
Countless stolen moments between her demanding schedule at Harbor House and my rotating shifts.
Fancy Saturday night dinners with cloth napkins and candles.
Family brunches where Lucas and Zoe tagged along, Lucas insisting last weekend that my homemade pancakes beat the Uncle Caden's by a mile—not sure if it was true, but the pride in his eyes made me stand taller.
Wednesday nights meant movies on her couch, Zoe inevitably conking out against my shoulder, a small puddle of drool darkening my shirt by the halfway mark.
I'd finally had the chance to relearn what it felt like to have the weight of Maliyah's hand in mine, to experience the sound of her laugh uninhibited, and to be on the receiving end of soft looks and sweet kisses.
And in that time, I found myself falling deeper and deeper—knowing without an ounce of doubt that I was hopelessly in love with her.
Tonight's date—our twentieth? Thirtieth?
I'd lost count, but it had been perfect.
A hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place in Dorchester that she'd heard about from one of the women at the shelter.
We'd talked about everything and nothing—her plans to expand Harbor House's programming and my latest testimony in a case involving armed robbery.
We talked about the kids, their highs and lows, plans for the coming summer, all the things—and then some.
"Thank you for tonight," she'd said when I walked her to her door, keys already in hand. "I had fun—as usual."
"Thank you for finding the place, and for getting Macy to babysit so I could take you out."
She'd kissed me then, soft and slow, her body pressing against mine in the hallway, until we were both breathless.
"Come inside?" The question was quiet, uncertain. "Kids will be passed out and I'm not ready for you to leave."
My heart had stuttered. "Why don't I run Macy home? You pick out a movie and we can plan to chill?"
"That's perfect." Her fingers had tightened on my jacket.
After dropping a very sleepy Macy back at home and giving her a little extra cash for staying later than we planned. I drove back to Maliyah's faster than I should have, barely making a yellow light and taking the corner onto her street sharp enough that my tires protested.
When I opened the door, I found she'd decked out the living room—popcorn, a couple of beers, pillows and blankets. My gut clenched—nerves and excitement mingling.
She'd picked out a movie. I had no idea what one, though, since I was more focused on her. Fuck, she was beautiful. And amazing. And so fucking out of my league. But she was mine. My woman. My heart. My life.
Sitting on the couch, I pulled her against me, her back to my chest, my arms wrapped around her waist. The opening credits rolled, something with explosions and dramatic music that neither of us was watching. Her head rested in the crook of my shoulder, her coconut-scented hair tickling my chin.
"Comfortable?" I asked, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Mmm." She tilted her head back to look at me, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Very."
We stayed like that, pretending to watch whatever was on screen while my thumb traced lazy circles on her hip. Her chest rose and fell steadily, and I sensed her drifting off.
The words sat heavy in my chest, pressing against my ribs with every breath.
I wasn't sure if it had been long enough to say them.
Too soon. Probably. Too much pressure for her.
I didn't want her to say them just because I said them.
The last thing she needed was me dumping my feelings on her before she was ready.
But God, I loved her.Loved the way she commanded respect at work while still making time to be an amazing mom. Loved how she'd stopped touching her scars, like she was finally believing they didn't define her. Loved watching her light up when she talked about work and life and us.
I loved her strength and her softness and the way she'd chosen to trust me with both.
I loved how smart she was—smarter than me—and how she was always open to new experiences.
I loved that she included me in things with her and the kids, and that we'd seamlessly blended our lives and loved ones.
I loved every single fucking thing about her.
I pressed another kiss to her hair, taking my sleeping beauty in and holding her close.
"I love you," I whispered into the darkness, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.
"I wish I could tell you that when you were awake to hear it.
When you could know how much you mean to me.
" My thumb continued its path along her hip.
"But I'm terrified of putting more pressure on you.
Of making you feel like you have to say it back before you're ready. "
Her breathing pattern didn't change. Still that slow, steady rhythm of sleep.
"You've been through so much," I continued, the words flowing easier now that I knew she couldn't hear.
"And you're doing so well—healing, moving forward, being incredible.
I don't want to mess that up by dumping all this on you too soon.
" I swallowed hard, whispering even more quietly.
"But I need you to know, even if you can't hear me right now, that you're my everything. You are my forever kind of love."
"Reed."
I froze. My heart slammed against my ribs, heat flooding my face. Her voice was quiet, sleep-rough, but definitely awake.
"Maliyah—I thought you were—"
She shifted, turning in my arms to face me. Her eyes were clear, focused, no trace of sleep in them. "How long have you been awake?"
"The whole time." A small smile played at her lips. "I was comfortable. Didn't want to move. And then you started talking and I really didn't want to interrupt."
Heat flooded my face. "So you heard—"
"All of it." She sat up slightly, her hand coming up to cup my cheek, thumb stroking along my jaw. "Every word."
"Maliyah, I didn't mean to—I shouldn't have—"
"I love you too."
The words hung in the air between us, simple and devastating and perfect.
"What?"
"I love you." She said it again, stronger this time, her eyes never leaving mine.
"I love how you learned all the little things about my kids, that you're always there for them—without exception.
I love how you show up for family dinners and help with morning chaos and never complain about the mess or the noise. "
Her voice dropped lower. "I love how patient you've been with me. How you waited for me to be ready. How you've proven over and over that you're not going anywhere." She leaned closer, her forehead nearly touching mine. "I love you, Reed Morrison. And I'm not afraid to say it when you can hear me."
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could only stare at this incredible woman who'd just given me everything.
"Say something," she whispered, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice.
Instead of words, I closed the distance between us, my hands framing her face as I kissed her with everything I had. She made a small sound of surprise that turned into a sigh, her arms wrapping around my neck as she kissed me back.
"I love you," I said against her lips. "I love you so much."
She kissed me again, deeper this time, her fingers tangling in my hair. We stayed like that for long minutes, trading kisses and whispered declarations, until she finally settled back against my chest with a contented sigh.
"Stay," she murmured, already drifting toward real sleep this time. "Don't wake me up early."
"I'll stay as long as you want me to." I pulled the blanket over both of us, adjusting so we were more comfortable on the couch.
"Forever then." Her words were barely a whisper as sleep began to claim her.
"Forever works for me." I kissed the top of her head, feeling her breathing even out.
I held her close, listening to the rhythm of her heartbeat against mine, and felt something settle deep in my chest. This was it. This was everything.
Down the hall, I could hear Lucas's soft snoring and the occasional rustle of Zoe turning over in her bed, and moments when she sang to herself in her dream-filled sleep. This whole family, this whole beautiful, messy, perfect life—it was mine now. Ours. And I was never letting go.
My eyes grew heavy as the movie continued playing, forgotten. Maliyah was warm and solid in my arms, her trust a gift I'd spend the rest of my life earning.
"I love you," I whispered one more time before sleep pulled me under.
This time, I knew she'd heard me.