Page 50 of Love Me

He leaves me even more rattled than before. If she doesn’t intend to stay, why did she come back in the first place?

I’ll tie her to my bed and get the answers out of her if I have to.

***

After this morning’s events, my three best friends and I huddle together in the theater room, eating popcorn.

The door opens, and everyone stills, holding their breaths.

“I love this movie,” Celine says.

“Of course you do. You thrive on violence,” Abigail replies, shaking her head at her.

Celine approaches and snatches my popcorn. I snake my arm around her waist and drag her down to my lap. Her eyes widen, and then she peers at Abigail, who’s looking straight ahead at the screen.

I lean into her, whispering in her ear. “Need permission to sit on your husband’s lap?”

She mumbles something unintelligible, and Abigail exhales heavily, losing patience. “Do whatever you two can’t refrain from doing, but let’s just watch this one movie in peace.”

Celine looks at her quizzically before she sweeps her gaze to me. My brow arches in a challenge, and then she plops into my lap, not being able to resist it.

She pops some kernels in her mouth. With every second, she relaxes, and I do too. I can’t believe she’s in my arms. I wish we’d be like this all the time.

I open my mouth, and she throws a piece of popcorn at me, but I catch it with no problem. A smile arches the corners of her lips, and I smile back automatically. I’d sell my soul to prolong these precious moments when I can hold her.

I caress her back, and she snuggles into me. My heart liquefies, pouring straight into her hand. Celine places her cheek on my chest, and I trace a line down the valley of her hip, not able to refrain from touching her.

“This is not a peace offering.”

“Then what is it?”

She gulps, looking at me. The answer is obvious: weakness, love, hurt, and most of all, inability to stay away. Then, let’s pretend for a few hours that this is our life, surrounded by family and being together.

Tomorrow we’ll forget we gave in again.

She falls asleep in my arms, and her floral scent, her delicate frame, everything about her puts me at ease. The familiarity is undeniable.

When the movie ends, Blake turns the screen off and walks out, followed by a sleepy Bailey.

Abigail stands up and says, emotions clear in her soft voice, “Oh, Kaden.”

I let Abigail see me like this, flayed open with vulnerability.

“She’s my world.”

“Yes, well, she can potentially burn your world to a crisp.”

“I don’t care.”

“Then tell her the truth. I have seen you desolate and cunning, but never in these two years like you are right now. And I love you. I want you to have the life you deserve.”

“I can’t have both, and I don’t trust her.”

She squeezes my shoulder and looks at Celine. “At least when she sleeps, she reminds me of the old version of her.”

“You thought that version of her was too soft.”

“I was protective of her, but now I respect her.”

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