Page 67 of No Take Backs

That makes him pause. The smile that had been playing on his lips falls away, replaced by something more serious, more vulnerable. “You’re not leaving me,” he says, his voice low, almost pleading. But with a bite to it that tells me he’s not just asking me not to go. He’s telling me that I’m not leaving him.

“No.” I shake my head. “I was dating Eddie when he got shot on duty. But when I went to the hospital and watched him get taken into recovery, I didn’t have this bone-searing fear of what my life would be without him. I didn’t love him, and it wasn’t fair for me to be with him if I didn’t love him. So I left him. And it hurt him for me to leave. And I shouldn’t have done it while he was in the hospital. I know I was a dick, and that I made it so hard on him. But if I stayed, then I would have always stayed. So I told myself that if I didn’t date cops, I wouldn’t stand the chance of being with someone who got hurt. I wouldn’t have to figure out if I could live without them.”

Josh’s arms tighten around me, and I let the tears fall.

Tears I didn’t even know I was holding back.

“I love you, Josh. And when they loaded you into the ambulance, I thought I was dying. I can’t live without you, and I don’t want to. The way I feel about you… It’s the way I wished I felt about Eddie when I left him. My heart needs you the way mermaids need water.”

“I love you, too, Nia. And there’s no take backs with us. You own my heart. All of it. You’re the center of everything. I should have known from the moment I met you that you’d consume me.”

EPILOGUE

NIA

“Auntie Nia, you better hurry,” Lyla's voice is urgent, her usual exuberance tinged with an almost comical sense of gravity as she pokes her head into the doorway. Her eyes, wide with excitement and a hint of mischief, sparkle like they’re holding on to some delicious secret. Standing beside her, Richard mirrors her expression, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a solemn nod, as if he’s been entrusted with the gravest of missions.

Their youthful energy contrasts sharply with the nerves that have been bubbling inside me all morning, and for a moment, I’m pulled out of my anxious reverie, focusing instead on the two little rascals who’ve brought so much light into my life.

“What’s wrong?” I raise an eyebrow, trying to keep the nervous tremor out of my voice, though my stomach flips as I ask.

Lyla, ever the dramatic, leans in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “He looks like he’s going to be sick. But that could just be the drink that Daddy made him take in one gulp. He coughed. A lot.”

Richard stifles a giggle, clearly trying to maintain his composure, but the corners of his mouth twitch upward, betraying his amusement. “He’s probably just nervous,” he adds, his voice small but wise beyond his years. “It’s a big day, after all.”

I glance between the two of them, trying not to let their words add to my own growing anxiety. “Go away, heathen,” I hiss playfully, reaching out to ruffle Lyla’s hair. She dodges with a practiced ease, her laughter ringing out like a bell, echoing off the walls and filling the room with warmth.

Richard gives me a small, supportive smile, the kind that’s far too mature for his age. “Don’t worry, Auntie Nia. Uncle Josh will be fine. He just needs a minute.”

I smile back, grateful for his reassurance, feeling a little bit of the tension in my shoulders ease. “Thanks, Richard. You’re right, as always.”

Lyla grins, grabbing Richard’s hand. “Come on, Richard. Let’s give Auntie Nia a minute to breathe. She’s gonna need it.”

They scamper off, their giggles echoing down the hallway as they disappear from view, leaving me with the heavy silence of the room and the fluttering butterflies in my stomach. I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my head.

“You look gorgeous,” my dad’s voice comes from the doorway, and I turn to see him standing there, his eyes misting over as he takes in the sight of me. His presence is like a balm to my frayed nerves, grounding me in the moment. There’s a softness to his expression, a mix of pride and the kind of emotion that only a father can have when he sees his little girl all grown up.

He crosses the room with slow, deliberate steps, as if he’s savoring this moment, committing it to memory. When he reaches me, he cups my face gently in his hands, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks before he leans in to kiss me. The familiar scent of his aftershave, the one he’s worn for as long as I can remember, surrounds me, offering a sense of comfort and stability.

“You’re perfect,” he says, his voice thick with emotion as he takes a step back to admire me fully. “I wouldn’t have picked that color, but it’s not my choice.” His attempt at humor does the trick, and I find myself laughing, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside, loosening the knot of tension in my chest.

He winks, then offers me his arm. “Let’s go.”

“I’m so glad we’re only doing this once,” I mutter under my breath as we walk outside. The sound of the door clicking shut behind us echoes in my ears, amplifying the fluttering nerves in my stomach. My legs feel like they’re about to give out from under me, but Dad’s steady arm keeps me upright.

“You and me both, kiddo,” Dad replies with a chuckle, squeezing my arm gently. “Though I think you’re the one who’s gonna have to keep him in line. That’s a full-time job.”

I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my lips. “Why did Josh send you to get me, anyway?” I ask, a touch of curiosity in my voice.

“He thought you’d chicken out,” Dad says with a shrug, his tone light but teasing. “He knows you too well, I suppose. He’s pretty sure you’re going to try and run away. Besides, I think he wanted to make sure I got one last moment with my little girl before he steals you away.”

I can’t help but smile at that. “Stealing me away? Sounds like you’re letting him off easy.”

“Oh, I’ll make him pay for it later,” Dad jokes, his voice warm with affection. “But for now, let’s get you out there.”

Music blares from the backyard of the house that Josh and I just closed on, and we step out on the back porch to a crowd of people.

“Happy birthday!” they shout at once.

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