25. Franco
25
FRANCO
F or the rest of the day and evening, I holed myself up in the gym or my room. I knew Chloe wanted to speak to me. With the way I walked away from her, I was well aware that she wanted an answer to her question.
Could I forgive her? Of course, but I had to come to terms with all the lost time. All the heartache of missing out in such a huge way.
I’d never be able to reclaim the years I missed in Caleb’s life. I would never have a chance to see any of his firsts and let him know that I cared.
I was torn with so many questions, curious about what that kid thought of me. He knew that I was his dad. He said he saw pictures of me. So he was allowed the courtesy of knowing about me, but I was in the dark about him.
It stung.
It ached.
My heart beat with pangs of sorrow and guilt, even though she was the one who’d kept him from me.
I couldn’t sweat it out. I couldn’t pace away from the mess in my head and heart. All day and night, I avoided everyone else and tried my best to get my mind clear enough to react logically.
Late at night, I gave up on trying to sleep and headed to the kitchen for water. When I reached the big room, I found Caleb sitting at the counter, peering around the room.
“Hey,” I said quietly, not wanting to startle him. “Can’t sleep?”
He yawned, a nonverbal argument to that idea. “I’m just thirsty. But I don’t know where the cups are.”
I got one for him and filled it with water.
“Thank you.”
I took a seat across from him, marveling at how similar he was. He really was a mini me. The hair, the eyes, the spunk. But I saw Chloe in him too. I sighed, swallowing down the heartache of not being able to have watched him grow up. I’d missed out on too damn much.
I watched him drink the water, impressed that he didn’t flinch. He stared right back at me, seeming as curious of me as I was of him.
I had no clue where to start. It was a late start, but I so badly wanted to get to know him.
I had no inclination to guess whether Chloe wanted me in his life at all. Hiding him from me since his conception was a pretty damn clear example of her choosing to shut me out.
“Have you known about me all your life? That I was your dad?” It seemed like a neutral question.
He shook his head. “No. Only when I was older.”
I frowned, disliking the thought that came to mind. Did he ever think Wes was his dad?
“My mom told me about you when I was older and asked who my dad was. She had pictures and all, so I could see that you were a real person.” He furrowed his brow. “You’re a lot taller than I thought you’d be.”
I chuckled.
He tipped his head to the side, eyeing me closely.
“What else doesn’t match the pictures she had?”
“No, the pictures match. I’m just wondering if you’ll keep her safe.”
“Safe?”
He nodded. “I asked her why she didn’t live with you and she said she wouldn’t be safe. But now that she’s by you, will you? Will you keep her safe?”
“Of course.” I sighed. “No matter what, Caleb, I will always do everything in my power to keep both you and her safe.”
“Can you beat up Wes for bothering her?” he asked.
I grunted a laugh. “You want me to beat him up?”
He nodded, stern and serious. “My mom reminds me that violence isn’t the answer in most cases. But I think Wes really needs a good ass kicking for being so mean and weird to her.”
I smirked. “Does your mom think you should be saying something like ass kicking?”
He shook his head. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“Nah, not like that.” I shook my head. “Don’t start a habit of lying to her.”
He hung his head. “I know. And I’m just joking. But I really wish she didn’t have to worry about Wes. He’s so creepy. I hate him.”
“Just remember what I said. I will always do everything in my power to keep you and your mom safe.” I refused to go into detail. I couldn’t. But this boy—my boy—could rest assured that Wes wouldn’t be bothering anyone once I got ahold of him.
“Thanks. You’re a good guy, Mr. Franco.” He stood and nodded, acting wiser than his age. “I got a good vibe about you.”
Nine-year-olds can sense vibes? I crossed my arms and smiled as he set the glass in the sink. “Yeah? A good vibe?”
“Yeah. You’re a cool dude.” He yawned again. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” I held my breath, watching him go. Once he was out of sight, I let out a heavy sigh. It didn’t cover the sound of a sniffle.
I turned to catch Chloe standing at the other end of the room, leaning against the doorway. She probably watched and heard that whole conversation.
I stared at her, wishing this didn’t have to be so hard between us. As she sniffled again and wiped away her tears, she cleared her throat. “I?—”
She cut herself off, turning and rushing away.
“No,” I growled quietly as I rushed to my feet.
I’d had it with this.
I was sick of her running.
She belonged with me.
I caught up to her in the hallway that led to the guest room she’d been sleeping in. Grabbing hold of her wrist, I held on to her and tugged her to follow me. With a heated look, a worried glance that spoke volumes, she met my gaze and came with me to my room.
I closed and locked the door, stalking after her as she backed up.
“Why did you run?” I asked.
She tipped her chin up. “Because I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”
“Then don’t.”
She furrowed her brow as I reached for the belt of her robe.
“Stay,” I told her as I shoved at her robe, urging the material to fall to the carpet.
“Will you forgive me?”
I put my hand on her side and tugged her close. “Only if you stay.” I crushed my lips against her mouth, unable to help myself. I couldn’t help myself when she was near.
“I will stay as long as you let me,” she vowed.
“I will always forgive you,” I said as I bunched her nightgown and pulled it up over her head to remove it, “as long as you understand that I fucking love you.”
She gasped as I kissed her hard, walking her toward the bed.
“I love you, Chloe, and I will never stand for anyone to hurt you. You or our son.”
She nodded, reaching for my shirt to pull it up.
“I have spent too many years missing you.”
“I hated every second of them.” She shoved at my pants next.
“I don’t ever want to lose you again.”
She tripped over her panties as she shoved them off. With every step we took in this rushed, fumbling dance, we kissed and stripped.
I pushed her to the bed, feasting my eyes on the sight of my one true love lying there for me.
“Tell me right now, Chloe, if I’m good enough for you to stay. If I’m worthy of your love.”
She nodded, staring me in the eye and bewitching me. “I have never stopped loving you. Even when I ran.” She slid her legs wider apart. “I love you, and you have always been worthy of my love.”
I got it now. I saw in the depth of her soulful gaze that she believed it. That she meant it. But she also had a big enough heart and a smart, level head to know that running when she was pregnant was the best way to make sure he lived. That our son survived. That our love would carry on in him.
“Can you forgive me?” she asked, begging in a shy, hopeful tone.
I knelt down, then hovered over her. As I kissed her hard, bracing my weight on my forearm, I angled my dick to her and lined up to drive home.
“Yes, Chloe.” I slammed all the way into her tight, wet heat. “I forgive you.” I pulled out and pushed in fully once more. “I love you.” Again, I tortured her tight pussy. “And I will never, ever give up on you.”
She moaned, arching up into me to match me thrust for thrust. “And I will never give up on us.”
“No matter what,” I growled between kisses as I slammed into her faster and faster.
“No matter…” She gasped, already so close to coming. “No matter what.”
I kissed her, stealing her breath and muffling her loud cries as she came. Squeezing me tight, she wrapped her legs around my waist and clung to me as though she couldn’t bear a single inch of a gap between us.
“I love you,” I told her as she caught her breath from her first orgasm. Tonight called for a celebration. Of no more lies. Of coming together, of promising not to let anything stand in the way of our future again.
“I love you so much,” she replied, breathing raggedly.
I pulled out and turned her onto her hands and knees, taking her from behind as I chased my release, determined to fuck this logic into her.
She and I belonged together. For good. And I spent all night proving how right it felt to surrender to each other.