Page 92 of Justice II

“Nowhere,” I giggled.

We didn’t have much time together and we needed to spend the entirety wrapped in one another.

“You know, I’m still mad at you,” I teased.

“I’m still mad at you too, but I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you,” he replied.

I rested my cheek against him and looked toward the windows. I had spent so much time wanting to be back in his arms. Now that I was here, I wanted a little more time before either of us had to get up.

His hand moved slowly over my back.

“I’m sorry, Melody.”

I tilted my head to look at him.

“For what?”

“For what I said when I put you out. About Golden. All that shit.”

I lowered my eyes.

“I keep thinking about how you looked at me,” he continued. “I knew I hurt you. I just kept talking.”

“You did.”

“I was pissed about you lying. I wanted you to feel that.”

“Well, I felt it.”

He stopped rubbing my back.

I could still hear him saying I had gotten my daughter killed. I had loved being in his house. I had started to believe I could stay there. Then he had looked at me and repeated the same shit I had spent years trying to survive.

“I already blamed myself,” I said. “You didn’t have to help.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t. I went through that trial hearing people talk about me like I wanted my baby dead. You knew me. You saw me with Dream. With Rita.”

He looked at me without interrupting.

“I thought that would count for something,” I continued.

“It should’ve. I can’t take back what I said. But I’m sorry. You ain’t deserve that from me.”

I nodded and rested my head against him again.

I believed he meant it. I also knew I would remember those words the next time we argued. He had already shown me how cruel he could be when he felt betrayed.

His hand settled against my waist.

“You good?”

“I’m better.”

He kissed the top of my head.

I traced a small circle on his arm before stopping.