Page 131 of Make Us Yours
I let her go, bopping her nose. “Anything for you. Now go pick out a movie while I get my queen what she wants.” I wink and turn away as she giggles and rushes over to the couch.
When I’m done making our late-night snack, I settle in beside her on the couchand she immediately cuddles in against me with her bowl in hand. I press play on the remote and realize she’s put on the lastHarry Pottermovie. I chuckle and kiss her head.Not that we literally watched it two days ago, but whatever.
“What? They’re amazing, okay!?”
I laugh again. “I didn’t say anything. You’re right, they are. But here’s a question for you, how many times have you watched all eight movies this year?”
“Four…” she grumbles.
“Oh, you’re adorable.” I kiss her head again. “So does that make you a little wizard nerd?”
“Shut up!” She smacks my chest then laughs along with me. When our laugh subsides, she looks up into my eyes with such tenderness it squeezes my heart. “Thank you, Gabriel.”
“What for?” I ask softly, passing my fingers through her hair.
“For being your goofy self when I need it the most. For making me smile and laugh when all I want to do is cry.” She takes my bowl and hers, setting them down on the coffee table, then takes my face between her palms. “For showing me that you aren’t the man I thought you were. For being an amazing friend and lover. For being patient with me, for protecting me. For always knowing how to comfort me.”
She presses her lips softly to mine then pulls away, her eyes once more on mine. “For watching the same movie over and over, simply to please me. For making me food all the time. For trusting me with your problems. For not giving up no matter how mean I was to you in the past. Just thank you for being what I didn’t know was missing from my life.”
She sniffles and smiles. “I don’t know how I’d get through all of this if it weren’t for you and Noah. So, thank you for showing me that I could learn to trust again, to love again. That not everyone in this world is evil… Just thank you.”
I fist the back of her head and pull her into me, smashing her lips to mine in a fierce, passionate, soul-shattering way. Those three words so close to slipping out as I make love to her mouth.
Because I feel them everywhere. I’ve felt them for so long. But right now, at this very moment, that feeling is like a tsunami hitting me at full force. And I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to hold on. I’m not sure I want to hold them in anymore.
I’ve thought about saying them many times already, but I always doubted that Ronnie felt the same way. But after what she just said, I don’t doubt it anymore.
She loves me.
Chapter twenty-nine
Veronica
Shackles and Cages.
~ The Next Day ~
Last night was terrible. All I did was toss and turn all night once I climbed into bed with Noah, waiting for Victor to appear, waiting for the sound of footsteps to approach our bedroom door. I’m not even sure I slept a total of two hours.
Even now, my mind is still all over the place and filled with anxiety. I’m jittery and can’t stand still. I hate this, I hate this nervous and scared version of myself. I feel like I’m once again trapped in those god-awful months after contacting Agent Callahan as I waited for the outcome I knew wouldn’t work.
I check the time on my phone before grabbing my purse from the counter and slipping into my heels, my gaze constantly flicking toward the elevator as I try to calm my nerves. I jiggle my hand, once again lighting up my screen as I wait for Morgan’s text to come in.
Once again, Gabe is out shooting a commercial for one of his newest brand deals. Mind you, it’s for a cookie brand, which if you ask me is hilarious since he doesn’t even eat any sweets. And Noah… well, I have no idea where Noah is.
When I woke up this morning after the little sleep I managed to get, he was already gone from the room. I thought he may have gotten up earlier and headed down to the kitchen for breakfast, but when I reached the main floor, all I found was Gabe. And the sympathetic smile he gave me when he noticed me standing by the stairs, confirmed my suspicions. Noah was gone.
I’ve texted and called him several times, left numerous voicemails, but all have gone unanswered, and that only increases my worries. I know I need to give him time to grieve and heal on his own, but with how much he’s been drinking these past few days and how quiet he’s gotten, I’m afraid of what he might do.
I’m pulled out from my train of thought when my phone vibrates in my hand.
Morg
About five minutes out.
I sigh with relief as I read over her message, then send one off to my boys in our group chat.
Me
