Page 106 of Time for Change

I go to the door, but before I release the lock, I peek through the window along the door. My heart stops beating. It literally seizes in my chest at the sight. I flip both locks and pull open the door. Stevie’s wearing her winter coat and work uniform, her arms wrapped protectively around her abdomen.

“Hi,” I say, still a little dumbfounded at finding her on my porch.

“Hi.”

“Come in,” I quickly add, stepping back and giving her space to enter. As much as I want to pull her into my arms, I remain exactly where I am, hands at my sides.

Her scent hits me as she moves past, stopping in the middle of my foyer and turning to face me. “I got your text.”

Closing the door, I face the woman I love for the first time in two very long weeks. “I didn’t send that text.”

That seems to stump her. She looks confused, gazing up at me with those big whiskey-colored eyes I love so damn much.

“Gianna did,” I tell her, leaning back against the wall. “She sent it when I was getting our pizza.”

She stares at me for a few seconds before replying, “Oh.” She takes a step toward the door, clearly preparing to leave.

“Wait. She may have sent the text, but she wasn’t the only one who wanted you to come over.”

Hope fills her features. “No?”

I push off the wall and slowly approach. I slip my hand around hers and keep the touch to just our hands. “She might have sent it, but I was definitely thinking it too. In fact, I think she did me a favor.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, because it gives me the opportunity to tell you to your face I’m in love with you. I’ve probably been in love with you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.”

Her eyes fill with tears as she blinks at me.

“Gianna and I had a long talk tonight, and she told me what she said to you. She also told me why she said it, and you need know it wasn’t what it sounded like. She was scared and worried I’d replace her with you. She had just been told her mom was having a baby and they were moving to a new house. Then, I bring over a woman and it was just too much for her, so she acted out and took out her frustration on you. I’m sorry she said those terrible things to you.”

“It’s okay,” she whispers, squeezing my hand.

“It’s not, and if it’s all right with you, I’ll have her apologize soon.”

She cracks a small smile. “She did already. In the text.”

“No, she needs to do it face-to-face. That’s the appropriate thing to do.”

“Okay,” she replies.

“She told me one more thing,” I tell her, invading her personal space and pulling her against my body.

“What’s that?”

“She told me she was okay with you coming over. She had fun playing Uno with you, and she really likes your hair.”

She grins widely now. “She said that?”

“She did. Oh, and another thing, she said you are the most beautiful woman in the world, and you have her permission to kiss me right now, because if you don’t, I might actually die.”

She giggles and shakes her head. “That’s awfully dramatic, even for a nine-year-old.”

“Okay, she didn’t say any of that last stuff, but I did. It’s been too long since I’ve tasted your lips, Sweets.”

Stevie leans into me, slipping her arms around my waist. “I love you too.”

The pain I’ve been carrying around in my chest seems to evaporate. Just having her here, in my arms, is the balm I’ve desperately needed to help heal the hurt. “I’m going to kiss you now, Stevie.”

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